Malta Credit Rating A+ Says Fitch

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The RIF Trust Response to Malta’s A+Rating

Our Maltese Residency and Citizenship by Investment expert is Shukri Harfoush. He reacts to the latest positive Malta credit rating. Shukri advises clients on the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP), the country’s Residency by Investment.

He’s also an authority on Citizenship by Investment in Malta AKA Maltese Exceptional Investor Naturalization. Our Malta specialist comments: “Good news stories about subjects that interest us buoy our spirits.”

“If you’re already committed to a new residency or second citizenship there, this development will only cement your choice,” continues Shukri. Before concluding, “And, if you’ve yet to make up your mind, Malta’s A+ rating will help you come more easily to a positive resolution.”

Fitch’s A+ Malta Credit Rating

Fitch Ratings is a leading credit rating agency. Its latest Rating Agency Commentary sees Fitch affirm Malta at A+. This reasons that “Malta’s rating is supported by high per capita income, strong growth rates and EU and euro area membership.“

Malta is surfing an economic wave in 2024. So much so that Fitch predict “real GDP growth will average 5.7% this year, well above the ‘A’ median and eurozone growth forecasts of 2.0% and 0.8%, respectively.” Boosts to the Maltese economy have come from the financial and services sector.

Yet a bigger player is the tourism industry. Visitor “arrivals in 1H24 surpassed pre-pandemic levels by 32%.” So Fitch reevaluated “growth forecasts for 2025 and 2026 to 4.3% and 4.1%, given stronger carry over and higher potential growth estimates.”

The reason why the sky is quite literally the limit for Malta’s economy is because of the high ceiling Fitch gives the country. As the credit rating agency explains, “the Country Ceiling for Malta is ‘AAA’, 4 notches above the LT FC IDR and at the upper limit of the rating scale.

“Fitch’s rating committee applied a further +1 notch qualitative adjustment under the Long-Term Institutional Characteristics pillar, reflecting the sovereign’s membership of the eurozone currency union and the associated reserve currency status.”

Other Malta Credit Ratings

Morningstar DBRS is another prestigious credit rating agency. On Friday, April 12, 2024, it released its latest Malta credit rating. This “A (high), Stable Trend” commendation mirrors Fitch’s assessment.

Then there’s Scope. Its latest Malta credit rating came out on Friday, August 2, 2024. Within this, “Scope affirms the Republic of Malta’s long-term foreign-currency ratings at A+ with Stable Outlook.”

Other leading ratings agencies include Moody’s and S&P Global. Moody’s May 2024 Malta credit rating for long-term domestic and foreign currency is A2. S&P’s most recent rating dates back to June 2024 and Malta scores A-, stable.

How to Invest in Maltese Residency

In 2024, you can secure Maltese residency, with benefits including visa-free travel throughout the Schengen area, via two options:

1. Rent real estate for at least €10,000 per year in the south of the major island of Malta/on Gozo island or €12,000 in the remainder of the main island of Malta and donate €58,000 to the Malta’s Government
2. Purchase property with a minimum value of €300,000 in southern Malta/on Gozo or €350,000 anywhere else in Malta and make a Government donation of €28,000

Then there are these requirements you must satisfy:

• Hold on to the qualifying property for at least 5 years
• Pay a non-refundable €40,000 admin fee
• Donate €2,000 to an authorized Maltese animal welfare, artistic, cultural, philanthropic, scientific, or sporting NGO
• Provide a copy of your passport
• Take out a medical insurance policy to cover you and your family when you’re in Malta
• Ensure you have a travel insurance policy for you and your family when you’re visiting the Schengen area

Your Routes to Maltese Citizenship in 2024

To obtain MEIN in 12 months, you must invest €750,000. Then you will need to purchase Maltese residential property with a minimum value of €700,000. Or you can take out a lease on a Maltese residential property for a minimum €16,000 per year.

The second way to Malta Citizenship by Investment option costs less but takes longer, as in €600,000 and 36 months. There are the same stipulations of buying a residential property in Malta worth a minimum €700,000. Or renting residential Maltese real estate in Malta for at least €16,000 a year.

Extra conditions you need to meet to land a Malta passport with visa-free access to 176 destinations are as follows:

1. Retain ownership or lease of this property for a minimum 5 years
2. Make a donation of at least €10,000 to a registered philanthropic, cultural, sporting, scientific, animal welfare, or artistic charity

Taking the Next Step to Malta Permanent Residence or Citizenship in Malta

Residency Malta is the prestigious Government agency looking after MPRP.  The highly-regarded Community Malta Agency, meanwhile, manages MEIN. Neither of these august organizations accept direct applications from investors.

Instead, MPRP and MEIN applications need to go through a licensed agent and RIF Trust is licensed to represent you during the MPRP and MEIN application process. So, contact us now and we’ll show you how to get started with your Malta residency and citizenship applications.