Can I hold dual citizenship in Malta?
Yes — Malta allows dual and multiple citizenship, and has done so since 2000. Under the Maltese Citizenship Act (Cap. 188), it is lawful to be a citizen of Malta and of another country at the same time — with no limit on how many citizenships you may hold. Before 10 February 2000, anyone who acquired another citizenship generally lost their Maltese one; that restriction was removed. The big myth: that you can still "buy" a Maltese passport by investment. The citizenship-by-investment scheme (the so-called "golden passport") was declared illegal by the Court of Justice of the EU on 29 April 2025, which held that selling citizenship breaches EU law. Dual citizenship acquired the normal way — by birth, descent, marriage or residence — remains fully allowed. The position in your other country may be different.
📋 The rules
- The Maltese Citizenship Act (Cap. 188) allows you to be a citizen of Malta and of another country at the same time.
- Malta allows dual and multiple citizenship with no limit on the number of citizenships.
- The rule that you lost your citizenship on acquiring another was removed on 10 February 2000.
- The citizenship-by-investment scheme ("golden passport") was declared illegal by the CJEU on 29 April 2025.
- Citizenship can be acquired by birth, descent, marriage or naturalisation by residence, and in these cases keeping the other is allowed.
🔓 Exceptions
- Your other country may not allow dual citizenship and may force you to give one up — Malta does not control this.
- Citizenship by investment is no longer a valid route after the 2025 ruling; new applications under that scheme are not accepted.
- Citizenship obtained by fraud or false declarations can be revoked by the Maltese authorities.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Getting citizenship wrong can be costly. Citizenship — including that gained by naturalisation — can be revoked if it is found to have been obtained by fraud, false declarations or the concealment of material facts. Anyone relying on websites that still advertise a "Maltese passport by investment" risks losing thousands in deposits and fees to intermediaries, because the route was closed by the CJEU in 2025 and citizenship granted that way now sits in legal uncertainty. On the practical side, holding two passports brings double obligations — such as tax, military service or reporting in some countries — and the fact that Malta allows dual citizenship does not cancel the obligations of the other country. Anyone who assumes Malta can override foreign rules will find it cannot: in the other country, its own rules apply.
📎 Official sources
- Legislation Malta · Maltese Citizenship Act (Cap. 188) →
- Community Malta Agency · acquisition of citizenship →
- Court of Justice of the EU · ruling on citizenship by investment (2025) →
❓ Frequently asked
Does Malta allow dual citizenship?
Yes, since 10 February 2000 Malta has allowed dual and even multiple citizenship with no limit, under the Maltese Citizenship Act. You can keep your Maltese passport and hold the citizenship of another country at the same time without losing the Maltese one.
Can I still buy Maltese citizenship by investment?
No. On 29 April 2025 the Court of Justice of the EU declared Malta's citizenship-by-investment scheme illegal because it amounts to selling Union citizenship. Websites still advertising a Maltese "golden passport" are not keeping up with the current legal situation.
Will I lose Maltese citizenship if I take another?
No, not because of Maltese law. Since 2000 you can acquire the citizenship of another country without losing your Maltese one. However, watch the law of the other country, which may require you to renounce any other citizenship you hold.
How can I obtain Maltese citizenship today?
The normal routes remain open: by birth, by descent from a Maltese parent, by marriage to a Maltese citizen or by naturalisation after legal residence. These procedures run through the Community Malta Agency and do not depend on the investment scheme that fell.
Does dual citizenship bring double obligations?
It can. While Malta allows you to hold two citizenships, the other country may impose its own obligations such as tax, reporting or military service. The fact that Malta does not object does not remove the obligations that may arise from the other country.
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