Parents of adopted children could soon be spared the bureaucratic trouble of applying to obtain Maltese citizenship for their sons and daughters, with the government preparing a bill that will amend current laws.

The amendments, if passed, will ensure that adopted children are automatically granted Maltese citizenship once adopted.

Plans to amend laws were made public by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat during a speech he gave at Malta’s first national conference for adoptions.

Family minister Michael Falzon told the conference audience that the government was committed to simplifying the adoption process, noting however that there were several international standards and regulations which Malta was duty-bound to abide by.

The conference was organised by the Family Ministry and Social Care Standards Authority.