Residency Requirement for Malta Citizenship

The Malta Individual Investor Programme requires candidates for Maltese Citizenship to buy or rent property in Malta.  Applicants for Maltese citizenships who are not already resident in Malta for one year are required to take up residence in Malta, ideally at the outset of the citizenship application process.  This triggers the minimum term of 12 months after which Maltese citizenship is issued to eligible applicants.

Citizenship candidates are issued an e-residence card on filing an application for Citizenship. Citizenship is granted after 12 months from the date of issue of this residence card.

Candidates need not spend the whole 365 days in Malta before citizenship is granted.  The 'genuine link' required by the agreement of the Government of Malta with the European Commission requires other factors that, in their totality, establish the candidate's closer connection with the Maltese nation.

Residence for Maltese tax law purposes may either be established by evidencing an intention to reside in Malta for any fiscal year, usually by the purchase / rental of property and visits to Malta or as matter of fact by a stay of a minimum of 183 days.

Residence in Malta for the purposes of citizenship is distinct from personal tax residence though and may be satisfied by a number of other criteria establishing a real connection with Malta.
Advice from Malta immigration agents should be sought on satisfying the genuine link test for citizenship as well as the tax implications of successfully completing this one year requirement.


Maltese Citizenship Resources:

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