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Malta

Visa Malta

Europe · Europe du Sud

In Malta, visas fall under the Central Visa Unit of Identità, the central visa authority. The pages consulted on 2026-09-17 distinguish the Schengen short-stay visa, for a stay not exceeding 90 days, and the national long-stay visa, issued for more than 90 days and at most 365 days. They describe two submission routes for the national visa, state the documents expected, a fee in euros and an announced processing time of six to eight weeks.

The information on this page helps prepare a case. Only the competent authority decides; always check the official source before filing an application.

Machine-assisted draft, reviewed by a person on 23 September 2026. Only the authority cited is authoritative.

Published on 23 September 2026 · Reviewed by vg_admin on 23 September 2026 · Sources consulted on 17 September 2026

At a glance

Authority
Identità — Central Visa Unit, Malta's central visa authority
Submission channel
Visa application center (VAC) by appointment, or "premium" procedure with online upload and dispatch of the passport by courier, according to the page consulted
Electronic visa
Not stated on the portal consulted; the "premium" procedure for the national visa provides for an online upload of the documents
Portal language
English and Maltese (English version consulted)

Do you need a visa?

Choose a nationality to see the recorded entry rule. No answer is shown until reviewed data exists.

Documented visa types

"Schengen Visa (short stay)"
According to the page, it allows transit or a stay not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period in the territory of the Schengen States. Official page (new tab)
"Airport transit visa"
According to the page, it allows passage through the international transit areas of the airports of the Schengen States. Official page (new tab)
"National Visa (long stay / D-Visa)"
Issued for a period of more than 90 days and not exceeding 365 days. The page cites employment, study and family reunification among the purposes. Official page (new tab)
"Student Visa" and "Working Holiday Visa"
Categories named on the main page of the Central Visa Unit, with dedicated sections. Conditions not detailed on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)

Where and how to apply

The Central Visa Unit is located at the Identità head office, Valley Road, Msida, and is open from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. according to the main page consulted. That page does not describe an online filing portal for all visas.

For the national long-stay visa, the dedicated page describes two routes. The "premium" procedure, provided for countries without a Maltese diplomatic mission, consists of sending an application to the email address stated with the approval documents, receiving an access token, uploading the documents online, paying the fees and then sending the passport by courier. The "extended" procedure, provided for a selection of countries, goes through a visa application center (VAC): booking an appointment, filing in person, then collecting the passport.

Steps in the procedure

  1. Determine the category: Schengen short-stay visa, airport transit visa or national long-stay visa.
  2. For a national visa, identify the route applicable to the country of residence: "premium" procedure or filing with a visa application center.
  3. Book an appointment with the visa application center, where that route applies.
  4. Gather the completed form and the documents requested for the category applied for.
  5. Upload the documents online and pay the fees, in the "premium" procedure, or file them in person at the visa application center.
  6. Send the passport by the route chosen, then collect it after processing.
  7. Wait for the decision of the Central Visa Unit.

Documents mentioned by the authority

The exact list depends on the visa type and on the situation; only the official page is authoritative. These documents are those listed for the national long-stay visa.

Stated fees and processing times

According to the portal consulted on 2026-09-17: the national long-stay visa is subject to a fee of 300 euros in the "premium" procedure; visa application center fees may be added, up to 150 euros. Children under six are exempt. The page states that fees paid for a long-stay visa are not refundable. The amount of the fee for the Schengen visa is not published on the pages read: Not stated on the portal consulted.

According to the same portal consulted on 2026-09-17, the Central Visa Unit states that fees are payable in accordance with fee order L.N. 287 of 2020 and that it accepts payment by credit card and by check. The processing time announced for the national long-stay visa is as a rule six to eight weeks. No processing time is stated for the Schengen visa on the pages read.

After the decision

The decision rests with the Central Visa Unit. For the national visa, the page states that its holder must enter Malta during the period of validity shown on the visa.

The main page refers to a section devoted to the visa appeal procedure, as well as to the services of the Central Visa Unit and the list of missions.

Published procedures

No reviewed and published procedure for Malta to date. We prefer an empty page to an invented requirement.

Explore procedures

Frequently asked questions

Is a visa required to travel to Malta?

It depends on nationality and on the purpose of travel; the rule reviewed by VisaGuideline is shown with the nationality selector on this page. Always check with the authority.

Where is the application filed?

With a visa application center by appointment, or, for countries without a Maltese diplomatic mission, through the "premium" procedure with online upload and dispatch of the passport by courier.

What is the difference between the Schengen visa and the national visa?

According to the official pages, the Schengen visa covers a stay not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period, while the national visa is for a stay of more than 90 days and not exceeding 365 days.

What fees are stated?

According to the portal consulted on 2026-09-17: 300 euros for the national long-stay visa in the "premium" procedure, to which up to 150 euros of visa application center fees may be added, with an exemption for children under six. The fee for the Schengen visa is not published on the pages read.

What processing time does the authority announce?

According to the portal consulted on 2026-09-17, the national long-stay visa is processed as a rule within six to eight weeks. No processing time is stated for the Schengen visa.

Is there an electronic visa?

Not stated on the portal consulted; the "premium" procedure for the national visa provides only for an online upload of the documents.

Consulted sources

Official pages read to write this guide, with the date they were read. A page may have changed since: check it before taking any step.

What this guide does not know yet

Points the official source does not specify and which this guide therefore left blank. Ask the competent authority about them before filing an application.

Prepare my case

This method is the same for every destination. It does not list any document as an official requirement: only the authority’s source is authoritative.

  1. Describe your situation

    Nationality, residence, purpose and dates. The checker tells covered routes apart from situations that are still unknown.

  2. Check at the source

    Open the destination’s official source and compare it with your situation before starting a procedure.

  3. Track what is left to do

    Your space keeps your answers and your declared checklist. A complete checklist does not announce a favorable decision.

Check my route Open my case

The information on this page helps prepare a case. Only the competent authority decides; always check the official source before filing an application.