The Malta golden passport program paves the way to becoming an EU citizen. Apart from permission to work and live in a beautiful country with a healthy Mediterranean climate, after receiving your passport, you and your family will be able to travel across Europe without a visa. Your children will be able to study at the best European universities, and you won’t need to give up your other citizenships. Read this article to find out about all of the Malta passport benefits.
Benefits of the EU Passport
Malta is a full-fledged member of the EU, which means that a person can use all the benefits it gives. This is truly the main advantage of many benefits of Malta citizenship, as it opens many opportunities. Those include:
- The possibility to travel freely between the EU states.
- Access to the European Union’s free education and healthcare system.
- Permission to own land in any EU country.
Living in the union and being its citizen is a pledge for the future of education, business, and quality of life thanks to developed infrastructure and stability. That is why it is one of the greatest Malta passport benefits.
Malta Is Part of the Commonwealth
Besides being an EU member, Malta is one of the few European countries that belong to the Commonwealth. Having a passport of its member grants additional benefits, such as visa-free travel to its 54 nation members, extending the list of visa-free countries for Malta passport. A particular bonus is the possibility to travel and stay for six months in the UK without a visa. The Commonwealth citizens can also ask for assistance in British embassies in the non-member countries if they happen to have any troubles while traveling there.
Malta Golden Passport Program
Investors who make a noticeable contribution to the country’s economy get a chance to become citizens in 12 to 36 months. The process begins with applying for a residency permit, which is issued for 36 months. Then, no longer than 12 months later, a person must apply for citizenship eligibility, after which a special committee will conduct due diligence and conclude if a person is eligible for citizenship. After 12 to 36 months of residency and a positive conclusion from the committee, a person can apply for Malta citizenship through investment. There are three criteria an applicant must meet to go from the application to the naturalization process:
- Buy €700,000 worth of real estate or lease one for €16,000 a year for a minimum of 5 years.
- Make a non-refundable Malta passport investment of €600,000-750,000 to the government fund.
- Donate at least €10,000 to a charitable NGO.
English Is Widely Spoken in Malta
Though Malta has its language, English is common in the country and is a second official language. This makes adapting to a new home country much easier and less stressful, especially for children.
Easier Naturalization Process for Investors
Citizenship by investment in Malta cancels many obligations a regular naturalization process has. Investors don’t need to pass language and citizenship tests. They are waived from necessary business experience and mandatory military service.
Tax Optimization
According to Victoria Atanasova, an expert from Immigrant Invest, changing tax residence for Malta provides one of the greatest opportunities for tax optimization across Europe. In Malta, the VAT is below 20%, and there are no taxes on gifts and inheritance. This is a perfect addition to the benefits of Malta citizenship regarding business prospects in the EU.
Conclusion
A Maltese passport allows moving freely between the members of the EU with the possibility to live and work there for a long period. It grants visa-free travel to over 160 countries, which include members of the EU and the Commonwealth spread across the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Malta’s golden visa program allows becoming a citizen in 12 to 36 months.
