Maltese authorities have been directed to abolish the Golden Passport program.
Smashin' Down the Cash Pass: Malta's Golden Ticket to EU Citizenship Blocked
Say goodbye to the blingin' passport program, Malta! The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) dropped a bombshell decision today, April 29, 2025. The court declared Malta's controversial "golden passport" scheme a no-go, stating that it's a big fat violation of European Union (EU) law and demands immediate termination.
The CJEU pointed the finger at Malta for commodifying citizenship rights, essentially treating EU citizenship as a commodity instead of a bond of solidarity and good faith. According to the court, this practice strips EU citizenship of its mutual trust and integrity among member states.
Now hold up, 'cause this ain't Malta's first rodeo. The European Commission got the ball rollin' with infringement proceedings against Malta back in 2022, deep-dishin' the message that EU citizenship ain't a tradable commodity.
Just what the heck was Malta's golden passport scheme, you ask? Plan and simple, foreign nationals could swap cold hard cash for Maltese citizenship by pumpin' at least €600,000 into a national development fund, snatch up island property, toss some currency to charity, and log a year's worth of residency—a timeframe that could be sped up for a cool €750,000 investment.
Despite beefin' up vetting procedures in 2020, Malta still faced a torrent of criticism. Probers 'n' advocates dredged up cases of politically exposed persons and criminal linkages to the passport recipients. Malta stood its ground, claimin' its program boasted robust vetting processes, but the court still found that the essence of the scheme – grantin' citizenship primarily based on financial contributions – goes against EU law.
Malta ain't the only guilty party, though. ol' Cyprus had a similar citizenship-by-investment program goin' on, sellin' passports to folks investin' at least €2 million in property or businesses. But after accusations surfaced in 2020 that criminals and sanctioned individuals had acquired Cypriot passports, plus an undercover investigation by Al Jazeera, 'ol Cyprus scrapped its scheme at the end of 2020. Bulgaria, too, offered a path to citizenship through investments, with a focus on government bonds, but folded 'em after facing EU pressure and admitlin' that the scheme didn't deliver the expected economic benefits.
Other countries like Portugal, Greece, and Spain offered golden visas—residency in return for investin' real estate or capital. These programs have been minimized considerably lately, with Portugal drop-kickin' 'em in 2023, excludin' real estate investment as a qualifier amid concerns over inflated property prices and social inequality.
The European Commission rang the alarm bells on these programs, warnin' they pose risks of money laundin', corruption, tax evasion, and security threats. The CJEU's ruling establishes a cleavin' legal precedent, strengthenin' the EU's commitment to preservin' the sanctity of its citizenship framework. Malta's gotta scrap the program or risk more repercussions. The decision also sends a potent signal to other member states that moneymakin' moves on EU rights and privileges will be met with legal resistance.
As of now, neither Malta's government nor the Maltese High Commission has responded to the ruling. Stay tuned, ya'll!
[1] European Court of Justice, Press Release (2025), No C-871/19 | European Commission v Republic of Malta
[2] European Commission, Press Release (2025), "Court of Justice of the EU rules that Malta's 'golden passport' scheme is against EU law"
[3] European Union Times, "Malta's 'Golden Passport' Scheme Shuttered by European Court of Justice Ruling"
[4] CJEU Judgment (2025) C-871/19, European Commission v Republic of Malta, EU:C:2025:248
- The European Court of Justice (CJEU) has ruled that Malta's controversial "golden passport" scheme, which offers EU citizenship in exchange for investments, is a violation of EU law and demands immediate termination.
- Malta's scheme, which allows foreign nationals to purchase Maltese citizenship by investing a minimum of €600,000 in national development funds, among other requirements, has been criticized for commodifying EU citizenship.
- The CJEU's decision sets a precedent for the EU's commitment to preserving the sanctity of its citizenship framework and addressing risks such as money laundering, corruption, tax evasion, and security threats.
- Other member states, such as Cyprus and Bulgaria, have previously offered similar programs, but have since been pressured by the EU to shut them down due to concerns over their economic benefits and potential risks.
