Status notice — last reviewed 23 August 2026. Malta no longer grants citizenship on the basis of direct investment. The framework formerly known as Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment was discontinued under the July 2025 amendments to the Maltese Citizenship Act, following the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union of 29 April 2025. The information below is provided for reference and orientation only.
Malta operated one of Europe's most prominent investor-citizenship frameworks, attracting international families seeking EU citizenship through defined financial commitments. That chapter has closed. This page explains what changed, when it changed, and what it means if you were considering Maltese citizenship — including where to look among the options that remain available today.
STATUS
Discontinued
July 2025 Amendments to the Maltese Citizenship Act
LEGAL BACKGROUND
Judgment of the Court of Justice of the EU
Case C-181/23, 29 April 2025
WHAT REMAINS
Malta Residence Options
Discretionary Naturalisation on the Basis of Merit
Timeline of the Change
- 29 April 2025 — The Court of Justice of the European Union rules in case C-181/23 that Malta's investor-citizenship scheme is contrary to EU law.
- 23 July 2025 — The Government of Malta publishes amendments to the Maltese Citizenship Act. The Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services framework is discontinued, and references to licensed agents are removed from the legislation.
- 5 February 2026 — The Community Malta Agency confirms that citizenship by naturalisation on the basis of merit — a separate, discretionary form of naturalisation — is neither a programme nor a scheme, and is not a continuation of or alternative to the former framework.
What Was Discontinued
The discontinued framework allowed applicants to qualify for Maltese citizenship by satisfying fixed financial criteria — an exceptional direct investment, a charitable donation, and the purchase or lease of residential property — combined with a defined residency period. It was discontinued under the July 2025 amendments to the Maltese Citizenship Act. The framework is no longer available for new applications and must not be presented as a current route.
Malta Passport and Second-Passport Questions
Is a Malta passport by investment still available?
No. Malta's former investor-citizenship framework was discontinued in July 2025 and is not available for new applications. Citizenship by naturalisation on the basis of merit is a separate, discretionary legal process; it is not a Malta passport-by-investment programme and cannot be purchased or selected by an applicant.
Can an investor obtain a second passport through investment in Malta?
No. Investment in Malta does not provide access to a current second-passport programme. Malta continues to operate residence frameworks, including the Malta Permanent Residence Programme, but residence does not itself grant Maltese citizenship or a Maltese passport. See currently listed citizenship options for other jurisdictions.
Former Thresholds Are Not a Current Offer
Published contribution levels, property values, donation amounts and residency periods associated with the former framework describe provisions that were discontinued under the July 2025 amendments. They are not a current offer, cannot be relied upon for planning, and should be read only as historical context. Any materials still presenting these thresholds as available should be treated as out of date.
Discretionary Naturalisation on the Basis of Merit
Separately from the discontinued framework, Maltese law provides for citizenship by naturalisation on the basis of merit — a discretionary, case-by-case form of naturalisation reserved for persons of exceptional service, contribution or interest to Malta. It is not an investment framework. For factual information, see Malta citizenship by naturalisation on the basis of merit.
Considering Currently Available Options
Families who had been evaluating Maltese citizenship generally remain interested in two things: European residence rights and long-term mobility planning. Malta continues to operate established residence frameworks, and a number of other jurisdictions continue to operate citizenship and residence options under their own current rules. You can review what is currently available here:
Sources and References
- Court of Justice of the European Union, Judgment in Case C-181/23, press release of 29 April 2025 (curia.europa.eu)
- Government of Malta, press release on amendments to the Maltese Citizenship Act, 23 July 2025 (komunita.gov.mt)
- Community Malta Agency, statement on citizenship by merit, 5 February 2026 (komunita.gov.mt)
This page is informational and reflects the position as published by the Government of Malta and the Court of Justice of the EU. Last reviewed: 23 August 2026.