Malta Becomes First Country To Roll Out Nationwide ChatGPT Plus Access

Malta has become the first country in the world to launch a nationwide access scheme for OpenAI's premium ChatGPT Plus service, made available to all residents who complete a national AI literacy course. The initiative, announced jointly with OpenAI on 16 May, positions Malta as a global frontrunner in pairing advanced AI tools with structured public education on how to use them responsibly.

The programme, known as ‘AI for All’, links access to capability. Rather than distributing subscriptions on a blanket basis, eligible citizens and residents must first complete a free online course covering what AI can and cannot do, where it can be applied at home and at work, and how to use it responsibly. On completion, participants receive one full year of complimentary ChatGPT Plus access, a subscription that currently retails at around 23 euros per month. Maltese citizens living abroad are also eligible, broadening the scheme’s reach beyond national borders.

The AI literacy course has been developed by the University of Malta and will be delivered in both English and Maltese. The two-hour curriculum is designed to be accessible across age groups and professional backgrounds, awarding a certificate on completion. Distribution to eligible participants is being managed by the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA), with the first phase launching this month and the programme expected to scale progressively as enrolment grows.

The deal forms part of OpenAI's wider OpenAI for Countries initiative, under which the company is working with national partners to embed AI capability into education, workforce development, public services, and digital infrastructure. Malta is the first national partner to sign on at this scale, and the agreement also extends to Microsoft, with participants able to choose between ChatGPT Plus and a Microsoft 365 Personal Copilot subscription depending on their preference.