Fit and proper

Plain English

Every applicant and dependant aged 14 or over is subject to background verification. The regulations list disqualifying circumstances: being indicted before an international criminal court; being listed by INTERPOL or EUROPOL; posing a threat to national security, public policy or public health; charges or convictions for terrorism, money laundering, funding of terrorism, crimes against humanity, war crimes or human-rights crimes; offences against the good order of the family (such as paedophilia, rape, abduction); any offence punishable with more than one year's imprisonment (other than an involuntary offence); being named in international sanctions; a previous refusal of an MPRP certificate or of Maltese citizenship; previous loss of a certificate; involvement in activity that may bring Malta into disrepute; or the application being against the public interest.

Who it applies to

Main applicant and every dependant (background checks from age 14)

Official wording

“the minimum eligibility criteria for an application under these regulations, for the main applicant and any of his dependants, shall be as follows: (a) a proper background verification of the main applicant and his dependants over the age of fourteen (14) years … (l) the application is not deemed to be against the public interest.”

S.L. 217.26, regulation 13(1)(a)–(l); regulation 14 (due diligence)

Required evidence

Police conduct certificates; sworn declaration that the information provided is true (regulation 13(1)(g)); agent's know-your-customer report; the Agency's own multi-tier due diligence including third-party providers.

Common mistakes

Omitting a country of residence from the police-certificate list; providing false or incomplete information, which alone is a ground for refusal (regulation 12(6)).