In the past two years, 190 adult foreigners and 67 minors have claimed citizenship through Maltese descent after citizenship laws changed in 2007 (see Malta report on this website). Amendments to the Citizenship Act in August 2007 made it possible for individuals of Maltese descent to obtain Maltese citizenship by registration, providing documentary evidence such as birth, marriage and death certificates. Documentation must show direct descent from an ancestor born in Malta of a parent who was also born in Malta, and the direct line must not be broken. The registration procedure may take place at any Maltese embassy or consulate. Residence in Malta is not even required. Most of the applicants for Maltese citizenship because of Maltese descent are from Australia (121), Great Britain (31), the United States (19), South Africa (18), and France (17).

However, in contrast to the extension of citizenship to residents of foreign countries claiming Maltese descent, only 353 foreign residents living and working in Malta but with no ties by marriage or parentage were given Maltese citizenship by naturalisation since 2004. The highest number of naturalised Maltese, 51, came from the UK. Although it is possible to become eligible to acquire Maltese citizenship by naturalisation after five years of legal residence, acquiring Maltese citizenship is considered to be a very difficult process. Malta Today reported that applications are only given a favourable consideration to persons who have resided in Malta for more than 18 years. Maltese-born children of non-naturalised foreigners are treated as foreigners and have to pay university fees. In addition, they do not qualify for a Maltese pension. Individuals applying for naturalisation also need two sponsors, one of whom must be either a Member of Parliament, a judge, a magistrate, a parish priest, a doctor, a lawyer, a notary public or an officer in the army, civil service or police.

Read the article ‘Who wants to be Maltese’ in Malta Today on Sunday (16 August 2009)