Maltese Citizenship by Descent: Your "Get Started" Guide

Maltese citizenship is a hidden gem in the European Union (EU). As a member of both the EU and the Commonwealth, a Maltese passport offers unique privileges in Europe and the UK.

For the global diaspora, the path was revolutionized by the 2007 Citizenship Act Amendments. Before this date, holding dual citizenship was largely restricted, and many emigrants lost their Maltese status when they naturalized abroad. The 2007 law effectively "re-opened" the door, allowing descendants to register for citizenship even if their ancestors technically "lost" it in the past.

This guide outlines the essential first steps, key requirements, and what you can expect in terms of timeline and cost to begin your journey.

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1. Am I Eligible? Key Requirements (Registration)

The primary path for those born outside Malta is proving a direct bloodline to an ancestor born in Malta.

• Requirement Category: Eligible Ancestor
  
  • Specific Criteria: Parent or Grandparent (usually).
  • Details: You generally need to prove that you are the descendant of an ascendant born in Malta.
  • The "Two Generations" Nuance: Historically, Maltese law often required proof that the ancestor and the ancestor's parent were born in Malta to establish original status. While the registration process is streamlined now, having records for the ancestor born in Malta is the non-negotiable starting point.
• Requirement Category: The "2007 Dual Citizenship" Rule
  
  • Specific Criteria: Retroactive Restoration.
  • Details: Before August 2007, a Maltese person who became a citizen of another country (like the US or Australia) often automatically lost their Maltese citizenship. The 2007 law fixed this. Now, you can claim citizenship even if your parent/grandparent "lost" it due to foreign naturalization.
• Requirement Category: Lineage
  
  • Specific Criteria: Unbroken Documentation.
  • Details: You must provide birth and marriage certificates for every generation linking you to the Maltese-born ancestor.
• Requirement Category: Language
  
  • Specific Criteria: No Language Requirement.
  • Details: There is no Maltese language test for citizenship by descent (Registration). English is an official language of Malta, so the entire process can be conducted in English.
• Requirement Category: Dual Citizenship
  
  • Specific Criteria: Fully Permitted.
  • Details: Malta fully recognizes dual (and multiple) citizenship.
• Strategic Tip: Malta is very gender-equal in its current laws. You can claim through a mother or father born in Malta. (Previously, there were restrictions on claiming through females born before 1964, but legal updates have largely harmonized this for descendants applying today).

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2. The First Action: Document Collection & Preparation

Your initial focus must be on obtaining the "Acts of Civil Status" (Certificates) from the Public Registry of Malta. The agency in charge is Komunità Malta (Community Malta Agency).

Document integrity (Original Extracts and Apostilles) is the single most critical factor for approval.

📑 What to Collect First

• Your Ancestor's Proof:
  
  • Birth Certificate: Must be issued by the Public Registry in Malta.
  • Marriage Certificate: If your ancestor married in Malta, this record is crucial.
  • Note: Church records (Baptismal certificates) are useful for research but generally, the Civil State record is required for the application.
• Lineage Documents: Your own Birth Certificate, and the Birth and Marriage Certificates for every generation.
  
  • Parents' Marriage: Malta places high importance on the marriage certificate of the parents. If your parents were married abroad, you must provide that certificate.
  • (Requires Long-Form certified copies).
• Personal Integrity:
  
  • Identification: A certified copy of your current Passport.
  • Declaration: You will need to sign specific forms (typically Form A or Form I depending on your exact category) in front of a Commissioner for Oaths or a Consular Officer.

📝 Document Authentication is Key

Malta follows strict bureaucratic protocols.

• Authentication (Apostille): Every document originating outside Malta (e.g., your US birth certificate, your parents' Australian marriage cert) must have an Apostille stamp.
• Language: Since English is an official language in Malta, documents issued in English (from UK, USA, Canada, Australia) do not need translation. This is a massive cost-saver compared to Italy or Poland.
  
  • Exception: If your documents are in Spanish, Portuguese, etc., they must be translated into English or Maltese by a certified translator.

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3. What to Expect: Timeline and Cost

The process is centralized. Applications are reviewed by the Community Malta Agency in Valletta.

⏱️ Estimated Timeline

Malta is relatively efficient compared to Southern Europe. Expect 6 to 12 months.

• Step: Preparation
  
  • Estimated Time: 2–4 Months.
  • What Happens: Ordering "Acts" from the Public Registry in Malta (can be done online via certifikati.gov.mt) and getting Apostilles on your local documents.
• Step: Submission
  
  • Estimated Time: 1 Day.
  • What Happens: You submit the application at the Maltese Embassy/High Commission in your country or legally by mail to the Agency in Malta.
• Step: Processing
  
  • Estimated Time: 6–12 Months.
  • What Happens: The Agency verifies the lineage. If successful, they issue a confirmation.
• Step: Finalization
  
  • Estimated Time: 1 Month.
  • What Happens: You are registered as a citizen. You can then apply for your Maltese Passport.

💰 Estimated Cost

Malta is one of the most affordable options for citizenship by descent.

• Cost Category: Official Application Fees
  
  • Estimated Range: €80 - €150.
  • Details: The fee for registration (depending on the specific form used, e.g., Form A) is very low.
• Cost Category: Document Retrieval (Malta)
  
  • Estimated Range: €10 - €50.
  • Details: Ordering certificates from the Maltese Public Registry is inexpensive (~€10 per cert) and can be shipped internationally.
• Cost Category: Apostilles (Local)
  
  • Estimated Range: $100 - $500.
  • Details: The cost depends on your home country's rates for Apostilles on your birth/marriage certs.
• Cost Category: Total Estimated Administrative Cost
  
  • Estimated Range: $300 - $800.
  • Details: Very affordable, especially since English documents usually don't require translation.

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✅ Your Next Steps

• Check the "Parents' Marriage": Locate your parents' marriage certificate. Malta is strict about lineage legitimacy and documentation of marriages.
• Order the Maltese Birth Cert: Go to certifikati.gov.mt. This is the official government portal. Order your ancestor's birth certificate (Att tat-Twelid) to confirm they were indeed born in Malta and to see their parents' names.
• Identify the Form: Most descent cases use Form A (Registration of a person born abroad to a Maltese father) or other specific registration provisions. Check the Komunità Malta website to download the correct checklist.

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