Country profile · MT

Malta

45 routes45 active

Free: Malta Document Checklist

The standard documents required for most Malta citizenship applications — birth records, marriage certificates, apostilles, translations. Delivered as a PDF to your email.

Important: This is a generic starting checklist. Your specific case may require additional or substitute documents — particularly for older ancestors, mixed nationalities, or special programs. For a case-specific checklist verified against your exact facts, book Route Guidance (700 NIS).

Talk to a citizenship expert

Want a definitive verdict on your Malta eligibility?

with a former EU-citizenship consultant on your Malta options + a written verdict on your strongest path. ₪700. Refund if we can't give you a clear answer.

Reviewed by a former EU-citizenship-firm consultant — primary law, not generic advice.
Written verdict delivered within 24 hours.
Refund guarantee — if no clear answer, you don't pay.

Book Route Guidance — ₪700 or Quick Eligibility Check (₪250)See all tiers →

Free: Malta Document Checklist

Want a definitive verdict on your Malta eligibility?

AdoptionVerified93%Adoption-derivative citizenshipAdopted children of Maltese citizens acquire citizenship parallel to natural-born children.

AdoptionVerified93%International (Hague) adoption pathwayInternational adoption per Hague Inter-country Adoption Convention + Family Court Act.

BirthVerified95%Birth in Malta — modified jus soli (post-Act-III/1989 qualifying parent)Children born in Malta automatically acquire citizenship if at least one parent is Maltese citizen or qualifying long-term resident.

BirthVerified91%Foundling presumption (1961 Convention obligations)Foundlings discovered in Maltese territory presumed Maltese citizens absent evidence to contrary.

BirthVerified95%Pre-1989 expansive jus soli HISTORICALPre-Act-III/1989 broader birthright regime; narrowed by 1989 amendment.

ChildVerified94%Article 7 descent registration — Commonwealth-diaspora cohortCommonwealth-diaspora descendants of Maltese-born ancestors via Article 7 + Article 3(5) framework.

ChildVerified96%Pre-independence CUKC cohort transition (BNA 1948)Pre-1964 CUKC framework + 1964 Independence Order Constitution + transitional provisions.

ChildVerified96%Maltese diaspora descendants registration (Article 7 + Act IV/2007)Diaspora communities AU/CA/GB/US — descendants registration via Article 7 + Act IV/2007.

ChildVerified95%Commonwealth realm 1964-1974 cohort1964-09-21 to 1974-12-12 cohort with Crown as Head of State.

CESVerified95%Article 14 ministerial deprivation (Ramadan-precedent proportionality)Article 14 of Citizenship Act + ECtHR Ramadan v Malta 2016 + EU Tjebbes/Rottmann proportionality.

CESVerified95%Article 13 voluntary renunciationArticle 13(1) and (2) regulate voluntary renunciation — application by Maltese citizen for cessation.

DescentVerified95%Citizenship by descent — parent transmission (Article 5)Person born to at least one Maltese-citizen parent at time of birth.

DescentVerified95%Mother-line retroactive registration (Act III of 1989)Children of Maltese mothers between 1965 and 1989 may register retroactively per Act III/1989 amendment.

DescentVerified95%Article 7 descent registration — 2-generation Malta-born rule + Article 3(5) live-ancestor anchorDirect descendants of Maltese-born ancestors with 2-generation Malta-born requirement and Article 3(5) live-ancestor 2007-08-01 anchor.

DescentVerified94%Marital legitimacy / Article 17(1)(a) — mother-of-record for out-of-wedlock birthsFor persons born out of marriage and not legitimate, references to father read as references to mother.

DescentVerified94%Genovese-precedent rectification cohort (post-2011 ECtHR)Children born abroad to unmarried Maltese fathers pre-2007 — gender-discrimination remediation pathway.

DescentVerified96%Pre-1989 mother-line discrimination cohort registrationPre-Act-III/1989 paternal-only cohort retroactively eligible via Act III/1989.

DescentVerified95%Pre-1989 jus-soli birth cohort registrationPersons born in Malta pre-Act-III/1989 may claim under expansive pre-amendment jus soli regime.

DescentVerified94%Pre-2007-08-01 deceased-ancestor descent registration (Article 3(5) carve-out)Applicants whose direct-line ancestor died BEFORE 2007-08-01 are NOT subject to live-ancestor chain-keeper requirement.

HistoricalVerified96%Pre-1989 mother-line discrimination cohortHistorical cohort 1965-1989 of children excluded by paternal-only rule; remediated by Act III/1989.

HistoricalVerified95%Pre-2000 single-nationality loss cohortVoluntary-emigrant Maltese who lost citizenship pre-Act-XXVI/2000.

HistoricalVerified95%MIIP-grantee cohort 2014-2020 — retain citizenshipPersons granted citizenship under MIIP 2014-2020 retain citizenship; closure was prospective only.

HistoricalVerified95%MEINS-grantee cohort 2020-2024 — retain citizenship subject to CJEU implementationPersons granted under MEINS 2020-2024 retain citizenship; CJEU C-181/23 addresses scheme operation, not retroactive revocation.

InvestmentVerified94%Citizen by Merit (Act XXI of 2025 + Legal Notice 159 of 2025)Persons of exceptional services or contributions to Malta or of exceptional interest to the Republic. Substantive (not transactional) criteria.

InvestmentVerified95%MEINS — Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services (CJEU-INVALIDATED 2025-04-29)HISTORICAL: 2020-2024 exceptional-services citizenship under S.L. 188.06 + LN 437/2020. CJEU C-181/23 strike-down 2025-04-29.

InvestmentVerified95%Maltese Individual Investor Programme — HISTORICAL (closed 2020)HISTORICAL: 2014-2020 investor citizenship via NDSF contributions + property/bond investment. CLOSED 2020-09-30. Grantees retain citizenship.

InvestmentVerified95%Pre-2014 historical (NO investor pathway existed)Pre-2014: Article 10(9) discretionary only; no formal investor scheme. Documentation-only entry.

InvestmentVerified88%Transitional MEINS in-flight applicant treatmentIn-flight MEINS applicants at CJEU ruling 2025-04-29 — transitional regulations pending.

MarriageVerified95%Citizenship by marriage — Article 6 spousal pathwaySpouses of Maltese citizens may register after qualifying marriage period; subsisting marital relationship required.

MarriageVerified96%Civil-Union spouse pathway (post-Act-IX/2014)Civil-union partners under Civil Unions Act 2014 access spousal pathway via Article 6.

MarriageVerified97%Same-sex marriage spouse (post-Act-XXIII/2017)Same-sex spouses access citizenship by marriage equivalently following Marriage Equality Act 2017.

NaturalizationVerified95%General naturalization — Article 10 (residence + character + language + oath)Foreign nationals satisfying residence (typically 5 of last 6 years), good character, language (Maltese OR English), and oath of allegiance.

NaturalizationVerified96%EU long-term resident pathway (Council Directive 2003/109/EC)EU long-term residents in Malta benefit from Directive 2003/109/EC residence-rights framework for naturalization.

NaturalizationVerified95%Article 10(9) discretionary services pathway (basis for Citizen by Merit)Persons rendering exceptional services or contributions to Malta of exceptional interest. Currently administered as Citizen by Merit.

NaturalizationVerified93%Refugee naturalization (International Protection Act + Article 10)Recognised refugees may apply under Article 10 with potential residence-discount considerations. 2023: 10 successful applications.

NaturalizationVerified88%Subsidiary protection beneficiary pathway (de-facto barriers; 0 naturalizations in 2023)Beneficiaries of subsidiary protection have not historically obtained Maltese citizenship via naturalization.

NaturalizationVerified96%Pre-2000 single-nationality naturalization HISTORICALPre-Act-XXVI/2000 framework — historical only; cohort retains citizenship but pathway closed.

NaturalizationVerified95%Post-2000 dual-nationality unrestricted regimeAct XXVI/2000 endorsement — unrestricted dual/multiple nationality.

NaturalizationVerified95%Stateless person facilitated naturalisation (post-2019 1954 Convention)Stateless persons identified via 1954-Convention determination procedure may pursue Article 10 with reduced-residence consideration.

RestorationVerified95%Post-2000 reacquisition for pre-2000 voluntary lossPersons who lost Maltese citizenship pre-Act-XXVI/2000 due to acquiring foreign citizenship may apply for restoration.

RestorationVerified93%Resumption of citizenship after voluntary renunciationVoluntary renouncers may apply for resumption upon demonstrating no longer wishing to renounce.

SpecialVerified95%Stateless person determination + naturalization (1954 Convention)Stateless persons identified via 1954-Convention determination may pursue facilitated naturalization.

SpecialVerified88%1961 Convention foundling presumption (customary practice; Convention not ratified)Foundling-presumption per 1961 Convention obligations (customary; 1961 not ratified by Malta).

SpecialVerified88%Honorary citizenship grant (rare ministerial discretion)Rare ministerial discretionary grant for distinguished foreign nationals.

SpecialVerified95%Order of Malta DISAMBIGUATION (NOT a Maltese citizenship pathway)Sovereign Military Order of Malta is a separate sovereign entity — its diplomatic passports are NOT Maltese citizenship.