Maltese nationality law

Imagine Malta is like a special club! To be a member, you need to be a Maltese citizen. The main rulebook for this club is called the Maltese Citizenship Act. It started way back in 1964, the same year Malta became its own country! If you were born in Malta between 1964 and 1989, you were automatically a member. Now, if one of your parents is Maltese or was born there, you can join the club too!

Being a Maltese citizen is like having special superpowers! Because Malta is part of the European Union (EU), Maltese citizens can travel freely to many countries in Europe without needing extra permission. It's like having a golden ticket!

They can also vote in elections for the European Parliament, which is like choosing leaders for a big team of countries. Plus, they are still part of the Commonwealth, which means they have special rights when visiting the United Kingdom, like being able to vote in their elections!

Sometimes, people who weren't born in Malta can become citizens too. It's like being adopted into the Maltese family! They have to live in Malta for a certain amount of time, usually for five years, to show they really like it there and want to be part of the community. This is called naturalisation. It means they've proven they want to be Maltese and follow the rules of the club!

Before Malta became its own country in 1964, it was part of the British Empire. That means people living in Malta were once British subjects! Even though Maltese citizens are not British anymore, they still have a connection.

They are called Commonwealth citizens. This is a group of countries that used to be part of the British Empire and still work together. It's like having a big family tree with many branches!