Can I apply for Maltese citizenship after living there for several years?

Malta does provide a pathway to citizenship through naturalisation based on ordinary residence, though this generally requires meeting a specific minimum period of legal residence in Malta, along with other conditions such as good conduct, sufficient integration, and compliance with any applicable residence and other requirements under Maltese citizenship law, and the exact qualifying period and conditions are worth confirming directly given how significant they are to actually assessing your eligibility. It's also worth being aware that not all types of residence status necessarily count in the same way toward a naturalisation qualifying period, meaning the specific type of permits you have held over your years in Malta, and whether your residence has been continuous and properly documented throughout, are all relevant factors in properly assessing whether you currently meet the requirements. Given both the significance of a citizenship application and the genuine complexity in accurately assessing your specific residence history against the current naturalisation requirements, it would be worth consulting an immigration lawyer to review your specific residence timeline and confirm whether, and when, you would become eligible to apply.