If you’re planning a visit to Malta for tourism, business, or family reasons and intend to stay for up to 90 days, you may need to apply for a Maltese Short-stay visa, known as the Malta Schengen Visa.
Our visa experts have crafted the following guide to assist you at every stage of the Maltese Schengen visa application process. Filled with valuable insights and in-depth information based on our expertise, this comprehensive guide will aid you in thoroughly preparing for your upcoming Maltese adventure.
To apply for a Schengen visa for Malta, just follow these simple steps:
Whether or not you need a visa to visit Malta depends on your nationality:
You will have to apply for a visa when travelling to Malta if you are:
You are exempt from applying for a visa to enter Malta if you fall into any of the following categories:
For those exempt from a visa, check out the required documents for entry into Malta. It’s always good to be prepared!
If your plan involves a short trip to Malta, lasting up to 90 days, whether it’s for tourism, visiting friends and family, or business purposes, you should apply for a short-stay visa, commonly referred to as a C-type or Schengen Visa.
However, if your visit involves other purposes or you plan to stay in Malta for more than 90 days, you’ll need a long-stay visa, also known as a D-type visa.
The Malta Schengen visa is only one visa, but it may be issued for purposes such as:
You can specify the purpose of your travel in section 23 of the visa application form. You can select from various reasons for traveling, including tourism, business, education, or medical concerns.
If you intend to stay in Malta for more than three months, you must apply for a D-visa, also referred to as a national visa.
To learn more about Malta’s Long-stay visas, you can refer to the following article provided by the Maltese government:
The location for submitting your visa application for Malta depends on your country of residence:
| Residents of | Submit the application at |
|---|---|
| Ireland | The Maltese Embassy |
| Cyprus | The Greek Embassy |
| Kosovo, Moldova, North Macedonia | The Hungarian Embassy or Consulates in these countries |
| Romania, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina | The Austrian Embassy or Consulates in these countries |
| Andorra | The Spanish Embassy |
| Montenegro | The Italian Embassy |
Residents in all other European countries not mentioned above have to submit their Maltese Schengen visa applications to the Maltese embassy or consulate in their country of residence.
| Residents of | Submit the application at |
|---|---|
| Mozambique | The Maltese Embassy |
| Guinea, Namibia, Togo, Zimbabwe | The German Embassy or Consulates in these countries |
| Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Mauritania, Mauritius, Niger | The French Embassy or Consulates in these countries |
| Senegal, Ethiopia | The Austrian Embassy or Consulates in these countries |
| Angola, São Tomé and Príncipe | The Portuguese Embassy |
| Eritrea, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda | The Italian Embassy or Consulates in these countries |
Residents in all other African countries not mentioned above have to submit their Maltese Schengen visa applications to the Maltese embassy or consulate in their country of residence.
| Residents of | Submit the application at |
|---|---|
| Israel, Kuwait | The Maltese Embassy or Consulates in these countries |
| Laos | The French Embassy |
| Syria | The Austrian Embassy |
| Timor-Leste | The Portuguese Embassy |
| Afghanistan | The Italian Embassy |
Residents in all other Asian countries not mentioned above have to submit their Maltese Schengen visa applications to the Maltese embassy or consulate in their country of residence.
| Residents of | Submit the application at |
|---|---|
| Chile | The Polish Embassy |
| Argentina, Peru | The Austrian Embassy or Consulates in these countries |
| Paraguay | The Spanish Embassy |
| Bolivia, Uruguay | The Italian Embassy or Consulates in these countries |
Residents in all other South American countries not mentioned above have to submit their Maltese Schengen visa applications to the Maltese embassy or consulate in their country of residence.
| Residents of | Submit the application at |
|---|---|
| Canada, United States | The Maltese Embassy or Consulates in these countries |
| Bahamas | The US Embassy |
| Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica | The Spanish Embassy or Consulates in these countries |
| Canada, Nicaragua, Panama, United States | The Italian Embassy or Consulates in these countries |
Residents in all other North America and the Caribbean countries not mentioned above have to submit their Maltese Schengen visa applications to the Maltese embassy or consulate in their country of residence.
| Residents of | Submit the application at |
|---|---|
| Australia | The Maltese Embassy |
| New Zealand | The Polish Embassy |
Residents in all other Oceanian countries not mentioned above have to submit their Maltese Schengen visa applications to the Malta embassy or consulate in their country of residence.
It’s important to note that while many countries have outsourced Schengen visa applications to third parties like VFS, these centers are responsible solely for collecting your application. The Maltese diplomatic mission makes the final decision on your visa application.
If Malta is the only country in the Schengen Area you plan to visit, it’s straightforward – apply at the Maltese embassy/consulate or the authorized Visa Application Center (VAC) in your country of residence.
However, if your journey includes Malta and at least one more Schengen state, apply at the Maltese embassy/consulate/VAC in your country of residence only if:
You can’t apply for a short-stay Malta visa from a country where you are currently on a short-stay visa. You must hold a residence permit in the country where you are applying.
Once you know where to submit your visa application, you have to fill out the application form. The visa application form for Malta is typically provided by the consulate, embassy, visa application center or you can download it here in English.
When filling out the visa application, you need to provide accurate and truthful information about yourself, your travel plans, and the purpose of your visit to the Schengen area. Pay close attention to the instructions and guidelines provided with the application form to ensure you fill it out correctly.
Once you’ve filled out the form, you must download and print it. Ensure that all sections are completed neatly and legibly, as any errors or omissions could delay the processing of your visa application.
Once you have completed and downloaded the Malta visa application form, you have to schedule an appointment at the relevant VFS Global center or Malta embassy, consulate, or high commission.
You can schedule your appointment with VFS Global if you live in Algeria, Bangladesh, China, People’s Republic of, Egypt, Ghana, India, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Maldives, Morocco, Nepal, Palestinian Territories, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Turkiye, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, or Vietnam.
Select your country of residence on the first dropdown menu box and then Malta short stay as the destination. You will be redirected to the relevant website with information on how to schedule an appointment.
See for example, the website for the VFS Global visa application center in Algeria:
If you are not able to apply through a visa application center, you have to apply through the Maltese Embassy, Consulate, or High Commission. See the list of Malta’s missions abroad here.
Scheduling an appointment for a Maltese visa application is free of charge. However, there are other fees associated with the application process, which we have outlined below in this article.
We highly advise against scheduling appointments through non-accredited third-party intermediaries, as they may add extra fees.
It’s generally advisable to apply for a Malta short-stay visa (Schengen visa) at least 15 calendar days before your intended visit but no more than six months before your departure.
Remember that you have to submit your application at least 15 days before your intended departure date, so you have to start collecting your documents and looking into scheduling your appointment earlier than that.
Depending on factors such as seasonal influx of applications (e.g. ahead of the holidays or summer vacations), the specific embassy or consulate, or VFS center, you may need to wait several weeks for an appointment. So we would suggest inquiring about appointments as soon as you are within the allowed application period (six months).
At this point, gather all the documents required for your Malta visa application. This stage includes purchasing travel insurance, taking a visa photo, requesting a no-objection certificate from your school or employer, etc.
To meet the short-term stay visa requirements for Malta, applicants must submit the following documents to the Maltese embassy or consulate:
Each visa application undergoes a personalized review, so the required documents may differ. The Maltese authorities may also ask for additional documentation in some cases.
Please ensure that you have all the documents with you since you may risk getting your visa denied if something is missing from your application.
Please ensure that you have all the documents with you since you may risk getting your visa denied if something is missing from your application.
Travel Medical Insurance is compulsory for Schengen visas under Regulation (EU) 2009/810 of the European Parliament.
Maltese visa applicants can obtain visa insurance from either Europ Assistance or vti.travel, a European insurance comparison website, comparing insurance policies of AXA, Allianz, Europ Assistance and Mutuaide.
These insurance providers are acknowledged and accepted by Maltese Embassies and Consulates worldwide. Moreover, you can cancel the insurance at no cost by submitting proof of Maltese visa rejection.
To visit Malta, you’ll need to demonstrate that you have at least €48 per day available for your stay to meet the visa requirements set by foreign representative offices.
After you have collected your documents, printed and signed your application form, you have to gather them into a file and prepare to present them to the visa application center, embassy, or consulate to which you scheduled your appointment.
On the day of your appointment it is crucial to be punctual. During the appointment, you may also need to pay the visa fee, provide biometric data, such as fingerprints and biometric visa photographs, and be ready to answer any questions related to your travel plans, purpose of visit, and personal background.
Payment is essential during the visa application submission. The standard application fee is €90 , payable at the time of application. If you submit your application through a visa application center, there might be an additional fee of approximately EUR 30-40. It’s crucial to note that accepted payment methods may vary depending on the specific submission location.
One of the main reasons why you have to appear in-person at the appointment is to submit your biometric information (photo and fingerprints). This information is then stored into the Schengen Visa Information System.
If you have provided your fingerprints in the last five years, you might be exempted from submitting them again.
During your appointment for the Malta visa, the visa officer who is accepting your documents might ask you a set of questions regarding your trip, such as what you plan to do there, do you know anyone in the Schengen Area, do you plan to visit other Schengen countries. Other frequent visa questions include personal questions about your work, studies, and life in your country of residence.
Make sure you answer all questions truthfully and without hesitation.
Yes, someone else can apply for a Schengen visa on your behalf, but they need to have legal authorization or power of attorney from you.
After you send your application, it usually takes about 15 working days to get your visa. Sometimes, it might take longer, up to 30 or even 60 days. Be ready for possible delays and plan your travel accordingly. Being flexible with your plans will help if processing takes longer than expected.
If you applied for your Malta visa through a VFS Global center, you can track your visa application through this website.
If you applied through a Maltese embassy, consulate, or high commission, or through the diplomatic representation of another Schengen State, please inquire at the time of application or check the relevant embassy website to see whether it is possible to track your application.
If your visa is granted, congratulations – you are free to travel to Malta within the dates specified in your visa sticker! To keep track of the number of days you have spent in Malta, you can use the Schengen calculator.
If your visa to Malta is refused, it means you did not satisfy the requirements. The reason why the visa was rejected with be stated on the decision letter. Once you know the reason, you have two possibilities:
To appeal a Malta visa rejection, submit an appeal within 15 days of receiving the refusal notice, accompanied by a €120 fee.
Appeals must be filed at the Immigration Appeals Board’s office in Valletta, either in person or through a representative.
With the appeal application, include a copy of the refusal letter and any relevant, certified documents. The appeal date is recorded when initial contact is made with the Board’s office. For more details, contact the Board via their provided email addresses ([email protected] or [email protected]).
Visa fees are non-refundable, regardless of the outcome of your visa application.
Once you have been notified that your visa has been processed, you can collect your passport. Depending on where you submitted your application, you can pick up your passport one of two ways:
Typically, when you submit your application (or at the latest when you receive your visa decision), you will be notified how you can pick up your passport.
You must enter Malta, within the dates specified in your visa sticker. You must also provide the following documents at the border:
It’s important to understand that despite holding a visa, entry may be refused for reasons such as incomplete documentation, failure to meet entry criteria, or suspicion of fraudulent activity.
To extend your short-stay Schengen visa in Malta, it’s important to note that extensions are generally allowed only in exceptional circumstances. These circumstances may include late entry into the Schengen area, humanitarian reasons (such as medical treatment or a family emergency), force majeure (like natural disasters or severe travel disruptions), professional obligations, or personal reasons that necessitate a longer stay. Each of these reasons has specific criteria that must be met to qualify for an extension.
If you fall in one of those categories, then you can request an extension of your short-stay visa through the Malta Immigration Authorities (Identità).
You can’t work in Malta with a regular Schengen visa. These visas are for short visits like tourism or business. If you want to work there, you need to apply for a separate work visa that allows you to work legally.
A visa for Malta allows you to stay for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. However, the duration of your stay may be subject to change at the discretion of the embassy.
Exceeding the duration permitted by your visa in Malta could result in various consequences, such as facing fines, deportation to your home country, denial of re-entry, or potential arrest. To prevent such issues, ensure strict adherence to the conditions outlined in your visa.
While holding a Maltese visa, you can visit other destinations within the Schengen Area. However, it’s crucial to note that your primary purpose of travel should be Malta, and any time spent in other Schengen countries will be deducted from your overall 90-day limit.
If you meet specific criteria and entry requirements, in some cases, you can visit other non-Schengen countries with a Malta Schengen visa.
Other information:
Your personal data during the visa application process is protected and stored in accordance with Articles 13 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation).
If you have any concerns about the security of your data, you can contact the mission where the application has been submitted or directly to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on the following contacts:
Applicants should complete the Data Subject Access Request (Visa) form.
