Malta’s citizenship-by-merit programme retains top spot in international index

Malta has once again been ranked as having the most attractive citizenship programme even after the closure of its controversial golden passport scheme, according to a new global ranking by London consultancy Henley and Partners.

The new citizenship-by-merit programme came out top in this year’s Henley and Partners Global Citizenship Program Index for the 11th year in a row, scoring 77 out of a possible 100.

Countries are scored across various criteria. Malta scored full marks on visa-free or visa-on-arrival access, compliance, residence requirements, and relocation flexibility.

Malta scored six out of 10 on reputation and eight out of 10 for quality of life and physical visit requirements. On investment requirements and transparency, Malta scored five out of a possible 10.

The index is described by the firm as a “comprehensive benchmarking of the world’s most important options for acquiring alternative citizenship”.

Malta’s passport grants visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a total 183 countries, according to Henley and Partners

Henley and Partners is no stranger to Malta; the firm was the former concessionaire for Malta’s now-defunct citizenship-by-investment, or ‘golden passport’, scheme, which closed last year after the EU Court of Justice ruled it violated EU law.

But despite it ending, foreigners seeking Maltese citizenship seem undeterred, with Henley and Partners reporting strong performance from the new citizenship-by-merit programme.

Malta’s new citizenship-by-merit initiative was the second most popular programme applied for through the firm, second only to Greece, a spokesperson for the company said.

And by mid-March, applications for the programme had already matched those seen between October and December, “so there is no doubt that it remains highly attractive”.

She added that Henley and Partners received applications from 100 different nationalities across 95 countries for over 60 residence and citizenship schemes last year.

The citizenship index describes Malta as “the Mediterranean’s best kept secret” and a “leading investment destination”.

Meanwhile, the Maltese passport continues to be ranked among the most powerful in the world, according to the same company. This year, Malta’s passport ranked fifth on the Henley and Partners Passport Index, alongside Austria, Greece and Portugal, the country’s highest result to date, and a two-place improvement on last year.

The index assesses passports based on how many countries they allow visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to, with Malta’s results boosted by its access to European countries due to its EU membership.

Maltese passports also grant visa-free entry to scores of non-EU countries such as the Philippines, South Africa and Venezuela. Malta’s passport grants visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a total 183 countries, according to Henley and Partners.

A bill establishing Malta’s citizenship-by-merit scheme sailed through Parliament in July last year, broadening an already existing scheme for anyone who provides “exceptional services” and/or “exceptional contributions” to Malta.

“Philanthropists and technologists” were added to the list of those eligible for the scheme, while reference to “investors” was removed. Other fields eligible for citizenship, which were previously included, cover science, research, sports, art and culture, job creation, and entrepreneurship.