Descent (grandparent + great-grandparent) · decided by Community Malta
Maltese citizenship by descent
Malta passes citizenship to children of citizens, and lets descendants of a Malta-born ascendant register where the direct line has two consecutive Malta-born ascendants. Act XXI of 2025 unified the link-severance deadlines (now 1 Aug 2028) and refined how adopted children are treated. Check whether you qualify, build your lineage, and get a primary-source-backed document checklist and cost estimate.
Grandparent or great-grandparent claim? Complex chain? Skip the research — talk to a Malta citizenship specialist in 30 minutes.
🇲🇹 Two generations home
A line of Malta-born ascendants opens registration — but a 2028 deadline can sever an unclaimed link.
Eligibility
Who may qualify
A Maltese-citizen parent → citizenship by descent.
Or two consecutive Malta-born ascendants in your direct line → registration.
Your relevant parent must have acquired Maltese citizenship under the article (or be deemed to have done so) — there is no separate rule that every generation individually register.
A link-severance rule applies; Act XXI of 2025 unified the earlier cutoffs into a single 1 Aug 2028 deadline.
Adoption counts only on conditions: an adopter is a parent mainly for lawful adoptions on/after 1 Aug 2020 where the adoptee was under 18; earlier windows and over-age adoptions are deemed without effect (Act XXI of 2025).
A general overview — your eligibility depends on the specifics of your line. The free check gives a personalized answer. EasyPassport is not affiliated with Community Malta. We help you organize and verify your documents. You submit your application to Community Malta directly — we do not file, submit, or act on your behalf with any government authority.
Why Malta
What makes Malta different
The two-Malta-born-ascendants rule
Beyond a Maltese parent, registration requires two consecutive Malta-born ascendants in your direct line.
One unified deadline: 1 Aug 2028
Act XXI of 2025 merged the earlier link-severance cutoffs into a single deadline to preserve an at-risk line.
Refined adoption treatment
An adopter counts as a parent mainly for lawful adoptions on/after 1 Aug 2020 where the adoptee was under 18.
Registration to confirm
Qualifying descendants register their citizenship through the Community Malta Agency.
English-language process
Malta administers citizenship matters in English, which simplifies documentation for many applicants.
By ancestor path
Your relationship to the Maltese ancestor determines which rules apply
Through your parent
A child of a Maltese citizen is generally Maltese — register to confirm.
See requirements 02MALTA-BORN-ASCENDANTDescendant of a Malta-born ascendant
Registration requires two consecutive Malta-born ascendants in your line.
See requirements 03ADOPTIONThrough adoption
An adopter counts as a parent only on conditions set by Act XXI of 2025 — mainly lawful adoptions on/after 1 Aug 2020 where the adoptee was under 18.
See requirementsProcess
How to apply
- 1
Check your line
Confirm a Maltese-citizen parent, or two consecutive Malta-born ascendants in your direct line.
- 2
Mind the 1 Aug 2028 deadline
If your line is link-severance-affected, plan to register before the unified deadline.
- 3
Gather the records
Collect birth, marriage, and (if relevant) adoption certificates documenting each generation back to the Malta-born ascendant.
- 4
Translate or legalize as needed
Prepare any non-English documents with certified translations and legalization.
- 5
File with the Community Malta Agency
Submit the registration with the applicable fees (~€150 plus a ~€50 certificate).
- 6
Track to issuance
Processing generally runs ~6–18 months; then apply for your Maltese passport.
Choose your path
Do it yourself, or talk to a specialist?
Do it yourself
Free tool- Parent or grandparent claim with clear documentation
- You know your ancestor held Malta citizenship
- Records are legible and translated where needed
- No broken-chain events (renunciation, timing gaps)
Talk to a specialist
- Great-grandparent or further-back claim
- Unsure whether a naturalization broke the chain
- Mixed ancestry — multiple possible pathways
- Want a professional to verify before gathering 10+ documents
At a glance
What you'll need
- Government fee
- ≈ €150 application + €50 certificate (varies by category)
- Typical timeline
- ~6–18 months
- Where
- Community Malta Agency (Aġenzija Komunità Malta)
Key dates & laws
The rules that decide your case
21 Sep 1964 — Independence
Malta's independence; descent claims trace a documented line back to a Malta-born ascendant from this era.
2007 amendment
Extended registration to 2nd-and-later generations born abroad of a Malta-born ascendant.
Act XXI of 2025 — enacted
Amended the Maltese Citizenship Act: unified the earlier link-severance cutoffs into a single 1 Aug 2028 deadline, and refined the treatment of adopted children (an adopter counts as a parent mainly for adoptions on/after 1 Aug 2020 where the adoptee was under 18; earlier or over-age adoptions are deemed without effect).
1 Aug 2028 — link-severance deadline
Final date, set by Act XXI of 2025, by which a descendant must register to preserve a line whose link would otherwise be treated as severed.
Where it's processed
A single national authority
🇲🇹 Community Malta Agency (Aġenzija Komunità Malta)
Community Malta Agency (Aġenzija Komunità Malta)
Malta processes descent applications centrally through one national authority, rather than routing them through consulates.
See mailing instructionsTools & guides
Plan your application
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
🇲🇹 Not sure where to start?
See if you qualify in about two minutes.
A personalized answer based on your specific line of descent. No passport or ID uploads — ever.