New Bill Seeks to Redefine Maltese Citizenship by Merit

The Maltese government has officially this week proposed a Bill which seeks to further enhance its citizenship by merit scheme. Departing from past approaches that involved financial thresholds to obtain Maltese citizenship, the proposed amendments seek to eliminate any transactional elements. Instead, they establish a pathway to Maltese citizenship for individuals who demonstrate exceptional merit or contribute meaningfully to Malta’s national development, strategic priorities, and principles of solidarity. The proposed Bill to amend the Maltese Citizenship Act serves three main purposes:

1. To align Malta’s citizenship framework with the ECJ’s ruling in Case C-181/23;
2. To establish clear legal criteria for awarding citizenship by merit, in support of the goals established in the Malta Vision 2050 – the strategic plan aimed at transforming Malta into a smart, sustainable, and inclusive economy by fostering innovation, improving quality of life, and ensuring long-term socio-economic growth;
3. To reaffirm Malta’s constitutional sovereignty in determining its own citizenship laws, as also recognized by the EU Court of Justice.

This reform provides for a structured evaluation overseen by an expert board, supported by due diligence procedures. Applicants must not only prove that their contribution is exceptional, but also that it provides a clear and meaningful benefit to Malta’s public interest. An exceptional contribution is one which provides benefit to the country including achievements in areas such as science, sport, culture, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, technology, and job creation. 

Several safeguards and steps have been introduced to preserve the integrity of the process through which Maltese citizenship by merit may be granted. These include:

1. A formal submission made to Komunità Malta, initiating consideration for applicants’ eligibility under the citizenship by merit framework.
2. Undergo a comprehensive due diligence process, during which the applicants’ background, integrity, and overall suitability of applicants will be thoroughly assessed;
3. Evaluation of the applications by an independent board, established to provide an impartial assessment;
4. Interviews or the submission of additional information, if required, for verification purposes by sector-specific bodies or subject-matter experts; and
5. A final decision by the Minister, who may grant citizenship based on the board’s recommendation.

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