Malta Abandons MEIN and Switches to a Merit-Based System: What This Means for EU Residency Investors

In a historic change, Malta recently abolished its Exceptional Investor Naturalization (MEIN) program following a European Court of Justice ruling that condemns citizenship as a purely transactional process. Now, Malta is broadening its merit-based citizenship framework—emphasizing innovation, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, and job creation instead of just monetary investment. With Malta’s investment-driven citizenship program ended, many investors…