The Maltese Citizenship (Amendment) Bill of 2025 introduces key legal changes aimed at amending the citizenship framework, primarily through the repeal of the citizenship by investment programme, and a significant revision to Article 10(9) of the Maltese Citizenship Act. This amendment was prompted by the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union, which found Malta’s scheme to be in breach of EU law.
Under the revised Article 10(9), the Minister may grant a certificate of naturalisation by merit to a foreign national or stateless person on the basis of exceptional service or contribution to Malta or to humanity. Such contributions may include achievements in scientific research, technological advancement, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, the arts, and sports. Importantly, job creation is explicitly mentioned as a qualifying contribution, reflecting the government’s intention to align citizenship acquisition with long-term national interests such as Malta’s Vision 2050 strategy.
For a person to be considered eligible under this merit-based route, their contributions must be demonstrably superior or add clear value to the country or humanity. Furthermore, the Minister may also grant naturalisation to the eligible dependants of such individuals.
In practice, this marks a complete departure from the transactional nature of the previous investor programme, which allowed individuals to acquire citizenship after making a substantial financial contribution and fulfilling basic residence conditions. The new model introduces a more discretionary, case-by-case assessment based on national interest and genuine merit.
This document does not purport to give legal, financial or tax advice. Should you require further information or legal assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Julian Fenech Adami.