Malta Citizenship Requirements

Twelve months plus four earlier years

The ordinary rule requires residence throughout the twelve months immediately before application, plus at least four aggregate years during the preceding six years. The Minister may exceptionally count earlier residence. This is an eligibility test, not citizenship automatically granted after five years.

Maltese or English

Adequate knowledge of either Maltese or English is required. The reviewed rule does not specify a CEFR level. A court-authorised application for an adult lacking full legal capacity is exempt from this language condition; other eligibility criteria remain.

Adult eligibility and ministerial assessment

The ordinary applicant is a foreign or stateless person aged at least 18 with legal capacity, subject to the court-authorised exception. Good character and suitability as a Maltese citizen must satisfy the Minister, who may grant or refuse the application.

Residence evidence, sponsors and oath

First arrange an Agency appointment to establish the residence record using current and expired passports. Further documents and two eligible non-relative sponsors are required. The allegiance oath normally precedes naturalisation, with the court-authorised capacity exception. Successful applicants become citizens on the certificate's date.

Multiple citizenship permitted by Malta

Malta permits dual or multiple citizenship. That does not ensure another nationality is retained: the existing country's law may remove it following voluntary naturalisation elsewhere.

Former investment framework is not current

The Agency's February 2026 clarification says the former citizenship-by-investment framework was repealed following the April 2025 CJEU judgment. Citizenship by merit is separately discretionary, not its continuation or substitute. Do not present either as an automatic alternative to ordinary naturalisation.