Malta Becomes First Country to Give All Citizens Free ChatGPT Plus Access
OpenAI and the Government of Malta have announced a world-first partnership to roll out ChatGPT Plus to all Maltese citizens. The move puts the small Mediterranean nation at the centre of a growing global conversation about how governments can actively prepare their populations for the age of artificial intelligence.
Under the deal, Malta free ChatGPT Plus access is not simply handed out. Citizens and residents registered with Malta’s online identity system can apply after completing a free online course called AI for All, developed by the University of Malta. The course is designed to help people understand what AI is, what it can and cannot do, and how to use it responsibly at home and at work. Once completed, participants unlock a one-year subscription to ChatGPT Plus at no personal cost.
ChatGPT Plus is OpenAI’s paid subscription service, which normally costs $20 a month in the United States, and includes access to more advanced AI models and additional features compared with the free version of ChatGPT.
The programme will start in May and is expected to scale up as more Maltese residents complete the course. It will also be open to Maltese citizens living abroad. Subscription distribution will be managed by the Malta Digital Innovation Authority, which will oversee access for eligible residents and citizens.
Malta’s Economy Minister Silvio Schembri made the government’s intent clear. “Malta is the first country to launch a partnership of this scale because we refuse to let our citizens stay behind in the digital age,” he said. “We are putting our people at the very forefront of global change.”
The partnership is the latest under OpenAI’s for Countries initiative, which supports governments and institutions as they move from early AI interest to strategic national adoption, built around local priorities rather than a one-size-fits-all model.
The Malta deal is part of a growing trend. Last year, Anthropic announced a project giving all teachers in Iceland access to Claude for lesson planning and classroom tasks. In September 2025, OpenAI announced a partnership with the Greek government to bring its technology to secondary schools and startups. Malta free ChatGPT Plus access, however, is the first programme of this scale targeting an entire national population.
Malta has a population of around 574,250 people, making it one of Europe’s smaller nations, but the country has increasingly positioned itself as a testing ground for digital innovation and technology-focused regulation. Officials believe broader public access to AI tools could accelerate how individuals and businesses adapt to a fast-changing global economy.
