If you searched "Malta citizenship by investment" hoping to buy an EU passport in 2026, here's the short answer: you can't. On 29 April 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled Malta's investor-citizenship scheme illegal under EU law (EUR-Lex, Case C-181/23, 2025). Within three months, Malta discontinued the programme entirely. This was the last "golden passport" route inside the European Union. It is gone, not paused, not cheaper, not quietly reopening. Below, we walk through what the court decided, what remains legal in Malta, and where genuine second-citizenship routes still operate.
Key Takeaways
- Malta citizenship by investment is closed. The CJEU ruled it illegal on 29 April 2025 (Case C-181/23), and Malta discontinued it via Act XXI of 2025.
- No EU member state offers a citizenship-by-investment route in 2026. Malta was the last one.
- The Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) remains open, but it is a residence card, not a passport.
- "Citizenship by merit" replaced the old scheme. It is discretionary, with no price tag, and is not a workaround.
- The status of citizens already granted and applicants still in the pipeline is unsettled. Get qualified legal advice.
For the full landscape of legal second-citizenship options, see our complete guide to citizenship by investment for 2026, which maps every open programme by region, cost, and processing time.
Is Malta citizenship by investment still open in 2026?
No. Malta citizenship by investment is closed, and it has been since the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled against it on 29 April 2025 (CJEU Press Release 52/25, 2025). The Maltese government then discontinued the programme through legislation. No new applications are being accepted, and no EU state offers a comparable route.
Let's be precise about what "closed" means, because the marketing noise around this topic is loud. The scheme is discontinued, not suspended. Malta amended its Citizenship Act through Act XXI of 2025, published in the Government Gazette on 24 July 2025, formally ending the "Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services" framework (American Society of International Law, 2025). There is no fee schedule, no investment threshold, and no application window for buying a Maltese passport today.
Why does this matter beyond Malta? Because Malta was the European Union's only remaining citizenship-by-investment programme. Cyprus had already shut its scheme in 2020 after a corruption scandal, and Bulgaria followed. With Malta's route now blocked, the door to EU citizenship through direct investment is shut across the entire bloc. Transparency International EU described the judgment as the definitive end of golden passports in Europe.
Citation capsule: Malta's citizenship-by-investment scheme was discontinued in 2025 after the CJEU ruled it illegal on 29 April 2025 (Case C-181/23). Malta enacted Act XXI of 2025, gazetted 24 July 2025, ending the programme. As the EU's last such route, its closure means no European Union member state offers citizenship by investment in 2026.
What did the CJEU actually rule on 29 April 2025?
The Court of Justice of the European Union held that Malta breached EU law by operating a scheme granting nationality "essentially in exchange for predetermined payments or investments" (EUR-Lex, Case C-181/23, ECLI:EU:C:2025:283, 2025). The Grand Chamber called this the commercialisation of Union citizenship and found it contrary to the Treaties.
The legal basis matters here. The court grounded its decision in Article 20 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which establishes Union citizenship, alongside Article 4(3) of the Treaty on European Union, the principle of sincere cooperation. Member states do control their own nationality rules. But the court ruled they must exercise that competence "consistently with EU law," and a transactional passport scheme fails that test.
Here's a nuance most summaries skip. The ruling was not a foregone conclusion. Advocate General Anthony Collins, in his Opinion of 4 October 2024, advised the court to dismiss the Commission's case, arguing it had failed to prove that EU law requires a "genuine link" between citizen and state (EJIL:Talk!, 2025). The Grand Chamber did not follow him. That divergence tells you the legal question was genuinely contested.
The industry pushed back hard. Henley & Partners, a leading investment-migration firm, publicly called the judgment "politically motivated" and an instance of judicial overreach. That is an attributed industry opinion, not a neutral reading of the law. The judgment itself is final. As a Grand Chamber decision, it carries no right of appeal, and Malta was ordered to pay the Commission's costs.
Citation capsule: On 29 April 2025, the CJEU Grand Chamber ruled in Case C-181/23 (ECLI:EU:C:2025:283) that Malta's investor-citizenship scheme breached Article 20 TFEU and Article 4(3) TEU. The court called selling nationality for predetermined payment the "commercialisation of Union citizenship." The judgment is final and not subject to appeal.
Why is selling EU citizenship now blocked across Europe?
The reasoning in Case C-181/23 reaches far beyond Malta, which is why no EU country can simply launch a replacement. The court's objection was structural: any scheme that grants nationality "essentially in exchange" for money commercialises Union citizenship (EUR-Lex, Case C-181/23, 2025). That logic applies to every member state equally.
Consider the chain of closures. Cyprus suspended its citizenship-by-investment programme in 2020 following media exposés and a corruption inquiry. Bulgaria scrapped its scheme too. Malta held out as the last EU jurisdiction selling passports, defending the legality of its model right up to the Grand Chamber. With that defence now defeated, the precedent stands as a bloc-wide bar on the entire model.
What about so-called "compliant" relaunches? Don't bank on one. The whole appeal of a citizenship-by-investment product is the predetermined price and the predictable outcome. Strip those out, and you no longer have a CBI programme. You have ordinary discretionary naturalisation, which is exactly what Malta's replacement "citizenship by merit" is. We'll cover that distinction next.
Citation capsule: The CJEU's reasoning in Case C-181/23 bars every EU member state, not just Malta, from selling citizenship. Cyprus closed its scheme in 2020 and Bulgaria followed, leaving Malta as the bloc's last route. With Malta's 29 April 2025 defeat, no EU citizenship-by-investment programme exists in 2026 (EUR-Lex, 2025).
What replaced the Malta passport scheme: merit, not money?
Malta replaced the discontinued scheme with a discretionary "citizenship by merit" route that has no price tag and no investment threshold (American Society of International Law, 2025). It rewards genuine exceptional contributions to Malta in fields such as science, innovation, sport, and culture. It is not a product you can purchase, and it is not a workaround.
The contrast with the old MEIN scheme is stark. Before the 29 April 2025 ruling, the programme published clear numbers. Applicants made a government contribution of either EUR 600,000 on a 36-month residence track or EUR 750,000 on a faster 12-month track. They also bought property worth at least EUR 700,000 or rented from EUR 16,000 a year, held for five years, plus a donation of at least EUR 10,000 to a Maltese NGO.
Those figures are history now. We list them so you can recognise outdated marketing when you see it. If a website quotes a "Malta citizenship from EUR 600,000" headline in 2026, it is selling you a programme that no longer exists. The merit route publishes none of these thresholds, because contribution, not capital, is the criterion.
Citation capsule: Malta's replacement "citizenship by merit" route is discretionary, with no published price or investment threshold, rewarding genuine exceptional contribution (ASIL, 2025). Before the 29 April 2025 ruling, the old MEIN scheme required a government contribution of EUR 600,000 or EUR 750,000, plus property and a EUR 10,000 donation. Those parameters no longer apply.
What is the difference between MPRP and Maltese citizenship?
This is the distinction that costs people the most confusion and, sometimes, real money. The Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) remains fully open in 2026, but it grants a residence card, not a passport (American Society of International Law, 2025). It is a separate legal product from citizenship, and the CJEU ruling did not touch it.
Here is what MPRP actually gives you. It is a permanent residence permit in Malta. The certificate is issued for life, while the physical card is renewed every five years, and there is no minimum stay requirement. You can live in Malta and travel within the Schengen Area on short visits. You do not get EU citizenship, you do not get a Maltese passport, and you do not get the right to live and work freely across all 27 member states.
On the residency side, MPRP applicants in 2026 typically meet an asset threshold of EUR 500,000 (including EUR 150,000 in financial assets) or EUR 650,000 (including EUR 75,000). They either rent property from EUR 14,000 a year or purchase from EUR 375,000, alongside a government contribution and a mandatory EUR 2,000 donation. Useful for mobility and a Mediterranean base. Not a passport.
Citation capsule: The MPRP grants permanent residence in Malta, not citizenship, and stayed open in 2026 after the CJEU ruling closed the passport scheme (ASIL, 2025). MPRP requires property from EUR 375,000 or rent from EUR 14,000 a year, plus a EUR 2,000 donation. It delivers a residence card and Schengen short-stay mobility, never an EU passport.
What happens to people who already hold or applied for Maltese citizenship?
This is genuinely unsettled, and anyone affected needs qualified legal advice rather than a blog's reassurance. The CJEU judgment in Case C-181/23 targeted the legality of Malta's scheme, not the status of individuals already naturalised (EJIL:Talk!, 2025). The ruling did not order automatic revocation, and it did not guarantee grandfathering either.
So what do we actually know? We know the judgment found Malta in breach of its Treaty obligations. We know it did not rule on existing certificates of naturalisation. Whether Malta reviews past grants, how it treats applications caught mid-pipeline when the scheme closed, and what process any review would follow are all open questions in 2026. Treat anyone promising a definitive answer with caution.
Our recommendation is plain. If you already hold Maltese citizenship obtained through the scheme, or you had a live application when it shut, consult a qualified Maltese immigration lawyer about your specific facts. General commentary, including this article, cannot substitute for advice on your file. The legal exposure is individual, and it depends on details a website cannot see.
Citation capsule: The CJEU judgment in Case C-181/23 (29 April 2025) addressed the scheme's legality, not the status of individuals already granted Maltese citizenship. It ordered neither automatic revocation nor grandfathering, leaving the position of existing citizens and pipeline applicants unsettled. Affected individuals should seek qualified Maltese legal advice (EJIL:Talk!, 2025).
Where can you still get a second passport by investment in 2026?
Since the EU route is closed, attention has shifted to the Caribbean, where five nations still run active citizenship-by-investment programmes in 2026. These typically grant visa-free access to roughly 140 to 150 destinations, fewer than a Maltese passport's reach, but they remain genuinely open to investors (industry passport-index data, 2026).
The trade-off is real and worth understanding. A Caribbean passport does not carry EU citizenship or the right to live and work across the European Union. It offers a legitimate second nationality, useful mobility, and a faster, lower-cost process than Malta ever did. For a detailed breakdown of the five active programmes, costs, and timelines, see our guide to Caribbean citizenship by investment in 2026, which is the route that genuinely remains open.
One caveat worth tracking. The European Parliament has discussed measures that could suspend visa-free Schengen access for countries running citizenship-by-investment schemes, with the LIBE committee advancing amendments in late 2025. This is legislative-stage context, not settled law, but it could affect the Schengen value of Caribbean passports in future. We monitor this and will update our coverage as it develops.
Citation capsule: With Malta's EU citizenship-by-investment route closed since 29 April 2025, five Caribbean nations remain the principal active programmes in 2026, granting visa-free access to roughly 140 to 150 destinations. These passports do not confer EU citizenship or free movement, but they offer a faster, lower-cost, genuinely open route to a second nationality (industry passport-index data, 2026).
Considering a second passport in 2026? The EU door is closed, but legitimate routes remain. Explore the open citizenship-by-investment routes with Ancova Associates and get matched to a programme that fits your goals, timeline, and family.
Frequently asked questions
Is Malta citizenship by investment still open?
No. Malta citizenship by investment closed after the CJEU ruled it illegal on 29 April 2025 (Case C-181/23), and Malta discontinued it through Act XXI of 2025, gazetted 24 July 2025 (ASIL, 2025). It was the European Union's last such route. No EU member state offers citizenship by investment in 2026.
Can I still buy an EU passport anywhere in 2026?
No EU country sells citizenship in 2026. The CJEU's 29 April 2025 reasoning in Case C-181/23 bars the entire model across all member states (EUR-Lex, 2025). Cyprus closed its scheme in 2020 and Malta, the last route, closed in 2025. Active investment-citizenship programmes now sit outside the EU.
What is the difference between MPRP and Maltese citizenship?
The MPRP grants a permanent residence card, while citizenship grants a passport with full EU rights. MPRP remains open in 2026 and requires property from EUR 375,000 or rent from EUR 14,000 plus a EUR 2,000 donation (ASIL, 2025). It gives Schengen short-stay mobility, never an EU passport or free movement.
Is "citizenship by merit" a cheaper way to get a Malta passport?
No. Citizenship by merit is discretionary and has no price tag, rewarding genuine exceptional contributions in fields like science, sport, and culture (ASIL, 2025). It replaced the discontinued investment scheme but is not a purchasable product. You cannot apply by paying a set fee, so it is not a workaround.
Will my Maltese passport be revoked if I obtained it through the scheme?
The position is unsettled. The CJEU judgment of 29 April 2025 targeted the scheme's legality, not individual citizens, and ordered neither revocation nor grandfathering (EJIL:Talk!, 2025). If you hold citizenship from the scheme or had a pending application, consult a qualified Maltese immigration lawyer about your specific situation.
The bottom line for 2026
Malta citizenship by investment is over. The CJEU's 29 April 2025 judgment ended the European Union's last golden-passport route, and Malta discontinued the scheme entirely soon after. There is no cheaper version, no quiet relaunch, and no other EU state ready to take its place. What remains in Malta is a discretionary merit route, which money cannot buy, and the MPRP, which delivers residency rather than a passport. Don't let outdated marketing confuse the two. If you already hold citizenship from the old scheme, or you were mid-application when it closed, your position is genuinely unsettled, so seek qualified legal advice. For investors who still want a second nationality, the active routes now sit outside the EU. Start there, and start with accurate information.
Sources
- Court of Justice of the European Union, European Commission v Republic of Malta, Case C-181/23, ECLI:EU:C:2025:283 (Grand Chamber judgment, 29 April 2025). EUR-Lex CELEX 62023CJ0181. Retrieved 2026-06-13. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A62023CJ0181
- Court of Justice of the European Union, Press Release No 52/25 (29 April 2025). Retrieved 2026-06-13. https://curia.europa.eu/site/upload/docs/application/pdf/2025-04/cp250052en.pdf
- EUR-Lex, Official Journal notice, OJ C/2025/3238. Retrieved 2026-06-13. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/C/2025/3238/oj/eng
- American Society of International Law, ASIL Insights, Vol. 29, Issue 8 (2025). Retrieved 2026-06-13. https://www.asil.org/insights/volume/29/issue/8
- EJIL:Talk! (European Journal of International Law blog), EU Court of Justice Finds Malta Golden Passports Scheme Incompatible with EU Law (2025). Retrieved 2026-06-13. https://www.ejiltalk.org/eu-court-of-justice-finds-malta-golden-passports-scheme-incompatible-with-eu-law/
Written by
Amine Derag
Director of Strategy, Ancova Associates
Amine Derag is Director of Strategy at Ancova Associates, the Dubai advisory firm for company formation, residency, citizenship by investment, and cross-border tax structuring. He advises founders and private clients relocating to the UAE on how a UAE structure interacts with their home-country tax and reporting obligations.
Connect on LinkedInThis article is general information for educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, financial, or immigration advice. Investment thresholds, processing times, and program terms change — speak with a qualified Ancova adviser before acting.
