Malta Naturalisation for Exceptional Services

Granting of Maltese Citizenship for Exceptional Services Regulations

Dr. Antoine Saliba Haig | 16 Sep 2020

malta citizenship

The Government of Malta has introduced a route to Maltese citizenship by virtue of exceptional services to the Republic of Malta. This was enacted by virtue of "The Grant of Citizenship for Exceptional Services Regulations", issued by Legal Notice 335 of 2017.

Eligible Exceptional Services leading to Maltese Citizenship

According to the Maltese Citizenship Act article 10(9) as amended in 2017 and July 2020, individuals who render exceptional services to Malta in the areas listed below are entitled to apply for Maltese Citizenship by Exceptional Services (MCES):

  • scientists,
  • researchers,
  • athletes,
  • sports people,
  • artists,
  • cultural performers,
  • investors and
  • entrepreneurs.

Exceptional services are defined as services that are unusually excellent or manifestly superior at a local level, and refers primarily to contributions given by scientists, researchers, athletes, sports people, artists, cultural performers, investors and entrepreneurs. Maltese Citizenship is granted to the applicant who renders such exceptional services as well as all eligible dependants of such individual.

The Minister may grant a certificate of naturalisation as a citizen of Malta to an alien or stateless person, who has rendered exceptional services to the Republic of Malta or to humanity, or whose naturalisation is of exceptional interest to the Republic of Malta, and who satisfies the requirements prescribed under this Act. 

For the purposes of this sub-article "exceptional" means manifestly superior, and refers primarily to contributions by scientists, researchers, athletes, sports people, artists, cultural performers, investors and entrepreneurs:

Provided that the Minister shall also grant a certificate of naturalisation to an eligible dependent of an alien or a stateless person who has rendered exceptional services to the Republic of Malta through investment:

Maltese Citizenship Regulator

The granting of citizenship for exceptional services will be regulated by a Regulator appointed by the Prime Minister of Malta in consultation with the Leader of the Opposition. The Regulator shall ensure that the process of naturalisation through exceptional services is duly followed.

Within the legal framework, an evaluation board will consider the person’s contributions and decide on the eligibility of that person for naturalization.  The Board shall evaluate applications for Maltese citizenship for exceptional services within 180 days from the receipt of the application and shall then relay its report to the Minister responsible for Citizenship.  It is the Minister responsible for Citizenship who must then evaluate and decide within 60 days whether the applicant should be granted Maltese citizenship for exceptional services to Malta.

Qualifying Criteria

An applicant for Maltese citizenship must satisfy the following criteria:

  • residence in Malta for at least 8 months preceding the date of the application
  • proof of ownership of residential property in Malta;
  • provision of exceptional services to the Republic of Malta or to humanity;
  • recommendation by two people who are qualified to act as sponsors.

Applications are subject to thorough due diligence checking performed by one or more internationally recognised due diligence agents.

Our Maltese Citizenship Law Practice

Chetcuti Cauchi Advocate is a leader in citizenship law and residency legal advisory services.  We advise international families on all aspects of taxation, citizenship and residence law.  Our Malta immigration lawyers are lead by senior immigration lawyer Dr Jean-Philippe Chetcuti.

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Key Contacts

Dr Jean-Philippe Chetcuti

Senior Partner, Tax & Immigration

+356 22056111
jpc@ccmalta.com

Dr Priscilla Mifsud Parker

Senior Partner, Corporate, Tax & Immigration

+356 22056122
pmp@ccmalta.com

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