Malta opens the "golden door"

[pscot]

for huddled elites, yearning to breath free...

PARIS — ....
Motivated in part by economic stress, and in part by what some call crass opportunism, the idyllic island 50 miles south of Sicily is selling citizenship for $880,000 in cash and $677,000 in property and investments to applicants 18 or older willing to pay the price.

The Maltese prime minister, Joseph Muscat, has estimated that the program, which is aimed at attracting well-heeled residents from abroad, could bring in $1.35 billion in the next five years, providing welcome financing for schools, health care and jobs.

For the wealthy newcomers, Maltese citizenship offers many benefits, beyond the ability to park their yachts in the azure waters of one of Europe’s most alluring destinations.

Being a citizen of Malta, which is part of the European Union’s passport-free zone, will confer the right to travel among the union’s 27 other member states without border formalities. A newly minted Maltese citizen will also be able to live and work in another European Union country, and will gain the right to visa-free travel to 69 non-European Union countries, including the United States.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/01/world/europe/give-malta-your-tired-and-huddled-and-rich.html?action=click&contentCollection=Europe®ion=Footer&module=MoreInSection&pgtype=article

[dipsydoodle]

1. Visa-free travel to 69 non-European Union countries, including the United States.

In the case of the US that's the visa waiver program - 90 days only. Exactly the same as the reciprocal Schengen visa - 90 days and then go home or at least out of the Schengen area.

I would think that the likely biters will be either be Russian or those from ex-USSR states.

[Warpy]

2. alas, out of my reach

but if it wasn't, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I'd probably live elsewhere, though.

[pscot]

3. I've read that Malta is an arid rock

It always had strategic naval value, but a sucky place to live.

[Warpy]

4. Not so sucky for a desert rat like me

"Arid" has always greatly appealed to me. Parts of Spain would be contenders as places to live.

[CTyankee]

10. I might wanna live in Paris except for January and February, when I would live in Barcelona...

that would be sweet...

[Warpy]

11. Barcelona can be chilly, too

Given a convergence of money, time and health, I'm not sure where I'd land. I can get along in French and Spanish already, so that widens the possibilities.

[CTyankee]

13. Maybe the Costa del Sol, then...I'd love to scope out what they have down there...

I was in Barcelona in October of 2008 and it was fine.

[Warpy]

14. Southern Italy might be a better place in the depth of winter

I'm actually looking most seriously at Mexico and Ecuador these days.

[CTyankee]

15. have you considered Costa Rica? That fascinates me...

[Warpy]

16. Too expensive, too many rich assholes from the US

While I could possibly afford to live there, I would live considerably better in other, less fashionable places. I'm also choosing places based on visual art scene.

[CTyankee]

17. I say that because that country has a better track record government wise than other

central American countries. My step daughter and her husband went there on their honeymoon because it was in accord with their political and ethical concerns...

when you say less fashionable, which countries do you mean?

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. about 24 inches of rain per year

Which isn't too bad.

http://www.maltaweather.com/climate.shtml

Being islands, there's no chance to pipe in water from a bit further away, though, so they'd be vulnerable to droughts in particular years. But with a World Heritage Site, and plenty of other attractions, I don't think it's fair to call it 'sucky'.

http://www.mydestination.com/malta/6175880/malta-top-10-attractions

[mainer]

9. Malta is a gorgeous, fascinating place

with a really long archaeological history and a rather strange language. I spent a few enchanted afternoons wandering its narrow streets.

[CTyankee]

12. I want to go. Caravaggio painted there when he fled Italy in exile.

His "Beheading of John the Baptist", a renowned masterpiece, is in the co-cathedral of St. John, in Valleta, Malta.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

19. Their language is actually a dialect of Arabic, but their culture as a whole

is heavily influenced by Italy.

[PeoViejo]

5. A Passport in the Dominican Republic is $100K

I'm surprised Limpbough hasn't bought one yet.

[bemildred]

6. Ah, the enterpreneurial spirit. nt

[Brigid]

7. Let them all move there.

At least we'll know where to find them.

[CTyankee]

18. right! small place! round 'em up and pack them off...