The European Court of Justice shocked RCBI industry earlier this year, with their ruling against Malta’s popular CBI program. They appeared to call out golden visas at their core when compelling Malta to end theirs. The ECJ accused the CBI program of essentially commercializing nationality (and by extension European Union citizenship). They called it “transactional,” and lacked a “genuine link” to the country. In response, Malta has been tackling ideas of ways someone can formally prove themselves worthy of citizenship, without being accused of just performing a transaction.
The New Face of Maltese Citizenship
How does one show a genuine link to a country they’ve fallen in love with, but were not born in? In what way does someone audition to be a citizen? And what kind of citizen does a nation need? Malta has been fast-tracking their Citizenship by Merit program with answers to these questions. Dr. James Muscat Azzopardi sits down with Mona and Rebecca to discuss what one will now have to do to become Maltese.
“It’s a totally different concept. So there is no financial contribution. The new program is purely merit based. And till now we only have a very brief amendment in the law. We don’t have guidelines as yet. But the amendment says that Maltese citizenship can be given to anyone who renders exceptional services to Malta. Now that the actual law includes the possibility of job creation, scientists, researchers, athletes, cultural performers, it’s very wide, philanthropists, […] then that person may be granted citizenship.” – Dr. James Muscat Azzopardi
“So the first concern was a purely transactional program, and this is not transactional at all. So it’s not a question of a payment. And the second, was the lack of a genuine link to Malta. I’m absolutely sure that no one is going to be given citizenship under this program without a genuine link to Malta.” – Dr. James Muscat Azzopardi
Dr. James Muscat Azzopardi
Dr. James Muscat Azzopardi is a lawyer based in Malta and is an official Authorised Agent for Malta’s residence programme. With 25 years’ experience as a partner in one of Malta’s leading commercial law firms, Muscat Azzopardi and Associates, Dr Muscat Azzopardi advises a global clientele of high net worth individuals on complex issues relating to the correct choice of second citizenship or residence within the European Union. He also advises a range of corporate international clients including multinational corporations, banks, investment funds and online gaming companies.
Dr Muscat Azzopardi is also a founding partner in Credence, an advisory firm that offers a range of corporate solutions in Malta including trading and holding companies and trusts.
Dr Muscat Azzopardi is a tutor and a supervisor at the University of Malta and a founding member of the Maltese-Spanish Chamber of Commerce.”
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