Our lawyers specialise in Maltese citizenship by merit applications, advising individuals, families, and advisors on the legal assessment, structuring, and submission of Citizenship by Merit applications, ensuring full compliance with the Maltese Citizenship Act (Cap. 188) and the Malta Citizenship by Merit Regulations, 2025.
Malta Citizenship by Merit is a statutory ground for the grant of Maltese nationality to individuals whose exceptional contributions or services are considered to be in the national interest of the Republic of Malta. Under Maltese law, citizenship by merit is grounded in demonstrable contribution, service, or value aligned with Malta’s legal, social, economic, cultural, scientific, or humanitarian priorities.
Typical Candidates for Citizenship by Merit
Our Malta Citizenship by Merit application service is typically relevant for:
- Individuals with exceptional professional, scientific, cultural, or humanitarian contributions.
- Founders, innovators, or entrepreneurs whose activities align with Malta’s national interest.
- Philanthropists supporting causes of measurable public benefit in Malta.
- Individuals recognised for international achievements with demonstrable relevance to Malta.
- Families seeking long-term legal belonging grounded in contribution rather than investment.
Understanding Malta Citizenship by Merit Applications
Citizenship by Merit is a formal ground for naturalisation under Maltese law, distinct from citizenship by registration or general naturalisation and very different from the past citizenship by investment programmes due to the highly legal nature of the work involved in applying for citizenship by merit.
It is based on the principle that citizenship may be granted in recognition of exceptional contributions or services, assessed on a case-by-case basis by the competent Maltese authorities. The assessment focuses on the nature, value, sustainability, and alignment of the contribution with Malta’s national priorities.
A minimum period of lawful residence in Malta is required prior to an application being considered. Physical presence requirements are assessed holistically, having regard to the applicant’s overall ties, contribution profile, and circumstances.
Legal Framework and Regulatory Basis
Citizenship by Merit applications are governed by:
- The Maltese Citizenship Act (Chapter 188 of the Laws of Malta)
- The Malta Citizenship by Merit Regulations, 2025
Maltese law provides that citizenship by naturalisation may be granted where exceptional contributions are deemed to serve the national interest of Malta, following a structured evaluation and due diligence process.
Each application is assessed individually, without guarantees, facilitation, or preferential treatment.
Our Malta Citizenship by Merit Expertise
As a Maltese law firm with a renowned citizenship law practice, our firm has longstanding experience advising and handling Maltese Citizenship by Investment (now defunct), Maltese Citizenship through Merit, and Global Citizenship planning, involving high-profile and internationally mobile individuals. Particularly, for over 25 years, we have handled with success a number of Citizenship by Merit applications for high profile applicants and personalities of all ages, including technologists, philanthropists, founders and entrepreneurs and retirees from every continent.
Our Citizenship by Merit advisory integrates:
- Maltese nationality and citizenship law
- Immigration and residence law
- Private client and family structuring
- Philanthropy and public-interest advisory
- Regulatory compliance and enhanced due diligence
- Local and international tax advisory and compliance.
- Cross-border coordination with professional advisors
This integrated approach ensures that Citizenship by Merit applications are assessed, structured, and presented holistically, with due regard to legal substance, regulatory expectations, and the applicant’s wider personal and professional circumstances.
Our Approach to Citizenship by Merit Applications
As best legal practice requires, we approach Citizenship by Merit applications with a holistic legal view, taking into account the profile of the candidate for citizenship, including his/her family history, personal-professional-entrepreneurial credentials and achievements, and their philanthropic track record. We help shape the proposed merit service or contribution into a feasible, measurable, qualifying project that meets the high national interest threshold set by the law. Our experience advising business and philanthropic projects combines with our citizenship by merit experience to ensure a holistic legal approach, designed for success.
By design, the firm delivers citizenship by merit services as a partner-led experience, with often multiple partners weighing in on any file with their own legal strengths and second opinions to ensure a robust case.
Our role as citizenship by merit lawyers includes:
- Assessing eligibility and legal suitability under the Citizenship Act and Citizenship by Merit Regulations.
- Advising on the nature and framing of exceptional contributions or services.
- Structuring lawful residence and personal ties to Malta in accordance with Maltese & European Law requirements.
- Preparing the legal narrative and supporting documentation.
- Coordinating statutory due diligence and verification.
- Managing submissions and correspondence with the competent authorities.
At all times, we ensure that applications remain fact-based, complete, transparent, and compliant, avoiding language or representations that are prohibited under Maltese law or regulatory guidance.
Our Citizenship by Merit Experience
Led by Dr Jean-Philippe Chetcuti, the immigration partners of Chetcuti Cauchi have a number of successful citizenship by merit applications under their belt. Citizenship by Merit is an important area of practice for Chetcuti Cauchi Advocates where 4 partners and directors are dedicated to it: Dr Jean-Philippe Chetcuti, Dr Priscilla Mifsud-Parker, Dr Antoine Saliba-Haig and Marina Magri. This legal team has handled transitions of applications from the now defunct citizenship by investment pathway to the discretionary pathway to citizenship by merit, leveraging long-standing experience in Citizenship by Merit to successfully guide their clients under the widened Citizenship by Merit rules. Examples of our merit work:
- Citizenship applications involving exceptional professional achievements, in a number of areas we understood well: STEMM, AI, Technology.
- Nationality matters connected with philanthropic and public-interest initiatives, in view of firm's extensive involvement with philanthropic advisory with Family Offices and also with NGOs and Voluntary Organisations.
- Complex cases involving dual citizenship and multiple citizenship.
- High-sensitivity applications requiring enhanced due diligence and sanctions assessment.
- Strategic nationality planning integrated with residence, tax advisory, and succession considerations
Each engagement is handled with discretion and in strict accordance with Maltese legal and ethical standards.
How our Citizenship Lawyers Can Help You
We assist clients throughout the entire Citizenship by Merit application lifecycle, including:
- Preliminary legal assessment and eligibility review
- Residence and personal ties structuring
- Legal drafting and submission management
- Ongoing regulatory and procedural guidance
- Coordination with international advisors where required
Our role is to provide clear legal advice, manage complexity, and ensure that each application is prepared to the highest professional and compliance standards.
