Malta To Abolish Citizenship For Investment Programme

The Government has announced amendments to the Maltese Citizenship Act, which will see the removal of the Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services programme and changes to the naturalisation process.cit

In a statement, the Government said the changes aim to align Maltese legislation with a recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (C-181/23).

The amendments also remove all references to the discontinued programme, including associated transactions and agents.

According to the Government, the revised law reinforces merit-based citizenship and supports national objectives outlined in Malta Vision 2050, with a focus on added value and job creation.

The amendments also reflect the principle that citizenship remains a national competence, a point reaffirmed in the Court’s ruling.

Speaking in Parliament, Minister for Home Affairs Byron Camilleri said, “Malta will continue to uphold its sovereign right to grant citizenship in the national interest. While we are reinforcing merit-based citizenship, we are removing references to the Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services programme.”

The Partit Nazzjonalista (PN) welcomed the decision, calling it “a positive step forward”.

In a statement, the party said it had always opposed the sale of citizenship and insisted that Maltese citizenship should never carry a price tag. “This confirms the need for a genuine connection with our country and for merit to strengthen citizenship, not sell it.”

The PN added that it would continue to consult legal experts and stakeholders to evaluate the changes proposed in the Bill.

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