Browse live programmes
Residency and citizenship by investment programmes that are currently open, with the qualifying routes for each country.
Head-to-head Comparison
Singapore Residency vs Malta Citizenship
Asia's premier RBI vs Europe's only CBI. Cost, citizenship pathway, family planning, and substance compared.
Quick verdict
Minimum investment is listed as S$10,000,000 for Singapore and Closed (2025) for Malta. Singapore is usually quicker to process, About 12 months against 12–14 months. Singapore reaches more visa-free destinations (195 against 186), and both include a spouse and dependent children.
Singapore GIP vs Malta CBI
Singapore
Min. Investment
S$10,000,000
Processing
About 12 months
Visa-Free
195 countries
Family
Included
Malta
Min. Investment
Closed (2025)
Processing
12–14 months
Visa-Free
186 countries
Family
Included
| Dimension | Singapore | Malta |
|---|---|---|
| Min. investment | S$10,000,000 | Closed (2025) |
| Processing time | About 12 months | 12–14 months |
| Visa-free countries | 195 | 186 |
| Family included | Yes | Yes |
| Tax benefit | Partial | Yes |
| Citizenship pathway | After residency | Direct |
Citizen Sure verdict
These are the world's two most-substantive premium investor programmes — both demand real diligence depth, real capital, real on-shore commitment. Singapore at S$2.5M+ is roughly 3× Malta's €600K but delivers Asia's #1 passport and the strongest banking jurisdiction on earth. Malta delivers full EU citizenship rights for descendants. The single-pick rests on regional priority: Singapore for Asia-Pacific business and banking, Malta for EU rights and descendants' mobility. Many UHNW families pursue both over a 5–10 year horizon.
Pick Singapore when…
- Asia's #1 passport (after eventual naturalisation)
- World-class banking jurisdiction
- Substantive Singapore-based enterprise plan
- Family relocation to Asia-Pacific
Pick Malta when…
- Only EU CBI — full citizenship rights for descendants
- Lower headline cost (€600K vs S$2.5M+)
- 12–14 month delivery vs Singapore's 6–9 months pre-citizenship clock
- EU + Schengen mobility from day one
Trade-offs to know
- Singapore GIP requires job-creating on-shore enterprise; Malta requires substantive presence during residency uplift.
- Both diligence regimes are strict by global standards — clean source-of-funds files only.
- For families committing fully to one region, the choice is clear; for hedge-positioning, both can be pursued sequentially.
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Compare live programmes on eligibility, timelines and family rules, check where you qualify, then read the country guides before you book a paid 60-minute consultation.
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See two or more programmes side by side: investment routes, processing stages, family inclusion and residence rules.
Check your eligibility
Answer a few questions about your nationality, family and goals to see which programmes may fit.
Read the country guides
Plain guides to each programme: requirements, documents, due diligence and the steps from application to approval.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Singapore or Malta?
It depends on what matters most to you. Minimum investment is listed as S$10,000,000 for Singapore and Closed (2025) for Malta. Singapore is usually quicker to process, About 12 months against 12–14 months. Singapore reaches more visa-free destinations (195 against 186), and both include a spouse and dependent children. These are the world's two most-substantive premium investor programmes — both demand real diligence depth, real capital, real on-shore commitment. Singapore at S$2.5M+ is roughly 3× Malta's €600K but delivers Asia's #1 passport and the strongest banking jurisdiction on earth. Malta delivers full EU citizenship rights for descendants. The single-pick rests on regional priority: Singapore for Asia-Pacific business and banking, Malta for EU rights and descendants' mobility. Many UHNW families pursue both over a 5–10 year horizon.
Singapore vs Malta: what is the cost difference?
Singapore starts at S$10,000,000; Malta starts at Closed (2025). The cheaper headline doesn't always reflect total cost, recoverable investments (Turkey, some real-estate routes) net out differently from non-recoverable donations.
Singapore vs Malta: which has the shorter processing time?
Singapore processes in About 12 months; Malta processes in 12–14 months. Verify current timing with a senior advisor, published windows assume clean diligence files.
Can family members be included?
Singapore includes spouse and dependent children. Malta includes spouse and dependent children. Inclusion of parents and siblings varies, see each programme's detail page.
{{a}} vs {{b}} passport strength: which has more visa-free access?
Singapore grants visa-free access to 195 countries; Malta grants visa-free access to 186. Reach is a moving target, check current bilateral status before relying on it for travel planning.
Do these programmes lead to citizenship?
Residency is residency, the citizenship pathway depends on naturalisation rules. Citizenship is direct citizenship.
Can I compare other programmes as well?
Yes. Open the compare tool to add up to five programmes side by side, or browse the other pair pages linked below.
Are the figures on this page up to date?
Each row is drawn from our programme records, which are reviewed when governments publish changes. Check the programme page and the changes log for the latest updates before you decide.
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