{"id":46366,"date":"2022-08-25T13:03:05","date_gmt":"2022-08-25T18:03:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/?page_id=46366"},"modified":"2022-08-25T13:03:05","modified_gmt":"2022-08-25T18:03:05","slug":"maltas-citizenship-program-changes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/the-portuguese-golden-visa-2\/","title":{"rendered":"MALTA’S CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM CHANGES"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Malta'sA<\/span><\/span> new<\/span><\/span> residency<\/span><\/span> solution<\/span><\/span> will<\/span><\/span> replace<\/span><\/span> the<\/span><\/span> ongoing <\/span><\/span>Individual Investor Program, <\/span><\/span>Malta’s citizenship by <\/span><\/span>investment<\/span><\/span> scheme,<\/span><\/span> according<\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span> the<\/span><\/span> government.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/span> residency<\/span> by<\/span> investment<\/span> program<\/span> will<\/span> lead<\/span> to <\/span>citizenship<\/span> through<\/span> a<\/span> fast<\/span> track<\/span> process.<\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/span> news<\/span> arrived<\/span> from<\/span> the<\/span> most<\/span> official<\/span> source,<\/span> the <\/span>government’s<\/span> gazette<\/span> published<\/span> the<\/span> draft<\/span> amendments <\/span>to<\/span> the<\/span> Maltese<\/span> Citizenship<\/span> Act.<\/span> Alex<\/span> Muscat,<\/span> the Parliamentary Secretary for Citizenship and Communities,<\/span> told<\/span> journalists;<\/span> he<\/span> hopes<\/span> “that Parliament<\/span> will<\/span> approve<\/span> the<\/span> amendments<\/span> latest<\/span> in <\/span>September.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/span> government<\/span> will<\/span> end<\/span> the<\/span> passport<\/span> in<\/span> exchange<\/span> for <\/span>investment,<\/span> donation<\/span> and<\/span> real<\/span> estate<\/span> purchase<\/span> scheme, or<\/span> officially<\/span> Individual<\/span> Investor<\/span> Program<\/span> (IIP),<\/span> even<\/span> if<\/span> the <\/span>number<\/span> of<\/span> successful<\/span> applicants<\/span> will<\/span> not<\/span> reach<\/span> the <\/span>original<\/span> limit<\/span> of<\/span> 1,800.<\/span> During<\/span> the<\/span> six<\/span> years<\/span> of<\/span> the <\/span>Maltese<\/span> citizenship<\/span> by<\/span> investment<\/span> program,<\/span> 1,500 <\/span>applicants obtained the Mediterranean island nation’s <\/span>passport.<\/span><\/p>\n

How<\/span><\/span> Can<\/span><\/span> You<\/span><\/span> Become<\/span><\/span> A<\/span><\/span> Maltese<\/span><\/span> Citizen<\/span><\/span> Through <\/span><\/span>Investment<\/span><\/span> Under<\/span><\/span> The<\/span><\/span> New<\/span><\/span> Program?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/span> new<\/span> fast-track<\/span> system<\/span> allows<\/span> you<\/span> to<\/span> become<\/span> a <\/span>Maltese<\/span> passport<\/span> holder<\/span> after<\/span> residing<\/span> one<\/span> year<\/span> in<\/span> Malta. <\/span>Perhaps,<\/span> we<\/span> should<\/span> mention<\/span> here<\/span> that<\/span> this<\/span> issue<\/span> did<\/span> not <\/span>change<\/span> the<\/span> program<\/span> at<\/span> all,<\/span> only<\/span> by<\/span> name<\/span> because<\/span> the <\/span>third<\/span> country<\/span> citizens<\/span> had<\/span> to<\/span> reside<\/span> in<\/span> Malta<\/span> for<\/span> one<\/span> year to<\/span> get<\/span> citizenship<\/span> under<\/span> the<\/span> IIP<\/span> as<\/span> well.<\/span> According<\/span> to<\/span> the <\/span>amendment,<\/span> the<\/span> applicants<\/span> must<\/span> first<\/span> become<\/span> Maltese residents,<\/span> and<\/span> this<\/span> status<\/span> will<\/span> qualify<\/span> them<\/span> to<\/span> apply<\/span> for citizenship after one year.<\/span><\/p>\n

So,<\/span><\/span> What<\/span><\/span> Will<\/span><\/span> Be<\/span><\/span> The<\/span><\/span> Difference<\/span><\/span> Between<\/span><\/span> The <\/span><\/span>Original<\/span><\/span> Maltese<\/span><\/span> Citizenship<\/span><\/span> Program<\/span><\/span> And<\/span><\/span> The<\/span><\/span> New <\/span><\/span>Scheme?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

These<\/span> are<\/span> the<\/span> investment<\/span> requirements<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> original <\/span>Individual Investor program:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Donation<\/span><\/span> of<\/span><\/span> 650,000<\/span><\/span> euros<\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span> the<\/span><\/span> NDSF<\/span><\/span> (National <\/span><\/span>Development and Social Fund)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Investment<\/span><\/span> in<\/span><\/span> stocks,<\/span><\/span> bonds<\/span><\/span> or<\/span><\/span> other<\/span><\/span> special <\/span><\/span>purpose<\/span><\/span> vehicles<\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span> be<\/span><\/span> identified<\/span><\/span> by<\/span><\/span> Identity<\/span><\/span> Malta, <\/span><\/span>at<\/span><\/span> a<\/span><\/span> minimum<\/span><\/span> value<\/span><\/span> of<\/span><\/span> \u20ac150,000<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Purchase<\/span><\/span> a<\/span><\/span> real<\/span><\/span> estate<\/span><\/span> with<\/span><\/span> a<\/span><\/span> minimum<\/span><\/span> amount<\/span><\/span> of <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u20ac350,000,<\/span> to<\/span> be<\/span> held<\/span> for<\/span> at<\/span> least<\/span> five<\/span> years<\/span> or<\/span> the <\/span>leasing<\/span> a<\/span> residential<\/span> real<\/span> estate,<\/span> in<\/span> Malta,<\/span> for<\/span> a <\/span>period<\/span> of<\/span> five<\/span> years,<\/span> at<\/span> an<\/span> annual<\/span> rent<\/span> of<\/span> at<\/span> least <\/span>16,000<\/span> euros.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. A<\/span><\/span> Global<\/span><\/span> health<\/span><\/span> insurance<\/span><\/span> coverage<\/span><\/span> of<\/span><\/span> at<\/span><\/span> least <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u20ac50,000,<\/span> for<\/span> all<\/span> named<\/span> applicants.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Let’s<\/span> take<\/span> a<\/span> look<\/span> at<\/span> the<\/span> details<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> new<\/span> “fast-track <\/span>citizenship<\/span> through<\/span> residency<\/span> by<\/span> investment”<\/span> scheme.<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. The<\/span><\/span> applicant<\/span><\/span> must<\/span><\/span> live<\/span><\/span> one<\/span><\/span> year<\/span><\/span> in<\/span><\/span> Malta<\/span><\/span> as<\/span><\/span> a <\/span><\/span>resident.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      2. Investment of 700,000 euros instead of the previous <\/span><\/span>650,000<\/span><\/span> euros.<\/span><\/span> (Note<\/span><\/span> that<\/span><\/span> through<\/span><\/span> the<\/span><\/span> IIP,<\/span><\/span> this <\/span><\/span>principal<\/span><\/span> amount<\/span><\/span> was<\/span><\/span> a<\/span><\/span> donation.<\/span><\/span> Now,<\/span><\/span> according<\/span><\/span> to <\/span><\/span>the<\/span><\/span> government,<\/span><\/span> it<\/span><\/span> will<\/span><\/span> be<\/span><\/span> an<\/span><\/span> investment.<\/span><\/span> However, they<\/span><\/span> did<\/span><\/span> not<\/span><\/span> clarify<\/span><\/span> this<\/span><\/span> crucial<\/span><\/span> detail.)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      3. Fifty<\/span><\/span> thousand<\/span><\/span> euros<\/span><\/span> of<\/span><\/span> additional<\/span><\/span> payment<\/span><\/span> for<\/span><\/span> each <\/span><\/span>dependent family member.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      4. The<\/span><\/span> minimum<\/span><\/span> value<\/span><\/span> of<\/span><\/span> the<\/span><\/span> residential<\/span><\/span> real<\/span><\/span> estate<\/span><\/span> will <\/span><\/span>increase<\/span><\/span> from<\/span><\/span> 350,000<\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span> 700,000<\/span><\/span> euros.<\/span><\/span> If<\/span><\/span> the <\/span><\/span>property<\/span><\/span> is<\/span><\/span> rented,<\/span><\/span> the<\/span><\/span> minimum<\/span><\/span> rental<\/span><\/span> fee<\/span><\/span> will <\/span><\/span>increase<\/span><\/span> from<\/span><\/span> 16,000<\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span> 18,000<\/span><\/span> euros<\/span><\/span> annually.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      5. Applicants<\/span><\/span> must<\/span><\/span> also<\/span><\/span> make<\/span><\/span> a<\/span><\/span> mandatory<\/span><\/span> 10,000 <\/span><\/span>euros philanthropic<\/span><\/span><\/span> donation.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        The<\/span> applicants<\/span> become<\/span> Maltese<\/span> and<\/span> EU<\/span> citizens<\/span> after one<\/span> year<\/span> of<\/span> resident<\/span> status<\/span> in<\/span> Malta.<\/span> However,<\/span> the <\/span>residents<\/span> do<\/span> not<\/span> have<\/span> to<\/span> stay<\/span> a<\/span> certain<\/span> number<\/span> of<\/span> days <\/span>on the island.<\/span><\/p>\n

        Below:<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/b><\/i>Malta<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/b><\/i>is<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/b><\/i>famous<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/b><\/i>for<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/b><\/i>its<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/b><\/i>quaint<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/b><\/i>winding<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/b><\/i>streets<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

        \"Malta\"According<\/span> to<\/span> the<\/span> official<\/span> announcements,<\/span> there<\/span> will<\/span> be<\/span> a <\/span>second<\/span> option,<\/span> where<\/span> the<\/span> applicants<\/span> will<\/span> have<\/span> to<\/span> pay <\/span>600,000<\/span> euros<\/span> if<\/span> they<\/span> apply<\/span> after<\/span> a<\/span> residency<\/span> period<\/span> of <\/span>three<\/span> years.<\/span> (Regular<\/span> residents<\/span> of<\/span> Malta<\/span> can<\/span> become citizens<\/span> after<\/span> five<\/span> years<\/span> of<\/span> residence,<\/span> without <\/span>investment).<\/span><\/p>\n

        Meanwhile,<\/span> the<\/span> cap<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> immigration<\/span> scheme<\/span> will <\/span>change<\/span> as<\/span> well.<\/span> There<\/span> can<\/span> be<\/span> only<\/span> 400<\/span> applicants<\/span> per year,<\/span> and<\/span> the<\/span> total<\/span> number<\/span> of<\/span> new<\/span> citizens<\/span> under<\/span> the <\/span>entire<\/span> program<\/span> can’t<\/span> exceed<\/span> 1,500.<\/span><\/p>\n

        How Many Days Will You Have To Spend In Malta <\/span><\/span>During<\/span><\/span> The<\/span><\/span> One-Year<\/span><\/span> Residency<\/span><\/span> Before<\/span><\/span> The <\/span><\/span>Naturalisation?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

        Maltese<\/span> are<\/span> practical<\/span> people<\/span> who<\/span> understand<\/span> that <\/span>HNWIs<\/span> do<\/span> not<\/span> have<\/span> time<\/span> to<\/span> stay<\/span> in<\/span> one<\/span> location.<\/span><\/p>\n

        Therefore,<\/span> there<\/span> will<\/span> be<\/span> an<\/span> obligatory<\/span> short<\/span> time<\/span> to<\/span> stay <\/span>in Malta, perhaps a couple of weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n

        Why Does The Maltese Government Want To Scrap <\/span><\/span>The<\/span><\/span> Original<\/span><\/span> Citizenship<\/span><\/span> Program?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

        The<\/span> original<\/span> IIP<\/span> citizenship<\/span> by<\/span> investment<\/span> worked<\/span> too well,<\/span> and<\/span> the<\/span> new<\/span> scheme<\/span> must<\/span> be<\/span> “in<\/span> line”<\/span> with<\/span> the <\/span>other<\/span> EU<\/span> Member<\/span> States’<\/span> similar<\/span> solutions,<\/span> according<\/span> to <\/span>the<\/span> government.<\/span> There<\/span> are<\/span> only<\/span> two<\/span> official<\/span> citizenship <\/span>by<\/span> investment<\/span> programs<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> EU,<\/span> Cyprus<\/span> operates<\/span> the <\/span>other.<\/span> From<\/span> the<\/span> 27<\/span> EU<\/span> countries,<\/span> 20<\/span> introduced residency<\/span> by<\/span> investment<\/span> programs,<\/span> which<\/span> may<\/span> lead<\/span> to citizenship.<\/span> The<\/span> EU<\/span> Member<\/span> States<\/span> always<\/span> strive<\/span> for balance<\/span> and<\/span> for<\/span> the<\/span> laws<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> Member<\/span> States<\/span> to<\/span> be <\/span>more<\/span> or<\/span> less<\/span> leveled.<\/span> It<\/span> is<\/span> worth<\/span> noting<\/span> that<\/span> Malta<\/span> has<\/span> so <\/span>far<\/span> demanded<\/span> the<\/span> strictest<\/span> screening<\/span> and<\/span> due<\/span> diligence <\/span>processes<\/span> and<\/span> until<\/span> now<\/span> only<\/span> four<\/span> applicants<\/span> became unsuitable from the 1,500.<\/span><\/p>\n

        Is<\/span><\/span> It<\/span><\/span> Worth<\/span><\/span> Applying<\/span><\/span> For<\/span><\/span> The<\/span><\/span> Maltese<\/span><\/span> Citizenship <\/span><\/span>Under<\/span><\/span> The<\/span><\/span> New<\/span><\/span> Scheme?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

        Malta<\/span> is<\/span> one<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> most<\/span> charming<\/span> and<\/span> welcoming <\/span>Mediterranean, paradise island nations. Its passport is one<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> strongest<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> world,<\/span> and<\/span> don’t<\/span> forget<\/span> that <\/span>its<\/span> taxes<\/span> are<\/span> meagre,<\/span> compared<\/span> to<\/span> the<\/span> other<\/span> European countries.<\/span><\/p>\n

        During<\/span> the<\/span> research<\/span> of<\/span> information<\/span> for<\/span> this<\/span> article,<\/span> we heard<\/span> some<\/span> exciting<\/span> gossip.<\/span> It<\/span> looks<\/span> like<\/span> that<\/span> in <\/span>exchange<\/span> for<\/span> the<\/span> local<\/span> acceptance<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> amendments; <\/span>the<\/span> EU<\/span> agreed<\/span> to<\/span> change<\/span> the<\/span> famous<\/span> Maltese<\/span> “full imputation<\/span> system”,<\/span> where<\/span> the<\/span> taxpayer<\/span> company transfers<\/span> 35%<\/span> and<\/span> receives<\/span> 30%<\/span> back<\/span> as<\/span> a<\/span> refund.<\/span> It <\/span>means<\/span> that<\/span> practically,<\/span> the<\/span> tax<\/span> on<\/span> Maltese<\/span> companies<\/span> is<\/span>only<\/span> five<\/span> percent<\/span> or<\/span> even<\/span> less.<\/span> So,<\/span> what<\/span> we<\/span> heard<\/span> is<\/span> that, <\/span>perhaps,<\/span> the<\/span> tax<\/span> rate<\/span> will<\/span> be<\/span> only<\/span> 5%<\/span> without<\/span> the<\/span> time and<\/span> red<\/span> tape<\/span> obligations<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> imputation<\/span> system.<\/span><\/p>\n

        As<\/span> the<\/span> Maltese<\/span> government<\/span> will<\/span> accept<\/span> or<\/span> not<\/span> the <\/span>planned<\/span> amendments<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> immigration<\/span> and<\/span> tax<\/span> laws<\/span> in <\/span>September,<\/span> we<\/span> must<\/span> wait<\/span> a<\/span> little<\/span> bit<\/span> to<\/span> know<\/span> all<\/span> the<\/span> legal <\/span>details.<\/span> However,<\/span> it’s<\/span> sure<\/span> that<\/span> the<\/span> Maltese<\/span> citizenship <\/span>scheme<\/span> continues<\/span> and<\/span> will<\/span> serve<\/span> the<\/span> clients<\/span> and<\/span> provide <\/span>a<\/span> direct<\/span> financial<\/span> contribution<\/span> to<\/span> the<\/span> Treasury.<\/span><\/p>\n

        Below:<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/b><\/i>The<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/b><\/i>Republic<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/b><\/i>of<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/b><\/i>Malta<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/b><\/i>is<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/b><\/i>an archipelago<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/b><\/i>in<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/b><\/i>the<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/b><\/i>Mediterranean<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/b><\/i>Sea<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

        \"Republic<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        A new residency solution will replace the ongoing Individual Investor Program, Malta’s citizenship by investment scheme, according to the government. The residency by investment program will lead to citizenship through a fast track process. The news arrived from the most official source, the government’s gazette published the draft amendments to the Maltese Citizenship Act. Alex […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":702,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"yst_prominent_words":[37132,28965,2661,2660,22516,2966,9028,37129,2544,37133,14377,37138,9789,9776,9825,14737,2738,1878,2538,13406],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/46366"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/702"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46366"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/46366\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46379,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/46366\/revisions\/46379"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46366"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=46366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}