Opportunity, Not Exit: Malta’s Shift from ESDI to Merit-Based Citizenship

On 16 July 2025 the Maltese Government published Bill No. 140 of 2025, setting out far‑reaching amendments to the Citizenship Act. This Bill proposes the formal repeal of the Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment (ESDI) programme and refines Malta’s long‑standing discretionary route for exceptional services into a stronger, merit‑based framework. Much has been…

Government of Malta will replace Citizenship by Investment with Citizenship by Merit

Following the recent ruling of the European Commission of justice against Malta’s Citizenship by Investment Programme, Malta Government has announced its plans to replace its citizenship by investment offering with a reformed Citizenship-by-Merit opportunity. This is very encouraging. Although new terms and conditions will be put in force, the opportunity to become European/Maltese Citizens is…