May 28th, 2023 at 03:23 am
Full Application Process and Timeline for Maltese Citizenship
Malta is one of the places where it is hardest to get citizenship through naturalization. Even though people who have lived in Malta for five years and meet the requirements can apply for Maltese citizenship, the waiting times are long and important. Investing in the Malta Residency to citizenship scheme (MR2C), which was launched for exceptional services with new law published in the Government Gazette of Malta No. 20,524 on November 20, 2020, is one way to get on the fast track. It is the only investment citizenship program left in the entire European Union.
The Malta Residency by Investment Program can lead to citizenship if an investor or applicant meets the requirements to become a Maltese citizen and helps the country’s economy grow. This depends on a strict due diligence process, which makes sure that only good people are allowed in, and the approval of the Minister in charge of Citizenship.
There is a limit of no more than 400 cases per year, for a total of 1,500 cases over a three-year time. The main requirements for citizenship are to buy a home (or rent one) and to have a real connection to Malta. The government has also changed the rules so that you can’t apply for citizenship if you haven’t lived in Malta for a year. All applications must be put together with the most up-to-date AML/CFT directives and any implementation guidelines released by FIAU in mind
Processing Time
With the steps below, the whole MR2C training takes between 12 and 15 months. All of the payments had to be made in stages.
- Residency Stage: 6 months (to get a residency visa and permission to live in the country).
- Citizenship Stage: Apply for citizenship after one year of living in the country (fast track choice).
Application Process and Timeline
There are 11 steps to filling out an application.
- Power of Attorney: The person who wants to apply gives the agent permission to act on his behalf during the whole application process.
- Residence: The agent does Tier 1 due research on the applicant and sends in an application for residency.
- The agency does Tier 1 of its research and gets the first police clearance.
- The agent sends the Agency an application for citizenship status.
- The Agent sends copies of birth and marriage documents to the Public Registry and Passport Office.
- The agency does Tier 2 due diligence and makes sure the application is correct and full. The Agency may ask for more information and paperwork to make sure that everything is in order.
- The agency does the due research for Tiers 3 and 4 and gives the application and its results to the Minister.
- The Minister tells the Agency to let the agent know if the applicant is qualified to apply for Maltese citizenship. The Agency then tells the agent what the Minister decided.
- Citizenship Application: After 12 or 36 months of living in the country, the contact gives the Agency the Citizenship application
- The Agency updates its research on the Applicant and gives the Minister its final conclusions.
- If the Minister decides that the candidate can become a Maltese citizen, the Agency tells the agent what the Minister has decided.
- The applicant meets the standards for Exceptional Investment, Donation, and Property.
- The applicant is asked to come to Malta and take the Oath of Allegiance.
- The person who applied is given Maltese citizenship and a Certificate of Naturalisation.
- The agency keeps track of things all the time for five years.
1. Government Fee
Residency Stage:
- Part of the non-refundable fee of €10,000 has been paid.
- Applicant Residence pass €5,000
- Each Residence Permit for Dependent costs €1,000.
- Requester Residency Card: €27.50
- Each card for the dependent costs €27.50.
Stage of Eligibility:
- Voucher for Requesting Payment (EPRV)
- Applicant Due Diligence Fee €15,000 Each Dependant Due Diligence Fee €10,000
- Benefactor Due Diligence Fee: €15,000 per applicant
- dependent Administrative Fee: €1,000
- The Investment Request Voucher (IRV) is needed at this stage.
Citizenship Stage: Investment Request Voucher (IRV)
- Applicant Extraordinary Direct Investment (Residency for 36 Months) €590,000
- Applicants with an exceptional direct investment (less than 36 months of residency) €740,000
- Each Dependent Direct Investment Was Exceptional €50,000 for each applicant and dependent.
- €500 for administration.
2. Housing Requirement
Purchase an immovable residential property in Malta worth at least €700,000, or rent immovable residential property in Malta for at least €16,000 per year for at least 5 years from the date the citizenship certificate is issued.
3. Donations
Donate €10,000 to a registered charity, educational, sports, scientific, animal welfare, artistic, or philanthropic non-governmental organization or society, or in any other way that the Agency approves.
4. Fee for Agency
Agents who are authorized by the government to send applications to the citizenship office will also charge a fee. (Applicants can’t send their applications straight to the government.)
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