Malta citizenship for Americans: why and how to get a passport with fewer visa-free countries than your current one

Increasingly, wealthy Americans are turning to obtaining second citizenship to secure their futures amid rising inflation and political uncertainty. Malta has become a popular destination for this, offering citizenship for exceptional services through direct investment.

Key benefits of having the Maltese passport for US citizens

Holding a Maltese passport offers several advantages for US citizens, including:

1. Maltese citizens can live and work throughout the EU without special permissions.?
2. Citizenship also grants access to lower tuition fees at European universities and employment in the EU without extra permits.?
3. Business-wise, Maltese citizenship opens up the vast European market for expansion.?
4. Malta's healthcare system ranks 5th globally, offering superior medical services compared to the US's 37th ranking.?
5. Importantly, Malta permits dual citizenship so that a new citizen can retain their US passport and rights.??
6. With English as one of Malta’s official languages, settling in becomes much smoother for US families.

3 main ways to become a Maltese citizen

To qualify for naturalization in Malta, foreigners must be over 18 and have lived in Malta for at least one continuous year before applying. Additionally, they should:

• have a total of four years' residency over the past six years;
• be of good character as confirmed by sponsors;
• and have a sufficient command of either Maltese or English.

The registration process for a Maltese passport is open to spouses or widows of Maltese citizens and to former citizens of Malta.?

Spouses or widows must have been married to a Maltese national for at least 5 years, or if the spouse has passed away, the marriage must have been active at the time of death. The application can be submitted no sooner than 5 years from the wedding date.?

Additionally, former Maltese citizens who originally gained citizenship through registration or naturalization can reacquire it through registration.

Citizenship by birth or descent hinges on these criteria in Malta:?

1. Those born before September 21st, 1964, must be born in Malta to Maltese parents, or if born abroad, must have a Maltese father and a paternal grandparent also born in Malta.?
2. From September 21st, 1964, to August 1st, 1989, those born in Malta must have a Maltese mother or, if born abroad, a Maltese father.?
3. For anyone born on or after August 1st, 1989, Maltese citizenship is automatically granted if either parent is Maltese, regardless of birthplace.

Fastest and easiest path to Malta citizenship

Maltese law doesn't permit citizenship by investment directly. However, US investors can pursue Maltese citizenship through naturalization for exceptional services by making a direct investment.

To qualify, US applicants must:

• have a clean criminal record, including no proceedings in the International Criminal Court;
• have no visa rejections from countries that have visa-free agreements with Malta;
• not be listed on any international sanctions that Malta adheres to;
• demonstrate the legitimacy of their invested capital.

American investors can include family members, including:

• a legally recognized spouse or partner, including same-sex couples;
• children under 18, including those from previous relationships of the investor or spouse;
• dependent unmarried adult children up to 29
• dependent parents or grandparents over 55, including those of the spouse.

Investment requirements and expenses. US investors must contribute to the Malta National Development and Social Fund, rent or purchase a residential property in Malta, and donate to a Maltese NGO.?

There are no alternative investment options under the legislation, and all conditions must be fully met.

Investors get Maltese residence permits first. A contribution amount determines the residency term before applying for citizenship. Therefore, an investor can contribute €750,000 after one year of residency or €600,000 after three years. Additionally, there's a required contribution of €50,000 for each family member in both scenarios.

If renting real estate, the property must have an annual lease of at least €16,000. If buying, the property must be valued at a minimum of €700,000. Investors can only purchase one property, which must be held for at least 5 years after obtaining citizenship.

Investors must make a €10,000 donation to a Maltese NGO focused on philanthropy, culture, sports, science, animal welfare, or the arts.?

Beyond this, American investors must also cover state fees, purchase health insurance, handle applicable taxes on real estate purchases, and pay for legal services.

Step-by-step procedure for obtaining Malta citizenship for exceptional services

The entire passport process takes roughly two to four years, depending on the option selected:

1. Preliminary Due Diligence, 1 day. Before applying for Maltese citizenship, Immigrant Invest's certified Anti-Money Laundering Officer reviews the investor's documents to identify potential risks that might lead to application rejection. The Compliance Department confidentially checks the applicant against international databases, and if risks are detected, alternative citizenship options are suggested.
2. Clearance, up to 2 weeks. All applicants aged 12 and older undergo initial clearance by the Community Malta Agency, which includes background checks via Europol and Interpol databases.
3. Obtaining a residence permit takes 4+ weeks. Residence permits are required for all applicants over 18 and minors aged 16 and older on the 1-year route or 15 and up on the 3-year route. The investor must secure local accommodation and complete necessary government forms, with Immigrant Invest assisting throughout. A visit to Malta for biometric data is necessary. Resident cards are issued within about 2 weeks, valid for 36 months, and extendable.
4. Eligibility Assessment, 4+ months. This assessment must be filed within a year of receiving the residence permit. Immigrant Invest aids with document preparation, translation, and certification in Malta. The Community Malta Agency’s due diligence process takes 120 to 150 days.
5. The responsible Minister decides on the application, allowing those approved to apply for citizenship after 1 or 3 years of holding a residence permit.
6. Applying for citizenship. Applicants must update any significant personal changes after 1 year or provide current documents after 3 years.
7. Final approval by the Minister, 2—4 weeks. A Letter of Approval from the Minister enables the final steps towards citizenship.
8. Fulfillment of investment condition, up to 4 months. Investors must meet investment requirements within 4 months of the Minister’s approval, demonstrating ties to Malta. Upon submitting all required documents, an invitation to swear allegiance is issued after final checks.
9. Oath and submission of biometrics, up to 2 months. The oath of allegiance is taken in Malta within 6 months of final approval, followed by biometric processing for all applicants over 18.
10. Getting a passport in Malta, 4 business days. Passports are ready for collection at Malta’s Passport Department 4 business days after biometric submission.

Maltese and US dual citizenship

Since 2000, Malta has allowed its citizens to hold dual citizenship, and US legislation also permits multiple passports. This means Americans obtaining a Maltese passport don't need to give up their US passport.?

Although there's no formal dual citizenship agreement between Malta and the US, Americans with Maltese citizenship essentially hold two separate citizenships. Each country may still expect these citizens to meet their obligations, like military service.

However, dual citizenship also brings significant advantages. Americans with a Maltese passport can freely enter and reside in the US while enjoying the benefits of living and working in the EU without additional permissions.

Summary on obtaining Malta citizenship for US citizens?

1. US citizens can acquire a Maltese passport through four routes: descent, naturalization, registration, and naturalization for exceptional services via direct investment.?
2. American investors must meet three mandatory criteria: secure property in Malta through purchase for at least €700,000 or rental for at least €16,000 per year, contribute over €600,000 to the National Development and Social Fund, and donate €10,000 to a Maltese NGO.
3. Before applying for citizenship through exceptional services, investors need to hold a Malta residence card for three years.?
4. Investors can't apply directly and must work through an official agent; Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent authorized by the Maltese government for this purpose.

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