In a historic decision, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that Malta’s citizenship-by-investment program was illegal, deeming it a “mere commercial transaction” lacking legal legitimacy. This ruling, issued in response to a lawsuit filed by the European Commission, marks the end of the last “golden passport” program in the European Union.
Citizenship, Not a Commodity
Manuel Delia, an anti-corruption activist and executive officer of the civil society organization “Repubblika” in Malta, reacted to the ruling by stating, “You cannot put a price on citizenship. It’s far more valuable than money.” Delia, who has campaigned against the scheme for years, added that the decision vindicates the work of murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, one of the first to warn about the dangers of the program.
Financial Benefits, but No Genuine Connection
Malta’s golden passport program generated over €1.4 billion for the country. However, critics repeatedly warned that many recipients had no genuine residence in the country. In some cases, the properties they purchased weren’t even livable.
Investigations by the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation revealed that 90% of these visas were granted to Chinese nationals—far more than the number of Chinese citizens actually residing in Malta. This suggested that many were not using their golden visas to live in the country.
Closed Doors, but Open Pathways
While the direct sale of citizenship is now prohibited, similar programs under the name of “residence by investment” (Golden Visa) continue to operate in several countries, including some EU members. These programs offer residence permits in exchange for real estate purchases or large-scale investments.
Henley & Partners—who previously facilitated Malta’s citizenship program—currently lists 31 countries offering residence-by-investment schemes, with nearly half of them in the EU.
Anna Terrone, a policy expert at Transparency International, warned that such programs continue to open doors for corrupt and wealthy individuals to enter the EU. She called for joint efforts to prevent abuse of these systems.
What’s Next?
Malta’s Prime Minister, Robert Abela, defended the financial benefits of the scheme but confirmed that the country would respect the court ruling and adjust its legal framework for citizenship accordingly. However, the key question remains: will the European Union succeed in establishing clear, anti-corruption standards for residence schemes? Or will loopholes remain open for the wealthy?
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⚠️ Note: Given recent legal changes, similar programs in countries like Dominica may soon be limited or suspended. Act now to secure your citizenship before it’s too late.
