Malta: Citizenship by Naturalisation on the Basis of Merit
The Malta Citizenship by Investment scheme (Malta Exceptional Investor Naturalisation) was repealed in April 2025 following the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union of 29 April 2025 (Case C-181/23, Commission v Malta). This page covers solely the statutory merit-based naturalisation route under Subsidiary Legislation 188.06 of the Laws of Malta, a separate provision that has existed since 2017 and was revised by Legal Notice 159 of 2025. These are two distinct legal instruments. The merit route is not a continuation or replacement of the former investment scheme.
Maltese law provides a statutory route through which the Minister responsible for citizenship may grant Maltese citizenship to individuals who have rendered exceptional service to Malta or to humanity, made an exceptional contribution, or are of exceptional interest to the Republic. This route is established under Article 10(9) of the Maltese Citizenship Act (Chapter 188 of the Laws of Malta) and is given operational form by the Granting of Citizenship by Naturalisation on the Basis of Merit Regulations (Subsidiary Legislation 188.06), as amended by Legal Notice 159 of 2025.
This is not a programme with defined investment tiers or a guaranteed outcome. It is a discretionary statutory provision, administered by Community Malta Agency (Agenzija Komunita Malta), assessed case by case, with the final decision resting solely with the Minister.
Legal Framework
The route derives its authority from the following instruments, all part of the Laws of Malta:
| Instrument | Description |
|---|---|
| Cap. 188, Art. 10(9) | The primary statutory authority: Maltese Citizenship Act, Article 10(9), which empowers the Minister to grant citizenship in cases of exceptional service, exceptional contribution, or exceptional interest to Malta. |
| S.L. 188.06 | Granting of Citizenship by Naturalisation on the Basis of Merit Regulations: the subsidiary legislation setting out the processes, requirements, and procedures for merit-based naturalisation. |
| Legal Notice 335 of 2017 | The original regulations establishing the merit-based naturalisation route, recognizing contributions in national security, science, health, education, culture, sports, and innovation. |
| Act No. XXI of 2025 | The Maltese Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2025, enacted following the CJEU judgment of 29 April 2025, amending Cap. 188 to reflect the revised framework. |
| Legal Notice 159 of 2025 | Published 30 July 2025: the current implementing regulations amending S.L. 188.06, consolidating the merit-based naturalisation framework and aligning it with the amended Act and EU legal principles. |
| Administering body | Community Malta Agency (Agenzija Komunita Malta), empowered by law to administer the process, conduct due diligence, coordinate the Evaluation Board, and issue guidelines. Official site: komunita.gov.mt |
Who May Be Considered
Under Article 10(9) of Cap. 188 and S.L. 188.06, an individual may be considered for this route if they fall within one of three statutory categories. Falling within a category does not guarantee consideration or approval; the process remains fully discretionary at every stage.
Exceptional Service
Individuals who have rendered, or undertake to render, exceptional service to the Republic of Malta or to humanity at large, in a field considered to be of significance to Malta or to the international community.
Exceptional Contribution
Individuals whose contribution to Malta's national goals, strategic objectives, or development, across fields including science, technology, entrepreneurship, arts, culture, sports, or philanthropy, is assessed as exceptional in its nature and impact.
Exceptional Interest
Individuals whose profile, activities, or standing are of exceptional interest to the Republic of Malta, as determined by the Evaluation Board and the Minister on a case-by-case basis.
The legislation does not define these categories by fixed criteria or numerical thresholds. Each profile is evaluated independently. The Evaluation Board's recommendation and the Minister's decision are both discretionary, and no applicant profile confers an automatic right to consideration.
The Statutory Process
The process is administered by Community Malta Agency and follows a statutory sequence established in S.L. 188.06, Article 11A. The steps below reflect the process as published by the administering authority.
Proposal Letter to Community Malta Agency
The process begins with the submission of a detailed proposal letter to Community Malta Agency. The letter must describe the applicant's background and achievements, the exceptional service or contribution made or proposed, a forward-looking plan for continued contribution after naturalisation, and supporting documentation. Eligible dependants may be included at this stage.
Due Diligence by Community Malta Agency
Community Malta Agency conducts an intensive due diligence process independently of the Evaluation Board. This covers background verification, source of funds, security screening, and character assessment of the applicant and dependants.
Evaluation Board Assessment
An independent Evaluation Board, appointed by the Minister, assesses the applicant's profile and proposed contribution. The Board operates independently from Community Malta Agency and from the applicant. Following its evaluation, it issues a recommendation to the Minister.
Minister's Decision
The Minister responsible for citizenship takes the final decision. This decision is fully discretionary. The Minister is not bound by the Board's recommendation. A refusal at this stage or any prior stage does not give rise to a right of appeal on the merits.
Approval in Principle and Formal Application
If approval in principle is granted, the applicant proceeds to submit the formal application for naturalisation, subject to the statutory requirements set out in S.L. 188.06. Community Malta Agency conducts a final verification that the applicant has fulfilled the planned exceptional contribution before the application proceeds to citizenship grant.
What This Route Is Not
Given the prevalence of inaccurate information, the following clarifications are important for anyone researching this route.
- Not a citizenship by investment programme. There is no financial contribution that grants or guarantees access to citizenship under S.L. 188.06.
- Not a continuation of the former Malta Exceptional Investor Naturalisation scheme, which was repealed in April 2025. The two instruments are legally distinct.
- Not subject to a minimum investment threshold. The EUR 650,000 figure cited in older sources referred to the repealed investment scheme and has no applicability to the current merit route.
- Not an open application process. The route requires an individual profile of exceptional achievement, contribution, or interest as assessed by an independent Board and the Minister.
- Not governed by a defined or guaranteed processing timeline. No processing time is published or committed to by the administering authority.
- Not administered through private agents. Applications are submitted to and processed by Community Malta Agency. No private intermediary holds an agent mandate for this process.
Legal Advisory Support from NTL International
NTL International does not hold authorized agent status for the Malta merit-based naturalisation route and does not represent itself as such. The process falls exclusively within the jurisdiction of Community Malta Agency and the Minister responsible for citizenship.
NTL International's specialized legal team, working in collaboration with qualified Maltese legal counsel, can provide the following:
- Review of the client's professional, academic, or philanthropic profile against the three statutory categories under Article 10(9)
- Assessment of whether a profile presents a credible basis for a proposal letter
- Explanation of the proposal letter requirements and the structure of the statutory process
- Introduction to and coordination with qualified Maltese legal practitioners for formal representation before Community Malta Agency
- Guidance on the due diligence documentation framework
All advisory is provided in full compliance with applicable Maltese law and with the guidelines issued by Community Malta Agency.
Official Resources
-
Community Malta Agency (administering authority):
https://komunita.gov.mt -
S.L. 188.06 as amended by L.N. 159 of 2025 (consolidated text):
https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/188.6/eng/pdf -
Legal Notice 159 of 2025:
https://legislation.mt/eli/ln/2025/159/eng -
Maltese Citizenship Act, Cap. 188:
Act No. XXI of 2025 (Amendment Act)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Malta citizenship by naturalisation on the basis of merit?
It is a statutory, fully discretionary route under Article 10(9) of the Maltese Citizenship Act (Cap. 188) and Subsidiary Legislation 188.06, as amended by Legal Notice 159 of 2025. It allows the Minister responsible for citizenship to grant Maltese citizenship to individuals who have rendered exceptional service to Malta or to humanity, made an exceptional contribution, or are of exceptional interest to the Republic. It is not a programme and not an investment scheme.
Is there a minimum investment or financial threshold?
No. The framework under S.L. 188.06, as amended by L.N. 159 of 2025, does not set a minimum investment threshold. Any reference to a specific monetary figure, such as EUR 650,000, relates to the former Malta Exceptional Investor Naturalisation scheme, which was repealed in April 2025 following the CJEU judgment. That figure has no applicability to the current merit route.
What is the difference between the former investment scheme and the current merit route?
The former scheme granted citizenship linked to a qualifying direct investment and was repealed in April 2025 following the CJEU judgment of 29 April 2025 (Case C-181/23). The current merit route under S.L. 188.06 is a separate statutory provision that has existed since 2017. It is based on exceptional service, contribution, or interest to Malta, assessed on a fully discretionary basis with no fixed financial threshold. The two instruments are legally distinct.
Who administers the Malta merit-based naturalisation route?
Community Malta Agency (Agenzija Komunita Malta) receives proposal letters, conducts due diligence, and coordinates the independent Evaluation Board. The Minister responsible for citizenship takes the final decision, which is fully discretionary. The Agency's official website is komunita.gov.mt.
What is the role of the Evaluation Board?
The Evaluation Board is an independent body appointed by the Minister. It assesses the applicant's profile and proposed contribution independently from Community Malta Agency and submits a recommendation to the Minister. The Minister is not bound by the Board's recommendation; the final decision remains fully discretionary.
Is there a defined processing timeline?
No defined or guaranteed processing timeline exists. The route is subject to the evaluation capacity of Community Malta Agency and the Evaluation Board, and to the Minister's discretionary decision. No timeframe is published or committed to by the administering authority.
Does NTL International act as an authorized agent for this route?
No. NTL International does not hold authorized agent status for the Malta merit-based naturalisation route. NTL provides legal advisory support in collaboration with specialized Maltese legal counsel, helping clients understand the applicable statutory framework and assess whether their profile may be relevant to this route. The process itself is administered exclusively by Community Malta Agency.
About NTL International
NTL International provides professional guidance and compliance support for global citizenship and residency programmes. As a government-authorized agent in select CBI jurisdictions and a collaborator with specialized legal experts worldwide, NTL supports clients from initial assessment through to the conclusion of their application, working with local counsel for full statutory compliance.
For the Malta merit-based naturalisation route specifically, NTL International works in collaboration with qualified Maltese legal practitioners. The administration of the naturalization process under S.L. 188.06 falls exclusively within the jurisdiction of Community Malta Agency. NTL's role is limited to preliminary legal advisory support and referral to qualified Maltese counsel.
For citizenship programmes in Caribbean, Pacific, and other jurisdictions where NTL holds direct government authorization, contact our team for programme-specific advisory. View all citizenship programmes.