Malta citizenship by investment - March 9, 2024

Citizenship by investment is a process in which foreign nationals invest in a country and, in return, gain the right to become its citizens. There are several investment routes:

• A government fund. A non-refundable contribution to the economy.
• Business. Investing in a business within the country, where the funds may return a profit.
• Real estate. Buying commercial or residential property to rent out for income, or simply purchasing a home to live in and receiving citizenship as a bonus.
• Projects of social significance.

It is worth noting that investment is genuinely the fastest way to obtain citizenship.

Many countries have currently suspended the issuance of passports to Russian and Belarusian nationals. Malta's programme has been closed to everyone since 2025, and the second passport quiz shows countries that still grant passports for investment to Russians. Let's look at Maltese citizenship by investment: whether Russian citizens can obtain it, its advantages, the cost and the processing time.

• Investment amount: from $750,000
• Processing time: 1-3 years
• Nationality restrictions: closed to citizens of Russia and Belarus since March 2022; the programme has been closed to everyone since 2025

About the country

Malta is a picturesque island nation in the Mediterranean Sea. It is the only European country with no permanent rivers or natural bodies of water. Malta is small - just 316 km² - making it the 185th-largest state in the world.

You can become a Maltese citizen only after living in the country for one or three years on a residence permit. Investors receive their passport through naturalisation for exceptional services. Property bought under the programme could be sold after five years, while the fund contribution was not refundable.

The advantages of Maltese citizenship

Unlike other citizenship-by-investment programmes - Paraguay's, for example - Maltese citizenship is expensive and slow to obtain. Even so, it offers many benefits:

• visa-free entry to 187 countries, including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom;
• the right to live in any EU country;
• high-quality education and healthcare;
• the ability to open an international business.

An alternative: Paraguayan citizenship

One of the most cost-effective citizenships by investment is Paraguay - a strategically located country of opportunity that is open to the world. Paraguayan citizenship by investment gives foreign nationals and their families a unique chance to obtain permanent residency for an investment from 70,000 US dollars, then a passport no earlier than three years of living in the country as a permanent resident, and enjoy all its benefits:

• visa-free travel to 145 countries, including the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom and Singapore;
• eligibility for the U.S. E-2 visa;
• tax optimisation (a 10% rate);
• life in a country with a high standard of living and a favourable climate.

What happened to the programme in 2025

On 29 April 2025 the Court of Justice of the EU ruled that Malta's citizenship by investment programme breaches EU law: citizenship cannot be sold without a genuine link between the person and the country. The programme was abolished from 24 July 2025. Applications not approved by 29 April 2025 lapsed, while passports already issued remain valid under the old rules.

In place of the programme Malta kept citizenship for exceptional merit: it is granted at the authorities' discretion, with no fixed price, and requires at least 8 months of residence. Ordinary naturalisation requires 12 months of continuous residence before applying plus 4 of the previous 6 years. More on the Maltese citizenship page.

What remains in Malta for investors

The permanent residence programme continues: fees, contribution and donation of about €99,000 (about $111,000), plus a home purchase from €375,000 or a rental from €14,000 a year for 5 years, and applicant capital from €500,000. Applications from Russian and Belarusian citizens are not accepted under it. More on the Malta residence page.

Where investment passports are issued in 2026

Exchange rate: $1.12 per euro on 6 October 2026.

How to choose a programme

• if you need visa-free travel to Europe, compare the country lists: Vanuatu and Nauru passports do not give visa-free Schengen entry;
• if you want your money back, look at property-based programmes rather than contributions;
• if speed matters, fund programmes are faster, but source-of-funds checks have become deeper everywhere;
• Russian citizens should check whether the programme accepts their applications on the filing date: restriction lists change.

Why investment citizenship applications are refused

• the lawful source of funds is not proven;
• past visa refusals, especially in Schengen countries, the UK or the USA, were not disclosed in the form;
• the applicant or their companies are linked to sanctions lists;
• an incomplete file: since 2025 many programmes do not accept documents in parts.

Before filing we check the applicant against the same databases as the authorities, so as not to lose the due diligence fee.

FAQ