Both of these routes promise a European passport. Neither is a safe bet today. Malta shut its investment route in 2025, and North Macedonia has struggled to deliver on its own.
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.
Read this as a caution rather than a shopping list. One route is closed. The other is open in name but unproven. The table summarises the position.
Because Malta has closed its investment route, any contribution and donation figures you see quoted for it are historic and not available to new applicants. North Macedonia quotes 200,000 euros into an approved investment fund held for at least two years, or 400,000 euros into a qualifying business that employs at least ten people. Confirm anything current with the official authority, and be wary of providers quoting Maltese prices as if the route were live.
There is no current Maltese timeline to quote, because new applications are not accepted. North Macedonia advertises a short processing window, but the gap between the advertised timeline and real outcomes has been wide. Plan for delay and verify before sending money.
A Maltese passport carries full European Union rights for those who already hold it, but it is not available to new investors. North Macedonia sits outside the European Union, so its passport does not grant EU free movement. Neither route offers a reliable new EU passport today. Verify current access with the official authority.
For most people, the honest answer is neither, at least not as a purchase. The Maltese route is closed, and a separate discretionary path is not a sale. The North Macedonia route is only for those with a high risk tolerance who have independently confirmed that passports are being issued. If anyone offers to sell you Maltese citizenship today, treat it as a warning sign.
| Item | Malta Citizenship by Investment | North Macedonia Citizenship by Investment |
|---|---|---|
| Status in 2026 | Closed to new applicants | Reopened but largely unproven |
| Outcome | Citizenship, not available to buy | Citizenship, in theory |
| Indicative entry | Historic only | From 200,000 euros into an approved fund |
| EU status | EU member, route closed | Outside the EU |
| Official authority | Community Malta Agency | Government of the Republic of North Macedonia |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Community Malta Agency publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
No. Malta closed the route to new applicants in 2025 after a Court of Justice of the European Union ruling. A separate discretionary path exists but is not a purchase. Confirm with the Maltese authorities.
It is not a like for like replacement. North Macedonia is outside the EU and its investment route is largely unproven. Verify directly with the Government of North Macedonia before considering it.
The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled in 2025 that selling citizenship in this way breached EU law, and Malta then closed the route. Confirm the current legal position 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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