Malta refused one in five citizenship by investment applications

Best CitizenshipsUpdated 2 min read

Investment fromBy merit

Visa-free (Henley Index)185

TimelineCase by case

Visit requiredAt least 8 months of residence in Malta and title to residential property before the formal application

Key facts reviewed 22 October 2026 against official programme sources. Figures are minimums and change often.

Malta passport

Malta has refused on average one of five applications filed under the citizenship by investment program (IIP). The overall refusal rate of all applications submitted from the start of the scheme in 2014 to 2018 stands at 19.5% according to ORIIP report

In 2018, the decisions taken on unapproved  IIP applications stood at 25% this includes withdrawn applications. The majority of rejected/withdrawn applications originated from Europe (37) followed by Asia (23).

A total of 221 applications remains rejected/withdrawn from IIP since the inception

Applications Approved Rejected/Unapproved
2014 173
2015 245 75 11
2016 450 241 52
2017 377 422 83
2018 333 223 75
Total 1578 961 221

 

The ORiip report reveals some of the clients have withdrawn their application due to the negativity created when names are published.  Many agents fail to explain clients Malta publishes names of IIP clients in gazette every year. The list is combined with naturalized and IIP citizens because Malta does not differentiate  between Naturalized/IIP citizens.

 

Report Year

2015

2016

2017

2018

Vetted Applications (Approved)

20%

34%

60%

87%

Vetted Applications (Rejected/Withdrawn)

0%

38%

45%

75%

The total number of applications vetted by ORiip during the period in question amounted to 281: 227 of these had been approved by the MIIPA, 44 had been rejected whereas the remaining 10 had been withdrawn by the applicants themselves. 44 different Agents were engaged by the respective applicants in order to present these vetted applications. Notwithstanding the large number of involved Agents it was noted that only 5 of these had 10 or more applications to their credit. These applications were vetted between October 2017 and June 2018.

 

The ORiip report reveals some of the clients have withdrawn their application due to the negativity created when names are published.  Many agents fail to explain clients Malta publishes names of IIP clients in gazette every year. The list is combined with naturalized and IIP citizens because Malta does not differentiate  between Naturalized/IIP citizens.

 

Report Year

2015

2016

2017

2018

Vetted Applications (Approved)

20%

34%

60%

87%

Vetted Applications (Rejected/Withdrawn)

0%

38%

45%

75%

 

The total number of applications vetted by ORiip during the period in question amounted to 281: 227 of these had been approved by the MIIPA, 44 had been rejected whereas the remaining 10 had been withdrawn by the applicants themselves.

44 different Agents were engaged by the respective applicants in order to present these vetted applications. Notwithstanding the large number of involved Agents it was noted that only 5 of these had 10 or more applications to their credit. These applications were vetted between October 2017 and June 2018.

Written by

Best Citizenships

Mr. Prabhu Balakrishnan, is the Founder and CEO of Best Citizenships. World's Leading expert in citizenship and residence by investment programs 15+ years experience with high net worth clients. Founded several startup brands for CBI industry. A Pioneer advocating Global mobility with dual Citizenship. Other interests include migration, computers, finance, travel, startups and crypto.

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