Malta’s citizenship law: Evolution and current regime

Malta’s legal regime on citizenship is relatively young as it came into being on the day of Malta’s acquisition of independence from British rule forty-two years ago. Yet throughout these years, particularly over the past two decades, it has undergone extensive alterations marking changes in the governing principles. This chapter first traces the evolution of the citizenship laws during these years, noting the important policy changes, their possible causes and implications. It then explores the different modes of acquisition and loss of citizenship under the current regime. Finally, statistical data is produced to highlight the extent to which persons seeking