Malta Ends Citizenship by Investment: What Options Remain for International Investors?

July 21, 2025 · Malta · 13 min read

For years, Malta’s citizenship by investment program was regarded as the last “direct route” for international investors to acquire European citizenship lawfully and quickly. In July 2025, however, the government of Malta formally announced the closure of the program. As Malta ends citizenship by investment, the country is moving to a Citizenship by Merit (CBM) assessment system, granting citizenship only to individuals who make exceptional contributions to the economy, culture, science, or society.

The end of Malta’s citizenship program is not a dead end but a necessary adjustment toward greater transparency and closer alignment with the legal standards of the European Union. It also reshapes strategy for investors seeking long-term, lawful residence in Europe.

A landmark decision: Malta formally closes its citizenship by investment program

Malta’s citizenship by investment route, formally known as naturalization for exceptional services by direct investment and widely referred to as MEIN, was once described as a “direct route” to European citizenship. It has now been formally abolished. On July 16, 2025, Byron Camilleri, Malta’s Minister for Home Affairs, Security and Employment, announced the end of the policy and the complete removal of commercial elements from the process of granting citizenship.

The ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in April 2025 was the decisive factor behind this decision. The CJEU held that Malta’s citizenship by investment program breached Article 20 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and the principle of “sincere cooperation” between EU member states. The Court stressed that EU citizenship cannot simply be granted in exchange for money without a “genuine link” to the granting state, because the commercialization of citizenship undermines the legal and ethical foundations of the EU.

Malta shifts to citizenship by merit: a necessary adjustment to EU standards

Rather than closing the door to naturalization altogether, Malta will expand its Citizenship by Merit (CBM) route. The CBM system, which has operated in parallel since 2017, allows citizenship to be granted to individuals who have made “exceptional contributions or services” in fields such as science, research, sport, the arts, culture, job creation, investment, and entrepreneurship.

The bill covering these changes was presented to Malta’s Parliament and discussed at its sitting on July 16, 2025. This reflects the EU’s legal direction and introduces a flexible assessment pathway based on exceptional contributions to the national interest.

The end of Malta’s citizenship by investment program is not the end of the road but a necessary adjustment toward greater transparency, in line with the EU’s broader legal direction. It also requires international investors to rethink their residency strategies, moving from short-term goals to longer-term, sustainable, and lawful pathways in Europe.

The Malta Permanent Residence Programme: a stable, lawful route to permanent residence in the EU

While the citizenship by investment program has ended, the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) remains in place and continues to be a strong option for investors seeking permanent residence in an EU member state. The program operates in full compliance with EU rules, providing legal certainty and stability.

Malta Permanent Residence Programme requirements and investment options

To qualify for the MPRP, investors must meet the following investment requirements (figures at the time of writing, July 2025):

• Purchase a property worth at least €375,000 (approximately US$420,000) and make a non-refundable contribution of €30,000 to the government of Malta.
• Or lease a property for at least €14,000 per year and make a non-refundable contribution of €60,000 to the government of Malta.
• Maintain the property or lease for 5 years

In addition:

• Government administrative fee: €50,000
• Each additional dependent: €10,000 per person
• A €2,000 donation to a registered charity or voluntary organization in Malta.

Processing time and requirements:

• Processing time: about 12 months.
• There is no minimum stay requirement, and no upper age limit, education, work experience, or English language requirement.

Key benefits of Malta permanent residence

• You and your family are granted permanent residence in Malta. The residence card is valid for 5 years and is renewable every 5 years. There is no minimum stay requirement for you or your family to maintain permanent residence.
• Visa-free travel across the 29 countries of the Schengen Area (up to 90 days in any 180-day period).
• Your family can live and study in Malta, with access to healthcare and education of a European standard. The education system follows the British model, is recognized internationally, and is reasonably priced, while the modern public healthcare system is built to European standards and is free of charge for citizens. Permanent residents under the MPRP must maintain health insurance covering the whole family, and working in Malta requires a separate employment license.
• Up to 4 generations of your family can be included in one application: your spouse, your children, and financially dependent parents and grandparents on both sides of the family.
• Adult children can be included if they are unmarried and financially dependent on you, subject to the program’s age limits.
• No minimum stay requirement.
• No upper age limit, and no education, work experience, or English language requirements for the main applicant.
• Processing typically takes around 8–10 months.
• You make the investment only after your application receives approval in principle.

IMM Group: a strategic partner for your long-term residency journey

The global investment migration landscape is constantly shifting and increasingly complex. Investors need an advisory partner who not only helps them build a strong application but also gives their family peace of mind about the future. For the Malta Permanent Residence Programme and all of our global investment migration solutions, IMM Group stands out as a strategic advisory partner, supporting you with experience and integrity.

As a pioneering, long-established firm with more than 21 years of hands-on experience in Vietnam, IMM Group is not a sales agent, and we do more than advise: we design global investment migration solutions built on:

• Rigorous due diligence and risk management: Our experience successfully handling hundreds of cases, including complex ones, enables us to conduct multi-layered project due diligence and protect investors’ interests rigorously, even during market crises.
• In-depth professional consulting and full transparency: Every IMM Group advisor and case manager is certified in investment migration advisory by the Investment Migration Council (IMC). Our team analyzes benefits and risks in full, so you can make decisions based on complete and accurate information. We put our clients’ long-term interests first.
• Integrity and commitment every step of the way: Guided by our philosophy, “Serving with Authentic Values,” IMM Group stays with you from the first step until you have settled in your new country. Integrity is our foundation, reflected in our readiness to stand up for clients’ interests and to proactively refund service fees when risks beyond the client’s control arise, as set out in the contract.
• Receiving and giving back: Since 2025, IMM Group has operated as a nonprofit enterprise, committing at least 50% of its annual profits to the Be Better Fund. By choosing IMM Group, you also help hundreds of students facing exceptional hardship gain a chance to change their lives.

If you are interested in investment migration programs, contact IMM Group or leave your details below. Our experienced advisors will provide detailed guidance and help assess the prospects of your case. We will keep your personal data confidential and use the information you provide only to advise on your family’s case.

IMM Group

• Tags:
• Malta residency by investment
• Malta citizenship by investment
• European citizenship
• Malta permanent residence

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