These two were never the same product. One was a citizenship route that has now ended after a European Union court ruling. The other is a permanent residence route that still operates. We publish this so the position is clear.
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 Maltese investor citizenship route, known as citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment, is no longer available. On 29 April 2025 the Court of Justice of the European Union held that the scheme was contrary to European Union law, and Malta moved to end it during 2025. The Cyprus route compared here is permanent residence, not citizenship. Cyprus closed its own separate citizenship by investment route back in 2020. So today this is a closed citizenship route on one side and an open permanent residence route on the other.
The Court of Justice of the European Union found that granting citizenship in exchange for predetermined payments, without a genuine connection to the country, breached European Union law. Following the ruling Malta ended its investor citizenship route. Anyone reading older pages that quote a contribution figure and a timeline for a Maltese passport should treat that material as out of date. Confirm the current position with the official Maltese authorities.
Cyprus does not sell citizenship. It offers permanent residence by investment, decided by the Civil Registry and Migration Department, around a qualifying investment that research puts at 300,000 euros plus value added tax together with proof of a steady income from abroad. That gives the right to settle in Cyprus, not a passport. Any future citizenship would follow ordinary naturalisation rules. Confirm the current figures and rules with the Civil Registry and Migration Department.
If your goal was a European Union passport through the Maltese route, that option is closed and you should not rely on advisers who still market it. If your goal is the right to live in a European Union member state, the Cyprus permanent residence route remains one option among several. A vetted advisor can walk you through what is actually open today.
| Item | Malta Citizenship | Cyprus Permanent Residence |
|---|---|---|
| Current status | Ended after the 2025 European Union court ruling | Open |
| Outcome | Was citizenship, now unavailable | Permanent residence, not citizenship |
| Indicative entry | No longer offered | Qualifying investment from 300,000 euros plus value added tax |
| Official authority | Community Malta Agency | Civil Registry and Migration Department |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Community Malta Agency publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
No. The investor citizenship route was found contrary to European Union law in April 2025 and Malta ended it. Be cautious of anyone who still markets it. Confirm with the official Maltese authorities.
No. Cyprus closed its citizenship by investment route in 2020. What remains is permanent residence by investment, which does not grant a passport. Confirm with the Civil Registry and Migration Department.
Direct investor citizenship routes inside the European Union have closed. Some member states offer residency that can lead to citizenship only after years of lawful residence. Confirm current options with the relevant 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.
This route is reported closed or paused. Do not rely on older figures. Get the current position, and the routes that are still open, before you commit time or money.
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