Few migrants get Maltese citizenship by naturalisation

A total of 6,805 people acquired Maltese citizenship through registration or naturalisation between 2004 and 2012, according to Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia.

But the bulk of new citizens were either married to Maltese spouses or could trace descent to Maltese parentage. In fact, only 339 migrants were naturalised as citizens due to their duration of residence in Malta in the last eight years.

Figures tabled in parliament shows that the total number of new Maltese citizens by both registration and naturalisation increased from 584 in 2004 to 1,142 in 2012.

In reply to a question raised by backbencher Etienne Grech, Mallia explained that amendments to the Maltese Citizenship Act in 2000 made it possible for individuals to retain their original citizenship while acquiring their Maltese one.

The highest number of citizenships was awarded in 2012, while the 'lowest' numbers of citizenships were awarded in 2006, totalling 474.

But further information requested by MaltaToday revealed that the bulk of acceded requests for Maltese citizenship by registration was on the basis of descent from Maltese nationals.

Between 2004 and 2012, 3,988 individuals acquired Maltese citizenship by this type of registration.

A breakdown of figures provided by the Ministry for Home Affairs confirmed that between 2004 and 2012, there were 2,359 individuals who acquired Maltese citizenship on the basis of marriage (registration).

However, only 339 obtained citizenship by naturalisation, which is not obtained through marriage or descent.

The highest number of citizenships by naturalisation was acquired during 2012, amounting to 111. The lowest number was in 2004, reaching 19. On average, 37 citizenships by naturalisation were acquired every year.

Many foreign nationals living, working and bringing up their children in Malta often wait for years, perhaps more than a decade in most cases 20 years, to become naturalised citizens. They form community bonds but are constrained to renew visas and residence permits.

The granting of citizenship by naturalisation remains at the minister's discretion. Under Maltese citizenship laws, requirements for applicants are too broad and vague, and no standardised system, like language tests, exist. Ministers have to be convinced that applicants are of a "good character" or "suitable citizens"; they must have resided in Malta for a four-year period out of a total six years before being considered.

The scheme proposed by the government - acquiring a Maltese passport at the price tag of €650,000 or €750,000 for a family of four - has invited critics to accuse the government of creating a 'two-tier system' where the rich become Maltese citizens while the rest are at the mercy of the minister.