More liberal citizenship rules come into force

Second and subsequent generation Maltese born abroad can now apply for - and be given - Maltese citizenship after amendments to the Citizenship Act, which were passed in Parliament earlier this year, came into effect yesterday.

Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg told a news conference yesterday the amendments enable children whose father or mother were of Maltese descent to gain Maltese citizenship.

To date, this has been limited to Maltese born abroad to at least one Malta-born parent. However, with the new amendments, second or subsequent generations will be able to apply for citizenship as long as one of their parents would have gained Maltese citizenship.

Citizenship is also being extended to people born abroad before 1964 to a Maltese mother born in Malta and a non-Maltese father. To date, only those persons with a Maltese father could apply for citizenship unless they had resided in Malta for at least five years. Their children will also be able to apply for citizenship.

Once they gain Maltese citizenship, applicants can continue to live in another country. But in order to apply for citizenship they have to provide documents proving the Maltese link.

The documents have to be the best possible evidence, that is, Public Registry certificates, but since this was set up in 1858, in instances where these are unavailable, Catholic Church records will be used.

Although a barrage of applications are not expected, Maltese citizenship is expected to be attractive because Maltese migrants in non-EU states will be able to travel, study or live and work in any EU country.