These two routes sit at opposite ends of the market. One offers Italian residency you can build on over time. The other, Maltese citizenship by direct investment, is no longer open to new applicants.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
The table below sets the two routes side by side. One leads to residency in Italy. The other led to a Maltese passport but is closed today.
The Italy Investor Visa sets several entry points. The published options run from 250,000 euros for an investment in an innovative Italian startup, to 500,000 euros in an established Italian company, 1,000,000 euros as a philanthropic donation, or 2,000,000 euros in Italian government bonds. Funds must be your own and transferred in full. Malta priced its former citizenship route through a government contribution, a property commitment and a donation, but that route no longer accepts applications, so any figure you see quoted for it is historic.
Italy reviews and approves your application before you invest, then issues an entry visa and a residence permit valid for two years that you renew. Italian citizenship by residence generally follows a long qualifying period, so treat it as a later step rather than a quick outcome. Confirm the current processing times and residence requirement with the official authority. Malta is not issuing new timelines because the investment route is closed.
Both endpoints are European. Italian residence lets you live in Italy and travel within the Schengen area, and Italian citizenship, once earned through naturalisation, carries full European Union rights. A Maltese passport also carries European Union rights for those who already hold it, but that door is shut to new investors. Verify current travel access with the official authority rather than relying on marketing tables.
The Italy route suits someone who wants a European base now, is comfortable holding a qualifying Italian investment, and is patient about citizenship. The closed Malta route is relevant only as background. If a provider still markets a Maltese passport for sale to you, treat that as a warning sign and verify directly with the Maltese authorities.
| Item | Italy Investor Visa | Malta citizenship by direct investment |
|---|---|---|
| Outcome | Residency, renewable, citizenship by later naturalisation | Citizenship, route closed to new applicants |
| Status in 2026 | Open | Closed since 2025 |
| Indicative entry | 250,000 euros to 2,000,000 euros depending on route | Historic only, no new applications |
| Official authority | Investor Visa for Italy Committee | Community Malta Agency |
| Physical presence | Some presence expected, confirm with authority | Not applicable |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Investor Visa for Italy Committee, Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
Research at the time of writing indicates the route is open and accepts new applicants. Always confirm with the Investor Visa for Italy Committee before acting.
No. Malta closed its citizenship by direct investment route to new applicants in 2025 following a Court of Justice of the European Union ruling. Only a separate, discretionary path remains, which is not a purchase. Confirm with the Maltese authorities.
It leads to residency first. Italian citizenship comes later through naturalisation, which generally requires a long period of legal residence. Confirm the current requirement with the official authority.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
The rules for this route changed recently. Confirm the current position with current guidance before you act.
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