Is Malta the last EU state still selling passports?

Question

Accepted Answer

Malta Faces EU Legal Challenge Over Citizenship-for-Investment Programme

The European Commission is initiating legal action against Malta over its "golden passport" programme, which allows wealthy individuals to acquire Maltese citizenship and, by extension, EU residency and work rights. This move follows years of dispute, as Malta maintains its programme complies with EU treaties, while Brussels argues it violates EU law by offering citizenship without a genuine residency requirement.
EU Takes Malta to Court Over Citizenship Scheme

The European Commission has announced it will file a legal challenge against Malta at the EU Court of Justice concerning its programme that facilitates the sale of citizenship. This programme enables affluent foreign nationals to obtain Maltese citizenship through an investment, typically around €1 million. Holding Maltese citizenship grants individuals the right to live and work in any of the 27 EU member states, effectively providing access to the entire bloc.
Disagreement on Residency Requirements

Brussels contends that Malta's scheme contravenes EU law because citizenship is granted without a genuine obligation for the applicants to reside in the country. The Commission believes this undermines the principle of EU citizenship, which is intrinsically linked to national citizenship and its associated residency requirements. Malta, however, disputes this interpretation, asserting that its programme aligns with its understanding of EU treaty provisions and the principle of sincere cooperation.
Programme's Financial Impact and International Context

Malta's citizenship-by-investment programme has been a significant source of revenue, generating over €800 million between 2014 and 2020. The primary beneficiaries of this scheme have historically originated from regions such as the Gulf, the Far East, and Russia. The European Commission's action against Malta occurs in a broader context where other EU countries, including Cyprus and Bulgaria, have previously halted similar "golden passport" programmes under pressure from Brussels. This leaves Malta as the only EU member state currently operating such a passport-selling scheme, though other nations offer programmes for selling visas.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Is Malta the last EU state still selling passports?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends