As the Russian-Ukrainian conflict unfolds, more and more countries have joined the widespread sanctions against Russia and Belarus. This includes restricting visas for people of both countries, green cards for investment, and naturalization by investment.
Currently, Malta is the third European country to suspend the participation of Russian applicants in its immigrant investor program. Earlier, both Portugal and Spain announced restrictions on Russians from participating in their respective Golden Visa programs. Similar policies have also been announced by Caribbean countries.
The following is the latest policy of Greece and Malta.
Greece suspends "Golden Visa" for Russians
Greece's Ministry of Immigration and Refugees posted a notice on its website saying that Russians are currently not allowed to apply, obtain, and renew investment-based residence permits pending "further notice."
Based on the order of the Minister of Immigration and Refugees, Mr. Dimitri Vestas, the issuance and renewal of residence permits for Russians in the investment category are currently suspended pending "further notice". In addition, the Greek authorities will no longer accept russian applications for residence permits in the above categories.
At the same time, applications for residence permits in the "business executives" for citizens of the Russian Federation are not accepted, pending "further notice".
It is worth noting that Greece is still waiting for the relevant decision of the European Union.
Prior to this, Portugal also recently excluded Russian applicants from its Golden Visa program. Malta's prime minister, Robert Abella, is also under pressure from his country's civil society, which has demanded the exclusion of Russians from the country's citizenship by investment program, in which Russians have historically dominated applicants.
Malta also quickly shifted from "no need to exclude Russians" at the beginning to a moratorium.
Malta "turned the other cheek":
Suspension of applications by Russians and Belarusians
Three days ago, Tsar Alex Muscat, who manages citizenship matters in Malta, stressed that the country's policy of naturalization of outstanding investors (i.e. granting citizenship to investors after the expiry of their residency) does not necessarily exclude Russians.
The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada have introduced sanctions aimed at restricting the sale of citizenship, the so-called "golden passport," to Russians. Alex Muscat said, however, that the resolution does not apply to Malta because the naturalization policy for outstanding investors is not a "golden passport".
"We are very cautious about every investment into Malta, but we can't generalize that all Russians are bad people," Alex Muscat said.
Yesterday, however, the Parliamentary Secretary for Citizenship and Community Affairs issued a statement announcing the suspension of the processing of Russian applications under the Policy on Naturalization of Distinguished Investors (MEIN) and the Permanent Residence Scheme (MPRP), pending follow-up notice.
Upon verification, the Malta Community Authority, the Malta Immigration Authority and the Malta Residency Visa Authority confirm that beneficiaries of Malta Citizenship by Investment and Residence by Investment, whether approved or pending, are not on the EU sanctions list.
Sanctioned persons do not have Maltese citizenship or residency status
The above-mentioned agency said that the suspension of the hearing of russian and Belarusian applications was not related to sanctions, but rather that effective background checks in those countries were not currently possible. "In view of recent developments, effective due diligence cannot be carried out at this stage. Therefore, the Community Malta Agency and the Rehabilitation Malta Agency have suspended the hearing of the above status applications by Russians and Belarusians pending follow-up notice. ”
As for how to treat Russians and Belarusians who already hold various identities in Malta, the above-mentioned agency said:
"Although the beneficiaries of Malta citizenship by investment and residence by investment, whether approved or under review, are not on the EU sanctions list, the renewal of the status of these beneficiaries will be analyzed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the current standard procedures. New compliance checks are needed to ensure that beneficiaries continue to qualify. ”
Will Cyprus follow suit?
As of this writing, Cyprus has not imposed explicit restrictions on visas, investment programs, etc. for citizens of Russia and Belarus. However, it is believed that if the EU puts further pressure, Cyprus may also take corresponding measures.
The data shows that tourists from Russia and Ukraine account for more than 25% of the total number of tourists in Cyprus. Citizens of Russia and Ukraine are also an important source of Golden Visas for Investment in Cyprus. There are large Russian and Ukrainian communities in Cyprus. In this Russian-Ukrainian conflict, a large number of Russians and Ukrainians also hope to take refuge in Cyprus.
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However, for now, the naturalization programs of various investments in Caribbean countries have suspended the acceptance of applications from Russians, Belarusians, and Ukrainians. Notifications from Caribbean countries followed such notifications in Europe. On 26 February, Portugal became the first country to suspend the acceptance of applications from Russians, followed by Greece, which suspended the issuance and renewal of golden visas to Russian citizens after 2 days.
Malta also suspended the receipt of applications from Russians and Belarusians for its MEIN and MPRP projects on March 2, while Alex Muscat, secretary of Malta's citizenship parliament, stressed two days ago that there was no need to exclude Russians. This shift is widely seen as the result of cooperative pressure from the EU.
At present, Cyprus has formally condemned Russia, and 15 containers of humanitarian relief supplies from Serbia to Ukraine will soon arrive in Ukraine. In addition, Cyprus recently banned the berthing of five Russian naval vessels. Although Russia has signed an agreement with Cyprus to allow its naval vessels to enter Cypriot ports, the island of Cyprus banned five of them from entering the country's ports this week due to the conflict in Ukraine.
Worrying issues
So for Russian and Belarusian citizens who are already applying for and already holding permanent residence green cards in the above countries, is it possible to face more trouble in the next step?
In the event of a conflict, will the legal settled status of citizens of other countries be affected?
We expect more rational solutions that respect the basic order.
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