Check Malta Visa Policy for your Country

Visa Policy for Malta

Malta’s visa policy outlines the requirements for foreign nationals from each state or territory in the world to enter the country.

Different visas and travel authorizations may be required depending on factors such as the traveler’s nationality, the length of time they intend to spend in the Republic of Malta, and the purpose of their trip.

As part of the European Union (EU) and the Schengen Area, Malta shares the Schengen visa policy with regards to nationals of fellow EU and Schengen members and also to short-term visits from third countries.

Schengen and EU citizens enjoy freedom of movement between all member states, including Malta. They may travel to the island country visa-free.

Nationals of various third countries that make up the EU’s visa waiver list are also currently visa-exempt for the whole Schengen Area, including Malta. According to Maltese visa policy, these travelers may stay up to 90 days for certain purposes without a visa.

In 2025, travelers with passports issued by these countries will have to fulfil an additional requirement to continue to enjoy visa exemption for Malta. It will be necessary for such visitors to register their details online with the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).

The ETIAS visa waiver for Malta will be quick and easy to obtain. This electronic travel authorization will provide additional security.

Citizens of around 150 countries must apply for a visa for Malta in advance of their trip, regardless of the purpose or length of time they intend to spend in the country. This can be obtained at a Maltese embassy.

Malta does not have a visa on arrival service at this time. There is also no electronic visa (eVisa) for Malta.

Foreign nationals who plan to move to or seek employment in the country must apply for a Malta residence visa and/or Malta work visa at an embassy unless they are EU/Schengen citizens.

Learn more about the different types of visa for Malta below.

Tourist Visa Policy for Malta

International travelers may visit Malta as tourists providing they meet the entry requirements for their nationality. Malta’s tourist visa policy determines these prerequisites.

Currently, around 150 nationalities must obtain a Malta tourist visa from an embassy before embarking on their trip.

Citizens of countries in the Schengen Area, European Union, and the United Kingdom may visit Malta as a tourist without a visa.

In addition, nationals of over 60 other countries are currently exempt from visa requirements for Malta when visiting for tourism and leisure purposes. From 2025, these visitors will need to register with ETIAS to travel to Malta as a tourist.

Once registered, tourists will be able to use this electronic travel authorization for Malta to enter the country multiple times during the course of its validity.

Find the information about visa requirements for your nationality according to Maltese visa policy below.

ETIAS for Malta

The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is an upcoming online system for visa-exempt travelers from outside the Schengen Area. By registering their details, visitors will be able to go to Malta or any other member country.

The ETIAS visa waiver for Malta will be valid for a total of 3 years once approved.

It is a multiple-entry travel authorization, allowing foreign visitors to return to Malta or visit other parts of the Schengen Area during the 3-year validity period without reapplying.

Foreign visitors with an ETIAS for Malta will be able to stay in the island country for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

International travelers who are eligible to travel to Malta with ETIAS must register their details in an online form, including some basic personal data, passport details, and travel information. It is also necessary to answer some questions pertaining to health and security.

Eligible foreign nationals who apply for the ETIAS for Malta must have a passport that will continue to be valid for at least 3 months after the trip.

It is thought that the ETIAS travel authorization for Malta will be electronically linked to the passport, so that when the travelers scans their passport at an e-gate at border control, the computer will recognize that the traveler is approved by ETIAS.

For this reason, it will be essential to use the same passport registered in the ETIAS online form to travel to Malta. If this passport has been lost, stolen, or damaged, the traveler will have to re-register with the replacement document.

A current email address must be provided when registering with ETIAS. Confirmation of the approved travel authorization will be delivered by email to this account. Applicants must also cover a small processing fee for the ETIAS for Malta.

See below the list of nationalities that will have to apply for ETIAS to visit Malta.

Embassy or Consular Visa Required

According to the visa policy of Malta and the wider Schengen Area, passport holders of around 150 different countries must apply for an embassy visa for Malta to visit the country for any purpose or length of time.

Maltese embassies and consulates are responsible for issuing different types of visa for Malta. Visas may be single, double, or multiple-entry.

These include tourist visas for Malta as well as transit visas, student visas, work visas, and residence permits.

The Malta tourist visa is the Schengen Visa, also referred to as a Short-stay “C” Visa. It permits the holder to stay up to 90 days within any 180-day period in Malta or any other Schengen country.

Malta’s immigration policy requires any traveler staying longer than 90 days to obtain a National Long-stay “D” Visa. Those seeking employment in the country must also obtain a work permit.

When applying for any type of embassy visa for Malta, foreign nationals should print and complete an application form and bring it along with the required supporting documentation (such as a passport) to the Visa Application Center.

If Malta has no diplomatic representation that the traveler can reach, they can apply for a visa at the nearest EU diplomatic or consular post instead.

Find below the list of countries whose citizens require an embassy visa to visit Malta for any reason or period of time, including short visits for tourism.

Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Algeria
American Samoa
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Armenia
Aruba
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bonaire
Botswana
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
China
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Comoros
Congo
Cook Islands
Cuba
Curacao
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Fiji
French Guiana
French Polynesia
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greenland
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Isle of Man
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Maldives
Mali
Martinique
Mauritania
Mayotte
Mongolia
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
New Caledonia
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Northern Mariana Islands
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian Territory
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Pitcairn Islands
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Reunion
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Saint Barthelemy
Saint Helena
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Sint Maarten
Somalia
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Swaziland
Syrian Arab Republic
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tokelau
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Uganda
United States Virgin Islands
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Wallis and Futuna
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Get Embassy Info

Visa Not Required for Malta

At present, Malta’s immigration requirements permit citizens of over 90 different countries to cross its borders without a visa.

Nationals of all Schengen member states can currently enter Malta by simply presenting a valid National ID Card or passport when boarding a flight to the island.

Citizens of EU countries that are not part of Schengen can also travel to Malta without a visa, but must present their passport on arrival. The same is currently true of British citizens, although this may change following the UK’s exit from the EU.

EU and Schengen nationals also have the right to live and work in Malta visa-free.

There are also over 60 other countries whose citizens currently enjoy visa exemption for Malta.

According to Malta’s visa policy, travelers who hold passports issued by one of these states may stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period for tourism or business purposes. They may also transit through Malta visa-free.

Starting in 2025, visitors from these countries will have to register with ETIAS to be able to enter Malta without a visa.

Consult the list of visa-exempt countries below to find out if your nationality does not need a visa for Malta.