Passport And Visa Requirements For Malta

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Passport And Visa Requirements For Malta

A visa is not required for stays of up to three months for EU nationals and those coming from visa-exempted countries. Visas available are single-entry visas (valid for one month), transit visas (24 hours) and multiple-entry visas (one year).

Any non-EU foreigner planning to work in Malta must have an employment licence (formerly known as work permits) issued by the Employment and Training Corporation. The licence is applied for by the employer meaning that you need to have an employer planning to hire you and you cannot apply and then seek a job. Employers must first open the job to Maltese nationals and citizens of the EU and only if they fail to find a suitable candidate after posting the vacancy on appropriate portals for an adequate period of time can they open the search to foreign nationals and apply for an employment licence. Most licences are for one year, although some three-year licences have been granted.

Malta has two options for residency available: ordinary residence and permanent residence. Ordinary residence is required for non-EU citizens who intend to live in Malta for more than three months. One option for ordinary residence is employment or self-employment, which requires approval of an employment licence. The other is economic self-sufficiency where you must demonstrate a minimum capital of €14,000 or annual income of €4,800 (€23,300 or €5,648 for married couples). Ordinary residence requires the applicant to physically live in Malta for a period of six months or more. You can apply for permanent residence after five years.

The Malta Individual Investor Programme gives the opportunity to gain citizenship by investment and requires a combination of a contribution to the Malta government, an investment in stocks/bonds and a purchase or rental of property in Malta. Overall an investment of around €800,000 is required plus a property purchase of €350,000 or a rental of €16,000 p.a.

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.