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Buy EU Citizenship: What Changed in 2025 and Your Options Now
- Posted
- Editor
- Tessa Quinn
- 4 min read
Contents
You cannot buy EU citizenship at a published price. On 29 April 2025, the EU Court of Justice ruled that granting nationality for predetermined payments breaches EU law[1]. Malta repealed its scheme in July 2025[2]. Two residence routes remain: Malta's MPRP from €99,000 plus property or rent, with citizenship after five-plus years of actual residence[1]; Cyprus permanent residence from €300,000 investment plus €50,000 annual income, with naturalisation after eight years and a B1 Greek exam[1][3]. First step: compare these residence programmes against your timeline and liquidity.
What you get
- A permanent residence permit, not citizenship
- Malta's MPRP grants permanent residence with no minimum stay requirement, but time spent abroad does not build toward naturalisation. Cyprus offers a permanent residence permit under Regulation 6(2) with a €300,000 minimum investment.
- A defined path to citizenship with real residence requirements
- Malta requires residence throughout the 12 months before applying and four of the six years before that, making citizenship take 5+ years of actual residence. Cyprus requires 12 months continuous residence immediately before application plus seven cumulative years in the preceding ten years, totalling eight years.
- Family coverage under specific conditions
- Malta's permanent residence permit can cover four generations: grandparents, parents, the applicant, and children. Cyprus requires additional secured annual income of €15,000 for a spouse and €10,000 per dependent child.
- Language and civic knowledge obligations for Cyprus
- Cyprus naturalisation applicants must pass a B1-level Greek language examination and score at least 60% on a civic knowledge test covering Cypriot political and social realities.
- No published price for citizenship after July 2025
- Malta repealed its citizenship-by-investment provisions by Act XXI of 2025, in force 24 July 2025, and replaced them with a discretionary merit-based naturalisation route with no published price.
Investment-based residence routes to EU citizenship (2025 onwards)
| Programme | Investment cost | Timeline to citizenship | Residence requirements | Key limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) → naturalisation | €60,000 admin fee + €37,000 contribution + €2,000 donation + €375,000 property purchase (or €14,000/year rent) + €500,000 assets (€150,000 financial) or €650,000 assets (€75,000 financial) | 5+ years: permanent residence granted immediately, then 4 of 6 years actual residence + final 12 months continuous residence before naturalisation application | No minimum stay for MPRP permit itself, but naturalisation requires physical residence throughout 12 months before applying and 4 of the 6 years before that; time abroad under MPRP does not count | Permit covers four generations (grandparents, parents, applicant, children); citizenship route is discretionary merit-based naturalisation with no published price since July 2025 repeal |
| Cyprus Permanent Residence (Regulation 6(2)) → naturalisation | €300,000 minimum investment (new residential property + VAT, commercial property, company shares employing 5+ people, or investment fund units) + secured annual income €50,000+ from abroad (+ €15,000 spouse, + €10,000 per child) | 8 years total: 12 months continuous lawful residence immediately before application (up to 90 days absence permitted) + 7 cumulative years legal residence in preceding 10 years | Must maintain investment and demonstrate foreign income throughout; 12-month continuous residence period allows maximum 90 days abroad | Naturalisation requires B1-level Greek language exam and 60%+ score on civic knowledge test covering Cypriot political and social realities |
| Direct citizenship-by-investment (Malta, Cyprus, Bulgaria) | No longer available | N/A | N/A | Cyprus closed programme November 2020, Bulgaria 2022, Malta repealed provisions July 2025 following ECJ ruling C-181/23 (29 April 2025) that granting nationality for predetermined payments breaches EU law |
How to Get EU Residence or Citizenship Through Investment Now
Accept that direct purchase of EU citizenship is closed
The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled on 29 April 2025 in Commission v Malta (C-181/23) that granting nationality for predetermined payments breaches EU law[1]. Malta repealed its citizenship-by-investment provisions by Act XXI of 2025, in force 24 July 2025, replacing them with a discretionary merit-based route with no published price[2]. Cyprus closed its programme in November 2020 and Bulgaria in 2022[1].
Choose between Malta and Cyprus residence routes
Two investment-based residence options remain. Malta offers the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP). Cyprus offers a permanent residence permit under Regulation 6(2)[1]. Neither grants citizenship directly.
Meet the Malta MPRP financial requirements
MPRP requires a €60,000 administrative fee, a €37,000 contribution, and a €2,000 donation. You must also purchase property for €375,000 or rent at €14,000 per year. Show €500,000 in assets (€150,000 financial) or €650,000 (€75,000 financial)[1]. The permit can cover four generations: grandparents, parents, the applicant, and children[4].
Meet the Cyprus permanent residence requirements
Cyprus requires a minimum €300,000 investment in one of four categories: new residential property plus VAT, commercial property, shares in a Cyprus-registered company employing at least five people, or units in Cyprus Investment Fund Association collective investments[3]. You must also show secured annual income of at least €50,000 from abroad, plus €15,000 for a spouse and €10,000 per dependent child[3].
Plan for a long residence period before citizenship
Malta's MPRP has no minimum stay requirement, but time abroad does not count toward naturalisation. You need residence throughout the 12 months before applying and four of the six years before that[1]. Cyprus naturalisation requires 12 months of continuous lawful residence immediately before the application, with absences up to 90 days permitted, plus seven cumulative years in the preceding ten years, totalling eight years[3].
Pass language and civic tests for Cyprus
Cyprus naturalisation applicants must pass a B1-level Greek language examination and score at least 60% on a civic knowledge test covering Cypriot political and social realities[3]. Malta's replacement route is discretionary and merit-based, with no published price or test details in the provided sources[2].
Verify current programme status before committing
The Court of Justice held that Malta's investor citizenship scheme breached the principle of sincere cooperation under Article 4(3) TEU by commercialising EU citizenship[5]. Programme terms and legal interpretations may change. Check the official Maltese and Cypriot government sources for the latest application forms, fee schedules, and residence requirements before transferring funds.
Risks, Limitations and Guarantees
No EU Member State guarantees citizenship in exchange for investment. The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled on 29 April 2025 that granting nationality for predetermined payments breaches EU law by commercialising EU citizenship[1][5]. Malta repealed its citizenship-by-investment provisions in July 2025[2]. Cyprus closed its programme in November 2020 and Bulgaria in 2022[1].
The two remaining residence routes carry significant hidden costs and timeline risks. Malta's MPRP grants permanent residence with no minimum stay requirement, but time spent abroad does not count toward naturalisation[1]. You must maintain actual residence throughout the 12 months before applying for citizenship and four of the six years before that[1]. Cyprus requires 12 months of continuous lawful residence immediately before application—absences up to 90 days permitted—plus seven cumulative years in the preceding ten years, totalling eight years[3]. Both routes require you to maintain the investment and demonstrate ongoing income throughout the residence period.
Cyprus naturalisation adds mandatory language and civic obligations: you must pass a B1-level Greek examination and score at least 60% on a civic knowledge test[3]. Malta's replacement route is discretionary and merit-based, with no published price or criteria[2]. Neither programme offers refunds if naturalisation is refused after you complete the residence period.
Before committing funds, verify current programme terms directly with Maltese and Cypriot government sources. Legal interpretations may change following the April 2025 ECJ ruling[1][5].
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