Malta visa and entry requirements: the complete guide

Do you need a visa for Malta? The answer by nationality

Malta applies the Schengen rules for any stay of up to 90 days. Your situation falls into one of three categories:

The full, official list of countries whose citizens need a visa is published by the European Commission in its Schengen visa policy pages. If you hold a valid residence permit from another Schengen country, you can visit Malta visa-free for short stays, whatever your nationality.

British citizens: entering Malta after Brexit

Since 1 January 2021, UK nationals are treated as third-country nationals in Malta. In practice, holidays remain simple, but four rules matter, as set out in the UK government’s travel advice for Malta:

• Passport issue date: your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive. Older passports renewed early may carry extra months that no longer count.
• Passport expiry date: it must be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen Area.
• The 90/180-day rule: you can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen Area, for tourism, family visits, events or short courses. Days spent in Italy, Spain or any other Schengen country count towards the same total.
• Border checks: be ready to show a return or onward ticket and enough money for your stay. Overstaying can lead to a ban from the Schengen Area.

Working, even briefly, or studying for more than 90 days requires a permit or a national visa (see below). Dual British-Irish citizens should travel on their Irish passport, which places them outside the 90/180-day rule, the EES and ETIAS.

Irish and other EU citizens

Irish citizens, like all EU, EEA and Swiss nationals, enjoy free movement in Malta. You simply need a valid passport or national identity card (Irish passport cards are accepted for travel within the EU). As Ireland is outside Schengen, your document is checked on arrival, but there is no time limit.

If you stay longer than three months to work, study or live in Malta, you must apply for a residence document with the Expatriates Unit of Identità. It is a formality, but it makes daily life (bank, lease, tax number) much easier.

US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens

Citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand do not need a visa to visit Malta for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The same passport rules apply as for British citizens: a passport issued within the previous 10 years and valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen Area, as recalled by the US Department of State. Border officers may also ask for proof of sufficient funds and a return ticket.

The 90 days cover the entire Schengen Area: three weeks in Italy before flying to Malta eat into the same allowance. To stay longer, you need a national visa or a residence permit, usually applied for before you travel.

Countries that need a Schengen visa: India, Pakistan, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya

Citizens of these countries, and of most countries in Africa and Asia, need a Schengen short-stay visa (type C) to visit Malta, even for a few days. If Malta is your only or main destination, the application goes to Malta, through its consular network or its external service provider.

Where to apply

Malta outsources the collection of most applications to VFS Global. The list published by Identità’s Central Visa Unit includes application centres in India (New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kochi and other cities), Nigeria (Lagos), Ghana (Accra), Kenya (Nairobi), South Africa (Johannesburg) and the Philippines (Manila and Cebu). For Pakistan and any other country, check that list and the VFS Global website for your country of residence, as centres and representation arrangements change. You must attend in person to give your fingerprints, unless you gave them for a Schengen visa in the last 59 months.

Documents to prepare

• the completed and signed Schengen visa application form;
• a passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months after your return and with two blank pages;
• a recent passport photograph;
• travel medical insurance covering at least €30,000 for the whole stay and valid in all Schengen countries;
• a flight reservation (return or onward);
• proof of accommodation (hotel booking, invitation, school accommodation);
• proof of sufficient means: recent bank statements, payslips or a sponsor’s letter;
• proof of the purpose of your trip and of your ties to your home country (employment letter, business registration).

Each VFS centre publishes its own checklist; documents must be in English or translated.

Fees and processing time

Since 11 June 2024, the Schengen visa fee is €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 11, while children under 6 are exempt. VFS Global adds its own service fee, paid locally. You can apply up to six months before your trip and, as a rule, no later than 15 days before it. The decision is normally taken within 15 calendar days, but this can be extended to 45 days in individual cases, so allow at least four to six weeks, more in summer.

EES and ETIAS: the new EU border systems

Two EU systems change border crossings for non-EU visitors. They do not apply to EU citizens (including the Irish) or to Schengen residence permit holders.

The Entry/Exit System (EES)

The EES started operating on 12 October 2025 and was rolled out progressively until it became fully operational at all external borders on 10 April 2026. On your first trip, Malta International Airport records your passport data, a facial image and your fingerprints (not for children under 12). The record is kept for three years, replaces passport stamps and counts your 90 days automatically. Expect extra waiting time at passport control the first time.

ETIAS: not in operation yet

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will be a pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers, including British, American, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens. As of 7 October 2026, it is not yet in operation and you do not need it. The official EU website no longer gives a target date and states that the start date will be announced several months in advance, followed by a transition period. Once launched, the application will be online, cost €20 (free for applicants under 18 or over 70) and be valid for three years or until your passport expires.

Staying longer than 90 days: national D visa and residence permits

Beyond 90 days, Maltese law takes over. Non-EU nationals, British and American citizens included, need a national long-stay visa (type D) or a residence permit issued by Identità. Arriving visa-free and sorting out a long stay once in Malta is no longer the norm: apply before departure.

Studying English in Malta for more than 90 days

Malta is one of Europe’s leading destinations to study English, and many non-EU students come for 12 to 50 weeks. According to Identità’s student rules, English language courses (which sit below level 5 of the Malta Qualifications Framework) are followed under a national D visa for studies, valid for up to one year and applied for before you travel, through VFS Global or a Maltese mission. This applies to visa-exempt nationals too as soon as the course exceeds 90 days. Expect to provide:

• an acceptance letter from a school licensed in Malta, stating the dates and a full-time timetable (at least 15 hours a week);
• proof that the course fees have been paid;
• proof of sufficient means for the whole stay (bank statements, in euros or converted, translated into English);
• private health insurance (Identità asks for cover of at least €100,000 for students at private institutions);
• proof of accommodation for the whole stay;
• for stays over three months, a health screening carried out after arrival.

At the time of writing, VFS Global lists a visa fee of about €100 for a study D visa, plus its service fee, and asks applicants to allow at least six to eight weeks. Your school can usually provide the acceptance letter and accommodation documents: compare options in our list of English schools in Malta or ask for a quote for your language stay.

Can you work while studying? Do not build your budget on it. The Central Visa Unit states that students on courses longer than 90 days may work up to 20 hours a week after their first three months, under conditions set by Jobsplus (the employer applies for the employment licence). The course must be run by a school licensed by the ELT Council and covered by the matching visa; do not count on this income to fund your stay, and check the details with your school before travelling.

Working in Malta: the Single Permit

Non-EU nationals who take up a job in Malta for more than six months need a Single Permit, which combines the work licence and the residence permit in one procedure handled by Identità. The application is made jointly with your employer, and the permit is tied to that employer: you cannot work for anyone else. First-time applicants must now complete a pre-departure course before applying. This also applies to British citizens who moved to Malta after 31 December 2020.

Remote workers: the Nomad Residence Permit

If you work remotely for an employer or clients based outside Malta, the Nomad Residence Permit run by Residency Malta Agency lets you live in Malta legally. You need a gross income of at least €42,000 a year, health insurance, accommodation in Malta and a €300 non-refundable fee. The permit lasts one year, is renewable up to four years in total and does not lead to permanent residence.

Children and minors travelling to Malta

Every child needs their own passport (or national ID card for EU citizens). The EES applies to minors too, but children under 12 are only photographed. When ETIAS starts, minors will still need an authorisation, free of charge.

For a Schengen visa, applicants under 18 must provide the written consent of both parents or legal guardians. If a child travels with only one parent or without parents, carry a signed consent letter from the absent parent(s), a copy of their passport and the child’s birth certificate, as border officers and airlines may ask for them. Junior English programmes also require parental authorisation forms.

Health cover: GHIC, EHIC and travel insurance

EU citizens use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in Malta. UK residents can use the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or a still-valid UK EHIC, which give access to medically necessary state healthcare in Malta on the same terms as residents. As the UK government points out, neither card replaces travel insurance: they do not cover private clinics, medical repatriation or changes to your trip.

American, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand travellers should take out travel insurance with medical cover, and visa applicants must show the €30,000 minimum required by the Schengen rules. For long stays, the Identità requirements (private health insurance for students and most permit holders) apply. Before you go, read our guide to travelling to Malta and our page on Malta International Airport.

Frequently asked questions about visas and entry to Malta

Do British citizens need a visa for Malta?

No, not for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, for tourism, family visits or short courses. Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years ago and be valid for at least 3 months after you leave. To work, or to study for more than 90 days, you need a permit or a national visa.

Do I need ETIAS to travel to Malta in 2026?

No. As of 7 October 2026, ETIAS is not in operation and the EU has not set a start date. It will be announced several months in advance and will cost €20. Only the Entry/Exit System (EES) applies today, with biometric registration at the border.

How much does a Schengen visa for Malta cost?

€90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 11, free under 6, plus the service fee charged by VFS Global in your country. Apply between six months and 15 days before your trip, and allow several weeks in high season.

Can I extend my stay in Malta beyond 90 days once I am there?

Only in exceptional cases (force majeure, serious illness). For a long course, a job or remote work, plan the national visa or permit before departure. Overstays are recorded by the EES and can lead to a Schengen ban.

Can I study English in Malta without a visa?

Yes if your nationality is visa-exempt and the course lasts 90 days or less. For a longer course, Identità requires a national D visa for studies, applied for before you travel, even for British, American or Canadian citizens.