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[[Henley & Partners]] was originally appointed as sole agent for the sale of Maltese passport, but the [[Maltese government|Muscat government]] later opened the scheme to Maltese firms too. The procedure is managed formally by the governmental agency [[Identity Malta]].<ref name=ToM>[https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20171006/local/passport-buyers-origins-to-remain-a-secret.659705 Times of Malta]</ref>
The number and background of persons granted Maltese citizenship based on investment is unknown, as the Maltese government does not publish such data. Malta's Data Protection Commissioner confirmed that the publication of the number of passport buyers and their country of origin “may prejudice relations with a number of the countries of origin” and that revealing the agencies that handled their application “could reasonably be expected to prejudice commercial interests and, ultimately, the competitiveness of approved agents as it would reveal commercially-sensitive information”.<ref name=ToM/>
The list of persons who were naturalised Maltese in the year 2015<ref>[https://gov.mt/en/Government/Government%20Gazette/Government%20Notices/Documents/naturalised%20persons.pdf list of persons who were naturalised Maltese in the year 2015]</ref> includes over 900 names (listed by first name) without indication of previous/second citizenships and of reasons for naturalisation. This was criticised as not transparent enough.<ref name=politico>[https://www.politico.eu/article/malta-cash-for-passports-program-individual-investor-programme/ Politico Europe]</ref> Many of the names are typical Arab, Russian, and Chinese names.{{or}}
Most "investors" are understood to be interested in acquiring Maltese citizenship only as a tool to exploit EU citizenship rights and reside elsewhere in the Union, including the UK. <ref name=politico/> The [[European Parliament]] had objected to the programme as a sell-out of [[EU citizenship]].<ref>[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20140110IPR32392/eu-citizenship-should-not-be-for-sale-at-any-price-says-european-parliament European Parliament]</ref>
The income from Malta's passport sale amounted to €163.5 million in 2016. Of this, 70% is deposited in the so-called National Development and Social Fund (NDSF), which was set up in July 2016. The use of the fund by the government is not regulated.<ref>[https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20171106/opinion/Passports-without-a-soul-Michael-Briguglio.662386 Times of Malta, 6 November 2017]</ref>
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