Nru. 1155
GENERAL CONTRACTS COMMITTEE
IN terms of Regulation 70 of the Public Procurement Regulations S.L. 601. 03, the Prime Minister has approved the appointment of Ms Marie Jacqueline Camilleri as Secretary to the General Contracts Committee.
This appointment is valid for a period of three years with effect from 15th July, 2025.
15th July, 2025
No. 1156
PUBLICATION OF ACT IN SUPPLEMENT
IT is notified for general information that the following Act is published in the Supplement to this Gazette:
Act No. XXI of 2025 entitled the Maltese Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2025.
24th July, 2025
Nru. 1157
FINANCEMALTA BOARD OF GOVERNORS
IT is hereby notified for general information that the Minister for Finance has appointed the following members on the FinanceMalta Board of Governors.
Chairman
Mr George Vella
Members
Mr Gregory George
Mr Carlos Zarb
Mr Alan Cuschieri
Ms Anabel Mifsud
These appointments are valid for a period of three years with effect from 18th July, 2025.
18th July, 2025
No. 1158
MINISTRY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, SECURITY AND EMPLOYMENT
Maltese Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2025
Explanatory Notes
Introduction
| Title of Act | Maltese Citizenship (Amendment) Act |
| Activity to be regulated | Amendments are being proposed to the Maltese Citizenship Act (Cap. 188) (hereinafter referred to as the “principal Act"). The proposed legislation reforms those provisions whereby citizenship is granted on the basis of merit, while ensuring that appropriate safeguards are in place. Moreover, this amendment extends the date when the link related to the acquisition of citizenship by descent is deemed to be broken following the death of the relevant parent and also to clarify the textual reference in the case of adopted children. |
| Responsible entity | Aġenzija Komunità Malta |
Summary and background
The amendments in in this legislation provide for:
i. the deletion of the definition of “individual investor programme", which programme is being terminated;
ii. the extension of the deadlines in articles 3 and 5, relating to the link for the acquisition of citizenship by descent, to 1st August 2028;
iii. amendment of article 10(9), relating to naturalisation by merit, to cover exceptional services rendered and contributions made by persons of interest, including scientists, researchers, athletes, sports people, artists, cultural performers, entrepreneurs, philanthropists and technologists. Such persons may be granted citizenship upon application;
iv. adoptions by persons of interest, in article 17. This article specifies, inter alia, exclusions from eligibility to Maltese citizenship on the basis of the date of the adoption;
v. the deletion of the references to Individual Investor Programme in article 24;
vi. replacement of the references to the Individual Investor Programme with the acquisition of citizenship on the basis of merit in article 25;
vii. an avenue to lodge complaints in relation to matters concerning citizenship by naturalisation on the basis of merit in article 25A; and
viii. a reference to exceptional services is replaced by the acquisition of citizenship on the basis of merit in article 25B.
ix. a transitory provision relating to the granting of citizenship by naturalisation.
Overview of the structure of the instrument
Article 1: Short title and commencement;
Article 2: Amendment of article 2 of the principal Act (definitions);
Article 3: Amendment of article 3 (Persons who become citizens of Malta on the appointed day);
Article 4: Amendment of article 5 (Acquisition of citizenship by birth or descent by persons born on or after appointed day);
Article 5: Amendment of article 10 (Naturalisation of aliens or stateless persons);
Article 6: Amendment of article 17 (Reference to terms);
Article 7: Amendment article 24 (Regulations);
Article 8: Amendment of article 25 (Appointment of the Regulator);
Article 9: Amendment article 25A (Investigation of complaints);
Article 10: Amendment article 25B (The Monitoring Committee);
Article 11: Amendment to article 27 (Transitory Provision).
Commentary
The present amendments have been formulated to implement the decision of Court of Justice of the European Union Case C-181/23, Commission v. Malta. Additionally, these amendments extend the deadline of the date when the link required for the acquisition of citizenship by descent is deemed to be severed following the death of the relevant parent, whereby such circumstances would affect the right of subsequent generations to acquire Maltese citizenship by descent, amends the provisions which regulate citizenship by merit and clarifies, furthermore, the textual reference in the case of adopted children.
Article 2: The definition of “individual investor programme" is being deleted, as the programme is being terminated.
Article 3: New deadlines relating to the link for the acquisition of citizenship by descent. The new deadline is 1st August 2028.
Article 4: New deadlines relating to the link for the acquisition of citizenship by descent. The new deadline is 1st August 2028.
Article 5: Amendment of article 10(9), relating to naturalisation by merit, to cover exceptional services rendered and contributions made by persons of interest, including scientists, researchers, athletes, sports people, artists, cultural performers, entrepreneurs, philanthropists and technologists. Such persons may be granted citizenship upon application.
Article 6: This amendment relates to adoptions by persons of interest in article 17. This article specifies, inter alia, the exclusions from eligibility to Maltese citizenship on the basis of the date of the adoption.
Article 7: Deletes article 24 to delete the references to the Individual Investor Programme;
Article 8: Replacement of the references to the Individual Investor Programme with the acquisition of citizenship on the basis of merit in article 25;
Article 9: This article provides for an avenue to lodge complaints in relation to matters concerning citizenship by naturalisation on the basis of merit in article 25A;
Article 10: A reference to exceptional services is replaced by the acquisition of citizenship on the basis of merit in article 25B.
Article 11: a transitory provision relating to the granting of citizenship by naturalisation.
Concluding section
Aġenzija Komunità Malta is located at Mediterranean Conference Centre, Old Hospital Street, Valletta, and may be contacted on tel. no. 21225232 and on email address: [email protected]
N.B. These Explanatory Notes are not intended to be an exhaustive description of the instrument nor a substitute thereof or a legislative supplement to it. These Explanatory Notes do not purport to be an authoritative ruling on the interpretation of the legislation.
24th July, 2025
