{"id":27868,"date":"2025-05-24T11:42:29","date_gmt":"2025-05-24T09:42:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lexcase-immigration.com\/?p=27868"},"modified":"2026-04-13T12:53:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T10:53:34","slug":"eu-court-rules-against-maltas-golden-passport-scheme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lexcase-immigration.com\/en\/eu-court-rules-against-maltas-golden-passport-scheme\/","title":{"rendered":"EU Court Rules Against Malta\u2019s \u201cGolden Passport\u201d Scheme"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row pix_particles_check=””][vc_column][vc_column_text]The European Court of Justice has ruled that Malta’s “golden passport” program, which allowed wealthy foreigners to purchase citizenship, violates EU law. The court stated that while member states have the authority to determine how they grant nationality, Malta’s scheme eroded the principle of mutual trust between EU member states.\r\n\r\nThe European Commission took Malta to court in 2022, arguing that the scheme grants citizenship without ensuring a genuine connection to the country. The court agreed, stating that granting nationality in exchange for predetermined payments or investments essentially turns the acquisition of citizenship into a commercial transaction.\r\n\r\nMalta argued that citizenship matters fall under national competence and that a “genuine link” isn’t required by EU law. However, the court emphasized that Malta’s scheme is incompatible with the nature of Union citizenship and the principle of sincere cooperation between member states.\r\n\r\nTransparency International criticized the \u201cgolden passport\u201d programs, asserting that they provide a safe haven for corrupt actors and other suspicious individuals to enter the EU.\r\n\r\nMalta’s program, which has been in place since 2015, has generated over 1.4 billion euros and funded investments in social housing, healthcare, sports, and culture. Malta suspended the program for Russian and Belarusian nationals following the start of the war in Ukraine.\r\n\r\nIn the ruling, the EU’s Court of Justice said a member state cannot grant its nationality – and by extension European citizenship – in exchange for predetermined payments or investments, “as this essentially amounts to rendering the acquisition of nationality a mere commercial transaction.”\r\n\r\nAlthough each EU member state determines how they grant nationality, the court said Malta’s scheme “jeopardises the mutual trust” between member states.\r\n