Malta Citizenship by Naturalisation on the Basis of Merit

Official Process Stages

The statutory process has defined stages:

1. Proposal — a detailed proposal letter is submitted to the Community Malta Agency, outlining the person's background and achievements, the exceptional service or contribution made or intended, a forward-looking plan for continued contribution after naturalisation, and supporting documents.
2. Evaluation and due diligence — the proposal is assessed by an autonomous specialised board, independently of the Agency, alongside an intensive due-diligence process carried out by the Agency.
3. Ministerial decision in principle — the board's recommendation is submitted, through the Agency, to the Minister, whose decision is final and need not be accompanied by reasons.
4. Formal application — only after approval in principle may a formal application for a certificate of naturalisation be submitted.
5. Oath and certificate — if granted, the person (and any dependants included under the legislation) takes the Oath of Allegiance and receives the certificate of naturalisation.

Formal Requirements

At the formal application stage, the legislation requires:

• proof of at least eight months of residence in Malta, with title to adequate residential property in Malta;
• demonstration of the exceptional service, contribution or interest, endorsed by the designated competent body;
• knowledge of Maltese or English;
• proof of the other ties with Malta created at the time of application and as set out in the proposal;
• full compliance with all applicable legal and due-diligence requirements.

Citizenship granted on the basis of merit may be withdrawn if a person fails to honour material obligations or commitments set out in the legislation or in the letter of approval. Agency processing fees apply at the different stages.

Assessment Framework

• Citizenship by merit is a discretionary form of naturalisation, assessed strictly case by case.
• It is not a programme or scheme, and it is not an investment route.
• There are no fixed financial thresholds and no qualifying investment amounts.
• There is no standard processing timeline.
• No outcome is guaranteed at any stage, and the Minister's decision is final.

Family Considerations

• Any inclusion of family members is subject to the applicable legal framework, supporting documentation, and case-by-case review.

Distinction from the Discontinued Investor-Citizenship Framework

Citizenship by merit is legally and practically distinct from Malta's discontinued investor-citizenship framework, which 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 Community Malta Agency has stated that citizenship by merit is neither a continuation of, nor an alternative to, that former framework, and does not permit marketing or promotion of the merit processes. For the history and current status of the former framework, see Malta citizenship: current status.

Official Sources

Persons who believe their circumstances may fall within this legal provision should consult the official sources below. The Community Malta Agency is the competent authority for all citizenship matters in Malta.

• Community Malta Agency, "Citizenship by Naturalisation on the Basis of Merit" official information document, February 2026 (komunita.gov.mt)
• Community Malta Agency, statement on citizenship by merit, 5 February 2026 (komunita.gov.mt)
• Government of Malta, press release on amendments to the Maltese Citizenship Act, 23 July 2025 (komunita.gov.mt)
• Court of Justice of the European Union, Judgment in Case C-181/23, press release of 29 April 2025 (curia.europa.eu)

This page summarises official Maltese sources and is not legal advice. Last reviewed: 23 August 2026.