All documents submitted for Malta citizenship program along with application forms, must be properly certified or authenticated abroad.
Document authentication must be carried out according to the following criteria:
1. No apostille or further legalisation is required for documents certified by:
▪ a Malta–registered lawyer/notary public/commissioner for oaths;
▪ a Maltese Consular; or
▪ a Maltese Diplomatic Representative.
2. An apostille is required for documents certified by a foreign–registered lawyer/notary public in any country that is party to the Apostille Convention. If authorities refuse to apostille the document on the basis of language, it is recommended to visit a Maltese Consular or Diplomatic mission which would see to completing the authentication;
3. The legalisation of documents authenticated by a foreign–registered lawyer/notary public in a country which is not party to the Apostille Convention and where no Maltese diplomatic representation exists will require the lawyer/notary public to complete the certification, which is then taken to the Government authorities in that jurisdiction for the necessary Governmental authentication;
4. Applicants may now submit documents issued by an EU country to authorities in another EU country without obtaining an legalisation or apostille stamp, verifying that they are authentic. Additionally, documents that need to be translated no longer need a certified translation, and a standard EU translation form may be used instead.
An official English translation must always accompany any documents that are not in the English language (including certifications or stamps). A professional translator (officially accredited by a court of law), a government agency, an international organisation or a similar official institution must prepare translations. translators should include, in a clear and legible format, the date, the full name, the capacity and the designation in which they are acting, the residential or business address, the telephone number and the email address/website. In the case of translation agencies, a letterhead should be utilised, thus providing all details relevant to the firm who produced the translation.
