Malta - British Expat Forum

I was born in Malta but was raised in the US. I contacted Citizenship & Expatriate Affairs and several months ago received my letter from them stating that I became a citizen of Malta at birth, that I am still such a citizen and that I may hold Maltese citizenship together with my US citizenship. My husband and I want to relocate to Eurpoe but I am not sure what the next step is in getting Duel citizenship. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, and welcome to the forum

from the Citizenship & Expatriate Affairs website, Q&A on dual citizenship

http://www.foreign.gov.mt/Library/Citizenship%20Forms%20and%20Templates/booklet.pdf

if I may add to this thread, since my wife is going through this to apply as a second generation Maltese

background to add to what Mark may have already included

http://www.maltamedia.com/artman2/publish/govt_politics/article_2905.shtml

1. if you're looking for details of birth, marriage or death certificates tracing back to allow you to apply

http://docs.justice.gov.mt/LegalPub/Legal_Publications%5CLegal_Notices%5CEnglish%5C2007%5C188%20-%202007%20-%20P2542-2550.pdf

2. I think that this is the application form. Would suggest that you contact the local Malta embassy in your country

http://docs.justice.gov.mt/LegalPub/Legal_Publications%5CLegal_Notices%5CEnglish%5C2007%5C188%20-%202007%20-%20P2542-2550.pdf

useful links, thank you

I can understand the rationale for a non-EU citizen (gives one the right to live and work in any EU country), but I'm not sure why an EU citizen would want to take dual nationality - by doing so you will probably pay more tax, as Maltese citizens living in Malta pay tax on their worldwide income, whereas foreigners only pay tax on income earnt in, or brought into Malta.

Agree with you Mark that those who are EU citizens it really doesn't matter, unless its a personal thing tied back to heritage

Since there are probably lots of folks in OZ & the USA that do qualify - this is a good thing

On the post above, I doubled on the one link, which should have been form leaflet CEA/27 for which we have in pdf & unable to link or hyperlink it for the thread or as an attachment

Will try again to do it later, unless you can find it on the department for citizenship & expatriate affairs website

the CEA/27 form below [from pdf to word] as part of the process to getting there - is what we received from the citizenship department in Valletta

when filled, can be sent to citizenship@gov.mt

yes, of course someone at that end will pick it up

CEA/27
Department for Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs

As from 16 April 2010, the Department shall not be requesting civil status certificates issued by the Public Registry of Malta in connection with a demand for the provision of a service by the Department. This Department shall obtain the necessary certificates on behalf of the
enquirer/applicant.

It is, however, the responsibility of the enquirer/applicant to furnish this Department with the correct information to enable it to acquire the required certificates. In the case of a marriage certificate, if this is already available, although one is not obliged to furnish it, it would facilitate matters, if such certificate is produced in order that a photocopy thereof may be made by the Department.

Birth/Marriage certificates issued by foreign Authorities shall be provided by the applicant as well as those issued by the local Ecclesiastical Authorities when records regarding the required certificates are not available at the Public Registry.

Details of Birth / Marriage Certificates

Applicant’s Name:
Place & Date of Birth: /
Public Registry Registration Number (or ID Card No):

His/Her Father’s Name:
Place & Date of Birth: /
Public Registry Registration Number (or ID Card No):

His/Her Mother’s Name:
Place & Date of Birth: /
Public Registry Registration Number (or ID Card No):

Parents’:
Place/date of Marriage:/
* Public Registry Registration Number:

His/Her Paternal Grandfather’s Name:
Place & Date of Birth: /

His/Her Paternal Grandparents Names:
Place & Date of Marriage: /

* Public Registry Registration Number: *
To be furnished if relative information is available or applicable.

Other information:


_____________________
Applicant’s Signature


DATA PROTECTION STATEMENT

The Department for Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs processes information furnished by enquirer in order to carry out its functions under the Maltese Citizenship Act (Cap 188). All data furnished is processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act (Cap 440), the Maltese Citizenship Act (Cap 188) and other subsidiary legislation.
When claim to Maltese citizenship is confirmed, data as necessary is disclosed to other Government Departments as permitted by law.

form CEA/27

http://www.tvsmarts.com/archieve/CEA27.pdf

Hi everybody. My Father was Maltese and emigrated to England in the 1950's and married my English Mother, so I understand that I am entitled to dual citizenship. I have a copy of the necessary form http://www.euro-malta.com/citizenship/citizenshipformA.pdf and most of the documentation required, do I need to take them to The Maltese Embassy in London myself or can I forward copies as I would be reluctant to trust any postal services with my passport. Also, I have a small National Health Service Pension, would this be liable to Taxation if I obtained dual nationality.

Hi Dave, and welcome to the forum

Rules, and their application, change frequently, so I suggest you call the Embassy to check, but I would presume notarised copies would suffice - however, they may want very specific wording.

Pension - really for the "money matters" section, but in brief - AFAIK, as its a public sector pension, you can only receive it net of UK income tax. You would be liable to tax in Malta as well, but can utilise the double taxation treaty and your personal allowances in Malta.

The following thread may answer some of your likely follow-up questions

EU citizen moving to Malta Q&A
http://www.britishexpat.com/expatforum/malta/viewtopic.php?t=8544

this covers the following

1. An EU citizens legal rights - residency, working, students
2. what sort of residency is available ?
3. what do I need to apply for if I want to reside in Malta ?
4. do I need to apply for residency before coming to live in Malta ?
5. do I need an accountant to apply for residency ?
6. do I need health insurance ?
6.1 Do I qualify for public health cover, and if I do, what cover do I have ? Are prescriptions free ?
7. can I work in Malta ?
7.1 How much is income tax ?
7.2 How much are social security contributions ?
8. where do I apply for my residency permit ?
9. where can I get the OR application form ?
10. where do I apply for my ID card ?
11. what documents do I need to apply for OR ?
12. can I vote in Malta ?
13. buying a property FAQ
14. renting a property FAQ
15. Importing a vehicle FAQ
16. What's the procedure for importing/exporting a pet ?
17. Can I use my driving licence in Malta ?
18. Long term residency permit

I looked at dual Nationality which i am able to get due to having a Maltese Mother and being born in Malta, however like others have stated its really not worth bothering with unless for maybe wanting to buy more than 1 property out here.

I did actually start the process of applying and thankfully it all came to a head when the lady in the dept of expatriate affairs asked me for my marriage certificate (my wife is english) which i promptly produced, she looked at it shaking her head and when i asked what the problem is, she said that the certificate is an American one (obviously as we got married in Florida) and that i had to have an "Apostile" which i had no idea what she was talking about, basically i had to have my marriage certificate stamped and signed by the official who married us!!!

At this point having spent 4 hrs up and down the hills in valletta getting birth/marriage certifiactes for my mother and her parents I was actually ready to blow so I did. I said to this most unhelpful person "Do you want me to fly to America and get it stamped seriously or are you having a laugh" with no expression she replied back "Yes". Incredible !!

My next suggestion stumped her somewhat even though I wasnt being serious (I had given it up now and thought screw Dual nationality) I said to her "Right Im going back to the UK with my wife and I am going to Divorce her because you are making this way to difficult , then i will remarry her and write to every Newspaper and other media i can think of to show what stupid beaurocracy is in force in Malta" and you know what ? she just brushed me of with the "I Don't give a s**t" attitude. I Promptly left the office.

Thankfully it all worked out for the best and Im glad not to have taken DN and divorced my wife . (Mind you if i keep staying out til 6am in the mornings playing poker she will probably divorce me anyway)

Hello Eggs

Read your post and had to laugh at Maltese Bureaucracy and all the problems you had to get Dual Nationality which I understand in the end you decided not to bother!

I too wanted to apply for dual nationality for many years with having a maltese mother, although I was born in the UK. I could not get one, as I was born before a certain date, cant remember what the exact date it was (1964? perhaps) and because it was my mother who was maltese. If it had been my father who was maltese then I could have applied. This upset me enormously especially as my mother was a VAD during the war, her photos are in the War Museum in Valletta and she did her bit for Malta during the war and she helped the family in Malta too, sending down her hardearned money from the UK to her brother, his wife and their 7 kids so that they had a roof over their head as in those days the maltese were very poor-not like today. Also, I felt that the Maltese government was discriminating against my mother because she was a female especially in these so called modern times.

Needless, to say, I can obtain Dual Nationality now but I have not bothered! The law was changed in my favour by the nationalist party just before the elections a few years ago as they were after my vote. After much consideration, I decided I was better off with sole UKnationality especially in light of GozoMark's comment that as an EU citizen you do not need it and would be better off without Maltese nationality.
Since the Maltese government prevented me for so many years to have Dual Nationality, I was so happy when I could eventually apply for it, but on second thoughts decided against it. Maybe when I am old, I might apply just before I die but not now.

One day I would like to live in Malta/Gozo and have been planning to do so for the past few years but now ill health is prolonging it for me and on reading the posts from GozoMark it would not be in my interests to have Dual Nationality if and when I get to live in Malta/Gozo!

I am glad that you have sorted it out and wish you and your wife all the best!

Kind Regards
Jiliana

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