Malta Travel Guide

 Malta Travel Guide

From the MTV music festival in Valletta to abseiling and climbing in Gozo Malta rocks. Small in size but big in character Malta offers cool cafes, buzzing night clubs exhilarating activities exciting festivals and amazing archaeological wonders whatever the time of year.

Situated in the center of the Mediterranean the Maltese archipelago, which includes Gozo, Comino, Cominotto and Filfla, exudes character at every turn from its vibrant blue waters and secluded bays to medieval walled citadels and splendid baroque churches. Every year, visitors flock to Malta's striking coastline to sample its mouth-watering seafood and immerse themselves in fascinating history, traditional villages and colorful fiestas.


From retracing the footsteps of St Paul to discovering where the Knights of St John defended Christendom, this open-air museum will reveal new surprises to you at every turn.

What documents will be required?
Visa applications must be in writing giving all details required on the Visa Application Form which can be acquired free of charge from Malta’s diplomatic missions and consular posts.

The Visa Application Form must be wholly and legibly completed and signed by the applicant, and accompanied by:

• a valid travel document (passport) validity of which must not be less than three (3) months;
• two (2) passport-size photographs in color and taken against a white background, with face clearly visible;
• the visa fee 

These supporting documents include:

• supporting documents regarding the purpose of the visit shall mean for example:
• a letter of invitation
• a summons
• a certificate of enrollment
• an organised trip.

Supporting documents regarding means of transport, for example:

• a valid return ticket or
• a certificate of a reserved and prepaid journey
• supporting documents regarding means of subsistence.

The following may be accepted as proof of means of subsistence:

• cash in convertible currency
• traveler’s cheques
• cheque books for a foreign currency account
• credit cards
• or any other means that guarantees funds in hard currency.

The level of means of subsistence shall be proportionate to the length and purpose of the stay, and to the amount of € 48 per day.

Supporting documents regarding accommodation

The following documents inter alia may be accepted as proof of accommodation:

• hotel reservation or reservation for a similar establishment
• documents proving the existence of a lease or a title deed, in the applicant’s name, to a property situated in the country to be visited
• where a third-country national states that he/she shall stay at a person’s home or in an institution, the applicant must present a written declaration by the host which vouches for the host’s commitment to accommodate. The diplomatic mission and consular posts will verify such declarations, where such checks are necessary;
• or by requiring that a certificate be presented which vouches for the commitment to accommodate, in the form of a harmonised form filled in by the host/institution and stamped by the competent authority in Malta, according to the provisions laid down in its national legislation.

In addition, in support of an application for a short-term or travel visa, applicants must show that they are in possession of adequate and valid individual or group Travel Medical Insurance to cover any expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment. The insurance must be valid throughout the Schengen Member States and cover the entire period of the person’s stay. The minimum coverage is of € 30,000.

Visa Types & Validity
There are three types of visa for travelling to Malta, depending on the type of journey you intend to make:

Airport Transit Visa (ATV)
These visas allow the holder to cross the international transit zone of Malta’s International Airport. Nationals from countries included in the list of countries with the obligation to carry an Airport Transit Visa must be in possession of this visa.  
  
Short-stay “C” visa (Schengen) 
These visas allow the holder to transit through or remain in the territory of Malta and all other Schengen Member States for a maximum period of three months (90 days) within a period of six months (180 days) from the entry date into the Schengen area.
The validity period of a Schengen (short-term) visa is determined in accordance with the length of travel for a maximum of 5 years. According to expected number of stays Schengen (short-term) visa may be issued as follows:

single entry – entitles to a single uninterrupted stay during the period stipulated in the visa, which may not exceed than 3 months;
double entry visa – entitles to two stays during the period stipulated in the visa, while the sum of the lengths of stay may not exceed (3) three months within a half-year
multiple entry visa – entitles to multiple stays during the period stipulated in the visa, while the sum of the lengths of stay may not exceed (3) three months within a half-year.

National Long-stay “D” visa
These visas allow the holder to stay in the territory of Malta for periods longer than three months (90 days). All third-country nationals who wish to enter Malta in order to work and/or study must be in possession of this type of visa. 

Applications for long-term or “D” visas are not subject of representation arrangements and the applicants should contact the Central Visa Unit for further information as to which of Malta’s diplomatic missions and consular posts would accept their visa applications.

Time required to issue visa:
Applications for Schengen short-stay visas can be lodged within 3 months prior to the planned trip. Applications are in most cases reviewed within 7-15 days. In individual cases the review period can be extended up to 30 days and in exceptional cases up to 60 days. It is recommended not to lodge a visa application later than 15 days prior to the planned trip, as it cannot be otherwise guaranteed it will be reviewed in time. Holders of multiple-entry Schengen short-stay visas can lodge a visa application before this visa has expired, provided it has been valid for at least 6 months. Visa applications of family members of EU citizens will be reviewed in the shortest possible period of time.

Other information: English Courses in Malta
Admission into Malta, is only permitted to third country nationals who:

• seek entry through a border crossing point;
• are in possession of a valid passport or equivalent recognized travel document permitting them to cross the border;
• are in possession of documents substantiating the purpose and the conditions of the planned visit and have sufficient means of support, both for the period of the planned visit and to return to their country of origin (or to travel in transit to a Third State). A third country national who already holds a residence permit issued by one of the Schengen Member States is exempted from this requirement.
• are in possession of a valid entry or transit visa, if required;
• have not been prohibited to enter through an alert in the Schengen Information System;

Embassy contact information:
You should contact your nearest Maltese embassy for the most up-to-date information on what documentation you require to enter Malta.