There are different types of visas depending on the purpose of your travel to Malta
By Denise Rejec
If you’re thinking of travelling through Malta or staying here for a certain period of time for leisure, work, or study purposes, then you’ll need a specific type of visa. There are some exceptions though. Not everyone needs a visa to enter Malta, unless they’re staying for more than three months. We’ll outline all visa types below for your clarification.
WHAT IS A VISA?
A visa is an endorsement or authorisation given by a country to foreigners wishing to enter that country. It comes in the form of a sticker and is affixed to your passport.
WHO NEEDS A VISA TO ENTER MALTA?
You needn’t apply for a visa to enter Malta if you’re an EU national or citizen of one of the following counties and are staying in Malta for less than three months: Albania (holders of biometric passports only), Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina (holders of biometric passports only), Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Montenegro (holders of biometric passports only), Guatemala, Netherlands Antilles, Honduras, Hong Kong S.A.R. (Special Administrative Regions of the People’s Republic of China), Chile, Costa Rica, Israel, Japan, Canada, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Costa Rica, Macao S.A.R., Moldova, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, El Salvador, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, United States of America, Serbia (holders of biometric passports only), St Kitts and Nevis, Switzerland, Uruguay, Taiwan (holders of a passport containing identification card number), Vatican City (Holy See), and Venezuela.
(Source: https://integration.gov.mt/en/ResidenceAndVisas/Pages/Conditions-to-Enter-Malta.aspx)
If you do need a visa, we suggest you contact your embassy. For an updated list of which country nationals require a visa to enter malta, check out the Identity Malta webpage. Identity Malta is the go-to site for anything visa-related.
THREE TRAVEL VISA TYPES
Three types of travel visas can be issued depending on your type of visit:
Airport Transit Visa: for those crossing Malta International Airport’s international transit zone
Short-stay Schengen Visa: allows you to transit through or stay in Malta and all other countries that form part of the Schengen area for up to three months (90 days) within a six-month (180-day) period from the entry date into the Schengen area
National Long-stay Visa: for stays of over three months
STUDENT VISAS
If you’re a student and non-EU national, and are coming to Malta for a visit, study period, or to seek employment, then you’ll need a student visa regardless of the length of your stay. If you’re an EU national, you need only apply for a student visa if you’re staying in Malta for more than three months. Click here for more information on student visas.
PASSPORTS
Unless you’re an EU national, you’ll need a valid passport to travel to Malta. A valid national ID card is sufficient to travel to Malta if you’re from an EU Member State.
SCHENGEN
Since Malta is part of the Schengen area, if you’re an EU national you needn’t present your passport or ID card on arrival at the Malta airport. However, you’re still advised to carry some for of identification whenever and wherever you travel.
If you’re travelling to Malta for any particular reason, please check your visa requirements, if any. You can contact the Maltese embassy in your country of residence or the embassy of another EU Member State that represents Malta in your country. You can even apply for a visa directly via the Identity Malta website. Try to apply well in advance as your application could take quite a while to process.