Source: https://cbi.me/citizenship-routes/malta-by-merit/ Discretionary Current merit framework; 2025 amendments # 🇲🇹Malta — Citizenship by merit Citizenship by merit is classified as special route. Its inventory status is discretionary. No published purchase price. Case-by-case statutory assessment Evidence & review dates · 13 October 2026 Evidence reviewed 13 October 2026Dated research; confirm current terms with the authority. [Community Malta Agency ↗](https://komunita.gov.mt/2026/02/05/malta-citizenship-by-merit/)[All sources & limitations →](https://cbi.me/citizenship-routes/malta-by-merit/#sources)[Suggest a correction →](https://cbi.me/corrections/?page=%2Fcitizenship-routes%2Fmalta-by-merit%2F) Selected source-backed facts checked 2026-10-24. Other facts retain their cited source dates. [Compare this programme →](https://cbi.me/?view=special&compare=mt-merit) Legal outcome Citizenship requires an individual legal decision Base amount No published purchase price Presence Discretionary ## Cost breakdown A complete itemised government-fee subtotal is not listed here. The qualifying amount remains separate from document, professional and other charges. Use the current government schedule for the exact applicant cohort. ## Family of four Household assumptions and eligibility Principal, spouse and two children aged under 12. Eligibility, age definitions and dependency rules apply. Separate legal criteria, not a family bundle price ## Requirements Eligibility, presence and exceptions Agency notice 5 February 2026 expressly says merit is not a continuation or alternative to former citizenship by investment. Presence Case-by-case statutory assessment Holding / ongoing duties No transactional investment schedule ## Travel access Destination rules, conditions and source dates This route does not establish ordinary national-passport privileges. Short visits; personal circumstances and entry conditions apply. Each rule retains its own check date. UK visits ETA / visit-visa exemptCurrent ordinary Malta national passport, after citizenship and passport issuance. UK short visits require an ETA unless an individual exemption applies; visitor conditions remain applicable. Checked 2026-10-24. - [Current visitor visa nationality and ETA eligibility lists ↗](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-visitor-visa-national-list)UK Home Office / UKVI · Government guidance · Checked 2026-10-24What this source supports Visitor-visa list includes Botswana, Jordan, North Macedonia, Georgia, Serbia and Pakistan; Austria, Malta and St Vincent have ordinary-passport ETA access under the separately cited eligibility guidance. - [Current ETA eligibility including Austria, Malta and St Vincent ↗](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-when-you-can-get-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta)UK Visas and Immigration · Government guidance · Checked 2026-10-24What this source supports Current ETA list includes Austria, Malta and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Update history records Botswana’s removal on 14 October 2025. Schengen visits EU free movementCurrent ordinary Malta national passport, after citizenship and passport issuance. EU citizenship gives travel-document rights using a valid national ID card or passport. These rights follow a legal nationality grant, not an investment payment. Checked 2026-10-24. - [EU citizen travel-document rights and exceptions ↗](https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/entry-exit/eu-citizen/faq/index_en.htm)European Union / Your Europe · Government guidance · Checked 2026-10-24What this source supports EU citizens enter other EU countries using a valid national identity card or passport; public-policy/security/health refusal has a separate legal test. USA visits Visa Waiver Program / ESTACurrent ordinary Malta national passport, after citizenship and passport issuance. Eligible tourism/business visits may use the Visa Waiver Program for up to 90 days, with ESTA, an eligible electronic passport and all personal eligibility conditions. Checked 2026-10-24. - [Visa Waiver Program nationality and passport requirements ↗](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html)US Department of State · Government guidance · Checked 2026-10-24What this source supports VWP requires participating citizenship/nationality, a qualifying passport and ESTA. A noncitizen investment document does not itself establish those requirements. Canada visits Visa-exempt · air eTACurrent ordinary Malta national passport, after citizenship and passport issuance. Air travellers need an eTA and valid passport unless exempt. Arrival by land/sea generally requires a valid passport without an eTA. Checked 2026-10-24. - [Entry requirements by nationality, status and travel document ↗](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/entry-requirements-country.html)Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · Government guidance · Checked 2026-10-24What this source supports Entry conditions depend on citizenship, travel document, status and transport. Foreign residence does not itself create a new nationality. Canadian and US permanent residents have separately described document rules. Global category counts, where shown above, are attributed publisher snapshots. The selected destination rules here use government evidence. Recognition of a document is separate from visa exemption. ## Sources Publications, supporting claims and review dates Checked means the cited material was reviewed, not that the authority published a new rule that day. Source authority and retrieval limitations are recorded below. Find a source - Malta citizenship by meritCommunity Malta Agency · Checked 2026-10-13 [Open source publication ↗](https://komunita.gov.mt/2026/02/05/malta-citizenship-by-merit/) Government guidance Merit is discretionary and expressly not a continuation/alternative to former investment scheme. - Current visitor visa nationality and ETA eligibility listsUK Home Office / UKVI · Checked 2026-10-24 [Open source publication ↗](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-visitor-visa-national-list) Government guidance Visitor-visa list includes Botswana, Jordan, North Macedonia, Georgia, Serbia and Pakistan; Austria, Malta and St Vincent have ordinary-passport ETA access under the separately cited eligibility guidance. - Current ETA eligibility including Austria, Malta and St VincentUK Visas and Immigration · Checked 2026-10-24 [Open source publication ↗](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-when-you-can-get-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta) Government guidance Current ETA list includes Austria, Malta and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Update history records Botswana’s removal on 14 October 2025. - EU citizen travel-document rights and exceptionsEuropean Union / Your Europe · Checked 2026-10-24 [Open source publication ↗](https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/entry-exit/eu-citizen/faq/index_en.htm) Government guidance EU citizens enter other EU countries using a valid national identity card or passport; public-policy/security/health refusal has a separate legal test. - Visa Waiver Program nationality and passport requirementsUS Department of State · Checked 2026-10-24 [Open source publication ↗](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html) Government guidance VWP requires participating citizenship/nationality, a qualifying passport and ESTA. A noncitizen investment document does not itself establish those requirements. - Entry requirements by nationality, status and travel documentImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · Checked 2026-10-24 [Open source publication ↗](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/entry-requirements-country.html) Government guidance Entry conditions depend on citizenship, travel document, status and transport. Foreign residence does not itself create a new nationality. Canadian and US permanent residents have separately described document rules. No sources match. Try a country, authority or a different word. All 6 source records are listed. Open a title to read its evidence and publication link. ## Compare alternatives - [🇯🇴Jordan](https://cbi.me/citizenship-routes/jordan/) - [🇦🇹Austria](https://cbi.me/citizenship-routes/austria-exceptional-achievements/) - [🇲🇰North Macedonia](https://cbi.me/citizenship-routes/north-macedonia/) - [🇬🇪Georgia](https://cbi.me/citizenship-routes/georgia-by-exception/) ## Useful guides - [CBI privacy and disclosure: what Saint Lucia’s law requires](https://cbi.me/guides/cbi-privacy-and-disclosure/) - [Does Croatia have citizenship by investment?](https://cbi.me/guides/croatia-citizenship-by-investment/) - [European investor routes: closed options, draft taxes and ongoing checks](https://cbi.me/guides/europe-investor-route-changes-2026/)