Identitàgate: Notaries instructed not to notarise lease agreements for residence permit applicants

The Notarial Council has issued a directive telling notaries not to sign or fill in the new form issued by Identità needed by foreigners applying for a residence permit.

The directive issued on Wednesday calls on notaries to refrain from issuing a notarised lease agreement until further communication is issued.

“The Notarial Council insists there should always be legal certainty,” it said in its directive without elaborating further.

The decision comes on the back of a new measure introduced by Identità that requires third-country nationals applying for a residence permit to present a notarised lease agreement as proof of lodging. Previously, such applicants were only required to present a Housing Authority registered lease agreement when applying for a permit.

The new practice, which came into force at the beginning of September, adds another requirement and was introduced as Identità grapples with a growing scandal involving ID cards and residence permits issued on the basis of fraudulent documents.

“Any property lease agreement presented as part of a residence permit application must be officially attested by a notary, lawyer, or legal procurator. This additional layer of verification is being introduced to further ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information provided to the agency,” Identità had said.

Earlier this summer, lawyer Jason Azzopardi kicked up a storm when he claimed that 18,000 fake ID cards were issued to foreigners against bribes ranging from €2,000 to €5,000 for each document.

Azzopardi later requested a magisterial inquiry, which is currently underway. Since then several Maltese nationals have come forward with cases of suspected identity theft.

The health authorities, earlier this week, also issued directives to all healthcare staff to double check patients' identity after people received hospital appointments for ailments they never had. Indeed, one individual who sought treatment at hospital was told that according to medical records he died in March.