Malta Revokes Citizenship of Convicted Money Launderer
October 25, 2025
Malta revoked Semen Kuksov’s citizenship after he was sentenced to five years in UK prison for money laundering.
Malta Startup Residence
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Program Type:
Active Investor Visa
Processing Time:
4-6 months
Citizenship Timeline:
9 years
Permanent Residency Timeline:
5 years of continuous residency
Physical Presence Required:
183 days per year
Citizenship Visa-Free Access:
187 countries
Minimum Contribution:
€25,000
Contribution Options:
Business Investment
On This Page
Program Overview
Malta Startup Residence
The Malta Startup Residence Programme offers non-EU entrepreneurs the opportunity to secure long-term residency in Malta through innovative business ventures.
With a minimum investment requirement of €25,000, this program supports startups in industries like high-end manufacturing, medtech, and sustainable green ventures.
Participants and their families benefit from a 3+5-year residence permit, visa-free access to Schengen countries, and access to Malta’s growing startup ecosystem in the heart of the Mediterranean.
Malta Startup Residence
How to Qualify
To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:
Startup Requirements:
- Your business must be less than 7 years old and focused on an innovative sector (e.g., technology, gaming, health).
- The startup must not have distributed profits yet.
Financial Requirements:
- The founder must secure €25,000 as an investment into the startup.
- For each additional co-founder or key team member, an extra €10,000 must also be invested into the startup.
Residency Requirements:
- You must live in Malta for at least 183 days per year.
Excluded Nationalities:
Citizens of the following countries are not eligible to apply:
- Afghanistan
- North Korea
- Iran
- Somalia
- Venezuela
Malta Startup Residence
Salient Benefits
- Freedom of movement (but not settlement) within Schengen
- Path to citizenship
- Permits dual/multiple citizenship
- Safety and security
- Warm climate
- Enhanced business access to large economies
- English as official language
Malta Startup Residence
Citizenship Timeline and Requirements
The Malta Startup Residence Programme does not offer a direct pathway to citizenship. However, foreign nationals without family ties in Malta may become eligible to apply for citizenship after holding permanent residence for at least four (4) cumulative years within a six-year period.
To qualify for Maltese citizenship:
- Applicants must have lived in Malta for four (4) years after obtaining permanent residence while maintaining a valid residence permit.
- They must not have been absent from Malta for more than six (6) consecutive months or a total of ten (10) months during the six-year period.
Browse 195 countries’ paths to citizenship in the hyper-detailed IMI Citizenship Catalog.
Malta Startup Residence
Program Authority and Legal Basis
Applications for this program may be directed to Residency Malta and Malta Enterprise.
Legislation upon which this program is based Malta Immigration Act (Cap. 217).
Malta Startup Residence
IMI Pros Who Can Help You
Malta Startup Residence
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Malta Startup Residence
Program Statistics
See more statistics on this program and others in the IMI Data Center.