Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services

L.N. 159 of 2025

MALTESE CITIZENSHIP ACT

(CAP. 188)

Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services

(Amendment) Regulations, 2025

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by article 24 of the

Maltese Citizenship Act, the President of Malta has made the

following regulations:-

The title of these regulations is the Granting of Citizenship

for Exceptional Services (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 and these

regulations shall be read and construed as one with the Granting of

Citizenship for Exceptional Services Regulations, hereinafter referred

to as the "principal regulations".

Regulation 1 of the principal regulations shall be

substituted by the following new regulation

"1. The title of these regulations is the Granting of

Citizenship by Naturalisation on the basis of Merit

Regulations.".

Regulation 2 of the principal regulations shall be

substituted by the following new regulation

"2. The scope of these regulations is to prescribe the

requirements and to regulate the granting of citizenship by

naturalisation on the basis of merit in accordance with article

10(9) of the Act.".

Regulation 3 of the principal regulations shall be

substituted by the following new regulation

3. In these regulations, unless the context

"Interpretation.

otherwise requires

"Act" means the Maltese Citizenship Act;

"Agency" means the Community Malta

Agency established by the Community Malta

Agency (Establishment) Order;

"applicant" means an applicant who submits

an application for citizenship of Malta by

naturalisation in accordance with these regulations

and shall also include a main applicant who applies

on his own behalf and on behalf of a dependant or a

person who applies on behalf of another person,

but does not include a dependant;

"application" means any proposal or

application made by the applicant in accordance

with these regulations;

"authenticated

translation"

means

a

translation made by a recognised translator;

"certified copy" means a photocopy of an

original document certified to be a true copy of the

original, by a duly warranted lawyer, notary public,

commissioner for oaths, Maltese consular or

diplomatic officer, in accordance with such

guidelines as the Agency may issue from time to

time;

"Commissioner" means the Information and

Data Protection Commissioner as defined in the

Data Protection Act;

"dependant" means the family members of

the main applicant in terms of these regulations, to

the extent indicated and strictly related to the

naturalisation process and shall include

(a) the spouse of the main applicant

in a monogamous marriage or partner in

another relationship having the same or

similar status to a monogamous marriage,

including a civil

union, domestic

partnership, common law marriage, provided

that for the purpose of these regulations, the

term "spouse" shall be construed as gender

neutral, and saving the discretion of the

Minister to authorise, on a case by case basis,

other relationships having a similar status as

aforesaid;

(b) a child of the main applicant or

of his dependant as defined in paragraph (a)

including an adopted child, who has not yet

attained eighteen (18) years of age at the time

when the main applicant submits a proposal

letter in terms of regulation 11A which is

accepted by the Agency;

(c) a child of the main applicant or

of his dependant as defined in paragraph (a)

including an adopted child, who has attained

eighteen (18) years of age but has not yet

attained twenty-nine (29) years of age,

when the main applicant submits a proposal

letter in terms of regulation 11A which is

accepted by the Agency, and who is not

married and proves, to the satisfaction of the

Minister, that he is wholly maintained or

otherwise largely supported by the main

applicant;

(d) a child of the main applicant or

of his dependant as defined in paragraph (a),

including an adopted child, who at the time

when the main applicant submits a proposal

letter in accordance with these regulations

has attained eighteen (18) years of age and is

wholly maintained or otherwise largely

supported by the main applicant and is a

qualified person with a disability as defined

in the Equal Opportunities (Persons with

Disability) Act

Provided that where such child

does not have legal capacity the provisions of

article 21(3) of the Act shall apply;

"designated competent body" means the

locally registered entity in Malta as designated by

the Agency from time to time that is capable of

determining whether an individual is recognised in

a particular field as a leading talent, or has

demonstrated exceptional promise and is likely

to become a leading talent or is of exceptional

interest to the Republic of Malta or otherwise falls

within the parameters of article 10(9) of the Act;

"due diligence data" means any personal

data pertaining to the applicant, or the dependant

or dependants if applicable, collected and

processed by the Agency as part of the due

diligence process, excluding the personal data

collected by the Agency directly from the

applicant or the dependant or dependants, if

applicable;

"Evaluation Board" or the "Board" means

the group of individuals appointed in accordance

with these regulations to evaluate applications

made in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h article 10(9) of

the Act and to prepare a recommendation with

regard to each application to be referred to the

Minister responsible for citizenship in terms of

these regulations;

"exceptional" shall have the same meaning

assigned to it in article 10(9) of the Act;

"exceptional contributions" shall have the

same meaning assigned to it in article 10(9) of the

Act;

"exceptional interest" shall have the same

meaning assigned to it in article 10(9) of the Act;

"exceptional services" shall have the same

meaning assigned to it in article 10(9) of the Act;

"letter of approval" means the letter issued

following the approval of the application for

naturalisation on the basis of merit submitted by

the applicant as provided for in regulation 11B;

"letter of approval in principle" means the

letter issued following the approval in principle of

the proposal letter made by the applicant as

provided for in regulation 11A;

"main applicant" means the person who

submits an application in terms of these regulations

wherein dependants are included;

"Minister" shall h a v e the same meaning

assigned to it in article 2 o f the Act;

"person" means a physical person and

where applicable means a legal person;

"Regulation" means Regulation (EU) 2016/

679 of the European Parliament and the Council

of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural

persons with regard to the processing of personal

data and on the free movement of such data, and

repealing Directive 95/46/EC.".

In the title of Part II of the principal regulations the words Amends the title

"General provisions applicable to all applications" shall be substituted of

Part II of the

principal

by the words "Applications for citizenship by naturalisation on the regulations.

basis of merit".

Regulation 5 of the principal regulations shall be amended

as follows

(a)

sub-regulation (1) thereof shall be amended as

follows

(i) the words "A person may apply for a certificate

of naturalisation under these regulations if that person:"

shall be substituted by the words "A person, including a

dependant of a main applicant, may qualify for a certificate

of naturalisation under these regulations if that person:";

(ii) in paragraph (c) thereof the word "Community"

shall be substituted by the word "community";

(iii) in paragraph (d) thereof the words "satisfies the

requirements" shall be substituted by the words "satisfies

all the applicable requirements";

(b) sub-regulation (2) thereof shall be substituted by the

following new sub-regulation

"(2) In addition to the qualifications established in

sub-regulation (1), a person may qualify for a certificate

of naturalisation in accordance with these regulations if

such person

(a) renders an exceptional service to the

Republic of Malta or to humanity; or

(b) makes an exceptional contribution to

the Republic of Malta or to humanity; or

(c) is of exceptional interest to the Republic

of Malta.".

Regulation 6 of the principal regulations shall be amended

as follows

(a) in the marginal note thereof the words "for

exceptional services." shall be substituted by the words "on the

basis of merit.";

(b)

sub-regulation (1) thereof shall be amended as

follows

(i) in paragraph (a) thereof the words "whether

such person has been found guilty, declared innocent or

otherwise acquitted for any reason by such Court" shall be

substituted by the words "whether such person has been

found innocent or otherwise acquitted for any reason by

such Court";

(ii) in paragraph (c) thereof the word "is" shall be

substituted by the word "are";

(iii) in paragraph (d) thereof the words "has, at any

time, been charged with or found guilty" shall be

substituted by the words "have, at any time, been charged

or found guilty";

(iv) in paragraph (e) thereof the words "has, at any

time" shall be substituted by the word "have, at any time";

(v) paragraph (f) thereof shall be substituted by the

following new paragraph

"(f) he or any of his dependants have, at any

time, been found guilty of, or at any time during the

processing of the application, have been interrogated

or are suspected of, or have criminal charges brought

against them, for any criminal offence punishable

with more than one (1) year imprisonment other than

an involuntary offence;";

(vi) in paragraph (g) thereof the words "is or is

likely to be, involved" shall be substituted by the words

"are or are likely to be involved";

(vii) paragraph (h) thereof shall be substituted by the

following new paragraph

"(h) he or any of his dependants have been

denied a visa to a country with whom Malta has visa-

free travel arrangements and have not subsequently

obtained a visa from such country

Provided that such applicant may still be

considered as eligible to apply if the Agency is satisfied

that the visa was not denied on grounds concerning public

policy, or serious threats to public security and, or public

health under Maltese law;";

(viii) in paragraph (i) thereof the words "is named or

listed" shall be substituted by the words "are named or

listed".

Regulation 7 of the principal regulations shall be amended

as follows

(a) sub-regulation (1) thereof shall be substituted by the

following new sub-regulation

"(1) Applications, other than a proposal letter, shall

be made on such forms as may be prescribed under the

Citizenship Regulations.";

(b) sub-regulation (2) thereof shall be substituted by the

following new sub-regulation

"(2) The applications and other accompanying

documents shall be completed in the Maltese or English

language and, if the original language of a document is not

Maltese or English, the document shall be accompanied by

an authenticated translation into Maltese or English.";

(c) sub-regulation (4) thereof shall be substituted by the

following new sub-regulation

"(4) All applications submitted for naturalisation in

terms of these regulations may be submitted by an

applicant, together with his dependants, where applicable,

or by such other competent professional as approved by the

Agency and duly authorised by the applicant.";

(d) in sub-regulation (5) thereof immediately after the

words "confirmed on oath" there shall be added the words

",where applicable,";

(e) in sub-regulation (7) thereof immediately after the

words "If an applicant" there shall be added the words "or any of

his dependants,".

Regulations 8 to 10 of the principal regulations shall be

In the title of Part III of the principal regulations the words

"Special Provisions applicable to naturalisation for exceptional

services by merit" shall be substituted by the words "The Application

and Evaluation Process".

Regulation 11 of the principal regulations shall be

substituted by the following new regulation

11. (1) The Agency shall carry out on behalf

"Special provisions

of the Minister the processing of applications for

citizenship by naturalisation on the basis of merit.

(2) Every application shall be presented to the

Minister through the Agency.

(3) Only applicants in receipt of a letter of

approval in principle and any dependants included

therein in terms of these regulations are eligible to

submit an application for a certificate of citizenship by

naturalisation on the basis of merit in terms of

regulation 11B.".

Immediately after regulation 11 of the principal Adds new

regulations, as substituted, there shall be added the following new regulations

the principal

regulations.

11A. (1) An

individual

applying

for

naturalisation on the basis of merit in terms of these

regulations shall first submit a comprehensive proposal

to the Board through the Agency by means of a letter,

consisting of the following

(a) an introduction of the applicant and, if

applicable, his dependants together with a

comprehensive overview of his achievements;

(b) a detailed description of the exceptional

service or exceptional contribution the applicant

intends to render or make for the benefit of the

Republic of Malta or of humanity in accordance

with these regulations, or a detailed description of

why he should be considered of exceptional

interest to the Republic of Malta;

(c) a detailed plan on how the applicant

intends to continue contributing to the Republic

of Malta following naturalisation, should the

application be successful; and

(d) any other documents the Agency may

request following receipt of the proposal letter.

(2) Once the Agency is satisfied with the

completeness of the proposal letter but in any case prior

to submitting the proposal letter for evaluation by the

Board for the purposes of this regulation, the Agency

shall

(a) cause due diligence controls to be

performed also by third parties, including one (1)

or more internationally recognised specialised

due diligence service providers, in respect of

every applicant and his dependants, where

applicable. Such due diligence controls shall be of

a four (4) tier nature or more, as the Agency shall

determine from time to time and may include

security checks to be carried out by law

enforcement authorities in accordance with the

Data Protection (Processing of Personal Data by

Competent Authorities for the Purposes of the

Prevention,

Investigation,

Detection

or

Prosecution of Criminal Offences or the

Execution of Criminal Penalties) Regulations

Provided that with regard to controls

concerning money laundering and terrorism

financing risks, law enforcement authorities may

use available tools used by pertinent authorities

having the necessary authority to conduct such

controls;

(b) have all relevant information provided

by the applicant verified by one (1) or more

independent due diligence service providers, with

due regard to anti-money laundering and financing

of terrorism legislation and guidelines issued by

the competent authorities;

(c) have the background of the applicant

and his dependants, if any, verified by one (1) or

more independent due diligence service providers;

(d) ensure that an appropriate risk

assessment has been carried out as established by

the Agency;

(e) request the applicant to produce any

further documentation and information that the

Agency may require on the applicant and his

dependants, where applicable;

(f) request the applicant to pay any

applicable non-refundable administrative fees as

may be established by the Agency from time to

time and such other fees as the case may be.

(3) Once the Agency is satisfied with the

completeness and fulfilment of all controls in terms of

sub-regulation (2), it shall request the Board to evaluate

the proposal submitted by the applicant in terms of

these regulations. During this process, the Board may,

inter alia, request additional documents or information

from the applicant, through the Agency, as it deems

necessary.

(4) The Board, following the evaluation process,

shall have the authority to recommend the proposal to the

Agency for approval or rejection based on its assessment.

The Agency shall subsequently submit the

recommendation of the Board to the Minister for final

approval or rejection. The Minister shall not be obliged

to provide any reason in support of his decision, which

decision shall be final.

(5) If the proposal is rejected by the Minister, the

Agency shall notify the applicant in writing of the

refusal.

(6) If the proposal is approved in principle by the

Minister, the Agency shall issue a letter of approval in

principle in favour of the applicant and his dependants

where applicable.

11B. (1) Pursuant to the receipt of the letter of

approval in principle in accordance with these

regulations, the applicant, together with his dependants,

where applicable, may subsequently proceed to file an

application for naturalisation on the basis of merit, which

application shall be accompanied by

(a) proof of residence in Malta for a

period of at least eight (8) months or more in the

period preceding the date of application;

(b) in the case of an applicant who has

submitted a proposal letter, proof of title to

adequate residential property in Malta, except in

the case of an applicant who is a minor

Provided that where the applicant who

has submitted a proposal letter and is not a main

applicant, is still a member of the household of

his family, the Minister may, if he is satisfied that

the applicant is not in a position to purchase or

take on lease such property, waive this

requirement;

(c) an indication of the exceptional

service or the exceptional contribution rendered

or made or to be rendered or made to the Republic

of Malta or to humanity, or of the exceptional

interest that his naturalisation is or may be to the

Republic of Malta together with an endorsement by

the designated competent body in terms of these

regulations, as may be requested by the Board;

(d) a confirmation of adequate knowledge

of Maltese or English; and

(e) proof of all other ties created with the

Republic of Malta as at that stage as proposed in

the proposal letter.

(2) Upon receipt of an application, the Agency

shall

(a) update its due diligence;

(b) request the applicant to produce any

further documentation and information that it may

require on the applicant and his dependants, where

applicable at its discretion;

(c) request the applicant to pay any

applicable non-refundable administrative fees as

may be established by the Agency from time to

time and such other fees as the case may be.

(3) When the Agency is satisfied with the

completeness and fulfilment of all controls in terms of

regulation 11B(2), it shall request the Board to evaluate

the application submitted by the applicant, and his

dependants, where applicable, further to the proposal

letter submitted by him. Such further evaluation shall

be performed within a reasonable period. During this

process, the Board may request additional documents or

information from the applicant, through the Agency, as

it deems necessary.

(4) The Board, following the evaluation process,

shall have the authority to recommend the application to

the Agency for approval or rejection. The Agency shall

subsequently submit the recommendation to the Minister

for final approval or rejection. The Minister shall not be

obliged to provide any reason in support of his decision,

which decision shall be final.

(5) If the application is rejected by the Minister,

the Agency shall notify the applicant in writing with the

decision.

(6) If the application is approved by the Minister,

the Agency shall issue a letter of approval in favour of

the applicant and his dependants, where applicable,

which letter of approval may also include certain

continuing obligations, where applicable.

Regulation 12 of the principal regulations shall be Substitutes

regulation 12 of

substituted by the following new regulation

the principal

regulations.

12. (1) The Evaluation Board shall evaluate

applications filed in terms of these regulations.

(2) The composition of the Evaluation Board

shall vary in accordance with the nature of the

application to be evaluated and shall comprise

(a) a Chairperson to be appointed by the

Minister after consultation with the Cabinet of

Ministers, who shall be a person who has practiced

the profession of advocate for at least seven (7)

years; and

(b) two (2) members to be selected by the

Chairperson from amongst the members of three

(3) panels to be appointed by the Minister, which

panels shall include persons having knowledge of

sport, culture, the arts, science, research,

philanthropy, technology and entrepreneurship and

any other area as may be established from time to

time.

(3) The Chairperson and the appointed panel

members of the Evaluation Board shall hold office for a

term of three (3) years and under such conditions as may

be established in their letter of appointment, and shall, on

the expiration of the term of their office, be eligible to be

reappointed.

(4) The Chairperson and the appointed panel

members of the Evaluation Board shall be adequately

remunerated, as determined by the Minister.

(5) The Chairperson and the panel members of

the Evaluation Board shall, before commencing to

execute their duties, take an oath in the form established

in the Schedule. Such oath shall be taken before, and

shall be deposited with, the State Advocate.

(6) When any vacancy in the Evaluation Board

occurs, the Minister shall, as soon as practicable, appoint

another person to fill the vacancy.

(7) A member of the Evaluation Board may be

removed from office by the Minister upon proof of

inability to discharge the functions of his office, whether

arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other

cause, or for misbehaviour.

(8) The Chairperson and any member of the

Evaluation Board may abstain from sitting or may be

challenged for any of the causes mentioned in article 734

of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure.

(9) Save as otherwise expressly provided by

these regulations, the Evaluation Board may make its

own rules and otherwise regulate its own procedure.

(10) The Minister shall appoint a Secretary to the

Evaluation Board and such other officers as may be

necessary from time to time and shall determine their

duties.

(11) The Evaluation Board shall have the power to

request such technical advice as it may deem necessary

for the proper performance of its functions.

(12) Any notice issued by the Board shall be

signed by the Chairperson and counter-signed by the

Secretary.

(13) The findings of the Evaluation Board shall be

signed by the Chairperson and by the Secretary and

forwarded to the Minister for his consideration, through

the Agency.".

Regulation 13 of the principal regulations shall be

substituted by the following new regulation

13. (1) The Evaluation Board shall evaluate

the proposal letter and applications submitted in terms of

these regulations and prepare a recommendation. The

Board may, at any stage, interview the applicant in

person and any other person it may deem fit.

(2) The Board may also interview the legal

representative of the designated competent body

endorsing the applicant and any other person it may

deem fit.".

Regulation 14 of the principal regulations shall be

substituted by the following new regulation

14. (1) The applicant and his dependants,

"Oath of allegiance.

where applicable, shall be required to take the oath of

allegiance, which, in the case of the applicant shall be

taken within six (6) months from the issuance of the

letter of approval

Provided that the Minister may extend the

said period of six (6) months in exceptional

circumstances.

(2) A certificate of naturalisation on the basis of

merit in accordance with these regulations may be issued

to the applicant and his dependants where applicable,

once the oath of allegiance has been taken.

(3) The Agency may suspend or terminate the

application process before the Minister issues a

certificate of naturalisation, if the applicant fails to

satisfy all conditions or if the Minister is no longer

satisfied that the applicant is worthy of Maltese

citizenship.".

Regulations 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 21 of the principal Deletes

regulations 15,

regulations shall be deleted.

16, 17, 18, 19

and 21 of the

principal

regulations.

Regulation 22 of the principal regulations shall be Substitutes

regulation 22 of

substituted by the following new regulation

the principal

regulations.

(1) The applicant shall, prior to taking the

oath of allegiance, undertake and confirm in writing

annual compliance

that he shall continue to observe and fulfil all

continuing obligations and such other commitments, in

terms of his application and these regulations, or as may

otherwise be stipulated by the Minister in the letter of

approval as applicable.

(2) The Agency shall ensure the ongoing

fulfilment of commitments and continuing obligations,

and if necessary, it may request proof of observation of

these commitments and obligations and make its own

verifications.".

18. In regulation 23 of the principal regulations, the words Amends

"The Agency shall, from time to time, issue procedural guidelines" regulation

the principal

shall be substituted by the words "The Agency may, from time to time, regulations.

issue guidelines".

19. Regulation 24 of the principal regulations shall be

substituted by the following new regulation

(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of

" Deprivation of

article 14 of the Act, the Minister shall have the power to

deprive a person of Maltese citizenship granted under

these regulations, if the person

(a) fails to comply with any material

obligation or other commitments established by

these regulations or as stipulated in the letter of

approval issued by the Agency; or

(b) becomes a threat to national security;

or

(c) is involved in conduct which is

seriously

prejudicial to the interests of the

Republic of Malta.

(2) In such cases the procedure for

deprivation of citizenship stipulated in article 14 of

the Act and in any regulations made under the Act

in respect of such deprivation, shall mutatis

mutandis apply.".

20. Regulation 25 of the principal regulations shall be

substituted by the following new regulation

Persons shall act in good faith, uphold

" Good faith and

professional standards and maintain high levels of

integrity in all matters related to the acquisition of

citizenship by naturalisation, ensuring that all actions

regarding

such

naturalisation

are

conducted

responsibly, appropriately and in accordance with the

requirements established by the Agency.".

21. Regulation 27 of the principal regulations shall be amended

as follows

(a) sub-regulation (1) thereof shall be substituted by the

following new sub-regulation

"(1) Other than for the proper discharge of their

duties or functions under these regulations and in terms of

the Act, including for the purposes of the due diligence

controls referred to in regulation 11A(2) and regulation

11B(2), or as may be otherwise provided in any other law,

the Agency, and the officers and employees of the Agency,

shall at all times treat all information furnished in

accordance with these regulations as confidential and the

Agency shall solely use it for the purposes of these

regulations, and shall not directly or indirectly, disclose

such information to any other person, except with the

consent of the person to whom the information relates. For

the purposes of this sub-regulation, "employees" and

"officials" shall include former employees and officials.";

(b) in sub-regulation (3) thereof immediately after the

words "the Malta Financial Services Authority" there shall be

added the words ", the Malta Business Registry".

22. Regulations 30 and 31 of the principal regulations shall be Deletes

regulations 30

and 31 of the

principal

regulations.

23. The First Schedule to the principal regulations shall be Substitutes the

First Schedule

substituted by the following new Schedule

to the principal

regulations.

"Schedule

(regulation 12)

Form of Oath to be Taken by the Chairperson or a Member of the

Evaluation Board

I, ............................................................................. having been

appointed to be Chairperson/Member of the Evaluation Board for the

period ............................................ to ...............................................,

do swear/solemnly affirm that I shall faithfully, fully, impartially and

to the best of my ability, discharge the trust and perform the duties

devolving upon me by virtue of the said appointment.

So help me God.

Chairperson/Member".

24. The Second, Third and Fourth Schedules to the principal Deletes the

Second, Third

regulations shall be deleted.

and Fourth

Schedules to the

principal

regulations.

25. The acquisition, deprivation or retention of Maltese

citizenship by naturalisation regulated by the respective law or

regulations in force prior to the coming into force of the Granting of

Citizenship for Exceptional Services (Amendment) Regulations, 2025

2025. shall continue to be regulated by, and shall remain valid under, the

respective law or regulations applicable thereto

Provided that any applications submitted under Part IV of the

Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services Regulations which had

not been approved for naturalisation by the Minister under the said Part

IV prior to 29 April 2025, shall cease to have effect.

€1.53