Maltese Citizenship by Exceptional Services (MCES) Program
Under the Maltese Citizenship Act, Article 10(9), revised in 2017 and July 2020, the Maltese Citizenship by Exceptional Services (MCES) program is available to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in specific fields. These fields include science, research, sports, arts, cultural performance, and business sectors such as investment and entrepreneurship. Eligibility extends to both the individual providing these exceptional services and their qualified dependents.
The definition of exceptional services encompasses contributions that are significantly superior or extraordinarily excellent at a local level. The MCES program is supervised by a Regulator, appointed by the Maltese Prime Minister in agreement with the Leader of the Opposition. This Regulator ensures adherence to the naturalization process through exceptional services.
Requirements for Granting MCES Programme
An evaluation board within this framework assesses each applicant's contributions to determine their eligibility for naturalization. This board is tasked with reviewing applications within 180 days of receipt and subsequently providing a report to the Citizenship Minister, who then has 60 days to make a final decision on granting citizenship.
Applicants must meet several criteria: residence in Malta for a minimum of 8 months prior to application, evidence of property ownership in Malta, a record of exceptional service to either Malta or humanity, and recommendations from two qualified sponsors. The application process includes comprehensive due diligence checks conducted by internationally recognized agents.
Our Immigration Law Practice
Our Immigration Law practice serves individuals and families, and their trustees and family offices, private banks and other wealth management service providers. Our lawyers and tax advisers provide personal tax planning and compliance, citizenship and residency planning, wills and estates and international wealth structuring advice. With advisers spanning the legal, accounting and tax professions, we boast a commitment to quality whist at the same time emphasising responsiveness and paramount client service.
Dr Jean-Philippe Chetcuti is an internationally recognised figure in the Maltese immigration scene, a warranted Maltese advocate and authorised registered mandatory, a founding member of STEP Malta Branch (chairman between 2013-2016), a member and speaker at the Global Migration Section of the American Immigration Lawyers Association AILA in Malta and a member of EILN, the European Immigration Lawyers Network in Malta. Dr Chetcuti is recognised figure in Maltese tax, citizenship and residence matters and is regularly invited to speak on Malta immigration law developments in international fora.
Dr Priscilla Mifsud Parker is a licensed advocate, immigration agent and authorised registered mandatory, and through ACC Advisors Ltd, is duly authorised to act as a licensed Malta citizenship agent in terms of the Agents (Licences) Regulations, 2020 (L.N. 435 of 2020) and bound by the “Licence Agreement and Code of Conduct and Ethics for Agents” entered into with Community Malta Agency, under official Malta licence number AKM-ACCA. Dr Mifsud Parker is a member of STEP Malta (chairperson from 2020 – present). Dr Mifsud Parker is a recognised figure in the world of trusts and estate planning and tax and corporate structuring of wealth and business through Malta.
Dr Antoine Saliba Haig is a senior lawyer at Chetcuti Cauchi Advocates. His expertise focuses on all matters relating to citizenship and residency planning such as naturalization and registration pathways like citizenship by investment, naturalisation, birth, marriage, and descent. Saliba Haig also specializes in advising on various Malta residency & citizenship programs, such as the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP), the Malta Global Residence Programme, Digital Nomad Visas, and navigating the legal process of purchasing or renting property in Malta. In addition, he participates in various forums and conferences and has been ranked by several legal research firms as a top-tier lawyer in Immigration law.
Ms Marina Magri co-heads our Immigration Practice and has assisted families with a range of immigration, residency, and citizenship options globally, within the investment, entrepreneurship, innovation, and executive employee fields. She leads a team in advising several prominent business families in Malta and on an international level in immigration, risk management, and compliance matters.
License: AKM-ACCA
Maltese Citizenship by Exceptional Services (MCES) Program
Under the Maltese Citizenship Act, Article 10(9), revised in 2017 and July 2020, the Maltese Citizenship by Exceptional Services (MCES) program is available to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in specific fields. These fields include science, research, sports, arts, cultural performance, and business sectors such as investment and entrepreneurship. Eligibility extends to both the individual providing these exceptional services and their qualified dependents.
The definition of exceptional services encompasses contributions that are significantly superior or extraordinarily excellent at a local level. The MCES program is supervised by a Regulator, appointed by the Maltese Prime Minister in agreement with the Leader of the Opposition. This Regulator ensures adherence to the naturalization process through exceptional services.
Requirements for Granting MCES Programme
An evaluation board within this framework assesses each applicant's contributions to determine their eligibility for naturalization. This board is tasked with reviewing applications within 180 days of receipt and subsequently providing a report to the Citizenship Minister, who then has 60 days to make a final decision on granting citizenship.
Applicants must meet several criteria: residence in Malta for a minimum of 8 months prior to application, evidence of property ownership in Malta, a record of exceptional service to either Malta or humanity, and recommendations from two qualified sponsors. The application process includes comprehensive due diligence checks conducted by internationally recognized agents.
Our Immigration Law Practice
Our Immigration Law practice serves individuals and families, and their trustees and family offices, private banks and other wealth management service providers. Our lawyers and tax advisers provide personal tax planning and compliance, citizenship and residency planning, wills and estates and international wealth structuring advice. With advisers spanning the legal, accounting and tax professions, we boast a commitment to quality whist at the same time emphasising responsiveness and paramount client service.
Dr Jean-Philippe Chetcuti is an internationally recognised figure in the Maltese immigration scene, a warranted Maltese advocate and authorised registered mandatory, a founding member of STEP Malta Branch (chairman between 2013-2016), a member and speaker at the Global Migration Section of the American Immigration Lawyers Association AILA in Malta and a member of EILN, the European Immigration Lawyers Network in Malta. Dr Chetcuti is recognised figure in Maltese tax, citizenship and residence matters and is regularly invited to speak on Malta immigration law developments in international fora.
Dr Priscilla Mifsud Parker is a licensed advocate, immigration agent and authorised registered mandatory, and through ACC Advisors Ltd, is duly authorised to act as a licensed Malta citizenship agent in terms of the Agents (Licences) Regulations, 2020 (L.N. 435 of 2020) and bound by the “Licence Agreement and Code of Conduct and Ethics for Agents” entered into with Community Malta Agency, under official Malta licence number AKM-ACCA. Dr Mifsud Parker is a member of STEP Malta (chairperson from 2020 – present). Dr Mifsud Parker is a recognised figure in the world of trusts and estate planning and tax and corporate structuring of wealth and business through Malta.
Dr Antoine Saliba Haig is a senior lawyer at Chetcuti Cauchi Advocates. His expertise focuses on all matters relating to citizenship and residency planning such as naturalization and registration pathways like citizenship by investment, naturalisation, birth, marriage, and descent. Saliba Haig also specializes in advising on various Malta residency & citizenship programs, such as the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP), the Malta Global Residence Programme, Digital Nomad Visas, and navigating the legal process of purchasing or renting property in Malta. In addition, he participates in various forums and conferences and has been ranked by several legal research firms as a top-tier lawyer in Immigration law.
Ms Marina Magri co-heads our Immigration Practice and has assisted families with a range of immigration, residency, and citizenship options globally, within the investment, entrepreneurship, innovation, and executive employee fields. She leads a team in advising several prominent business families in Malta and on an international level in immigration, risk management, and compliance matters.
License: AKM-ACCA