Malta

Information for all students

Students should ensure that their passports are signed and stamped when entering and exiting Border Control. These stamps will prove the duration of your visit and, more importantly, prove to the visa official that you have not overstayed your 90-day visit.

It is important to understand the Schengen 90/180 rule. You are allocated 90 visa-free days to use within the Schengen Zone, however you must remember these are rolling days and are added onto a cumulative total of days in the Schengen region. Leaving and entering does not reset your calculator – only leaving for a period of 90 days in a non-Schengen country will reset your visa-free 90-day allowance.

Read more about the Schengen rules

Studying for up to 3 months

Depending upon nationality, students who wish to study in Malta for 90 days or less can do so without the need for a visa. This does not apply to students who are visa-exempt nationals.

If you do not require a visa, you can enter Malta for up to 90 days to complete the following activities:

• Summer school
• Internship
• Unpaid internship
• Unpaid traineeship
• Study placement

If you are a UK/non-EU/EEA student, you are a third-country national. If your course does not exceed 90 days, you will be issued with a Schengen short-stay visa (C-Visa).

You will need to present your application at one of the submission points indicated below:

• Directly at one of Malta’s missions or consular posts
• At the premises of another Member State representing Malta
• At the premises of an authorised External Service Provider

You should present your application where you reside/are legally present, together with supporting documents and biometric data.

If approved, your multiple-entry visa will be granted for the duration of the entire course, plus a 7-day grace period, provided that the total amount does not exceed 90 days.

In normal circumstances, the processing time (from the date of application submission to the final decision) shall not exceed a period of 15 working days.

Gather your documents

To apply for your Schengen visa, you will need to gather the following documents:

• Completed application Form
• Valid passport or travel document (e.g.: EHIC/GHIC card or proof of application)
• UK Residency Permit
• 2 passport photos
• Travel health insurance
• Travel itinerary
• Proof of accommodation (hotel booking, rental agreement, etc.)
• Letter of invitation
• Proof of financial means (bank statement, sponsorship letter, etc.)

Discover the full list of documents.

Please note that you may be required to legalise your foreign certificates.

How to apply

You can apply for a Schengen visa via the VFS Centers in London, Manchester and Edinburgh (for tourism and business visas only). All applications will be assessed by the Malta High Commission, London.

You will need to make an appointment prior to showing up at one of their centres. You may have to wait a while for an appointment, especially during peak season.

Every Malta visa application must be submitted in person and by appointment. Walk-in applications are not accepted.

 

Source accessed on 15.02.25.

Studying for up to 6 months

Students (including those TCNs who are visa exempt for 90 days) applying for courses that exceed 90 calendar days require a National long-stay visa (D-visa).

You must present your application at the premises of an authorised External Service Provider.

You will need a visa to temporarily remain in Malta for the duration if your studies. International students intending to stay in Malta for more than 90 days should apply for an e-Residence Permit upon arrival.

Gather your documents

To apply for your National D-visa, you will need to gather the following documents:

• Completed and signed visa application form
• 1 recent passport-sized photo
• Valid passport
• Proof of sufficient financial means (equivalent to 75% of the national minimum wage for every month of study)
• Air travel ticket/s to the final destination with the return trip (where applicable)
• Host/hotel confirmation for the duration of the stay
• Letter of sponsorship, including a copy of the identification document and contact details of sponsor/s (if applicable)
• Proof of scholarship (if applicable)
• Proof of sufficient language proficiency (to be eligible to apply for the selected course of study)
• Full-refund travel medical insurance
• Birth certificate/family book (in the case of minors)
• Authorisation of two parents or legal guardians (in the case of minors)
• The passport data pages of two parents or legal guardians (in the case of minors)
• Proof of payment received by the educational institution related to your course

Please note that:

• For courses of a value of up to €1,000, the receipt covering full payment shall be requested
• For courses of a value of more than €1,000 but less than €2,500, the receipt covering up to 75% of the course shall be requested
• For courses of a value that is equal to or higher than €2,500, the receipt covering up to 50% of the course shall be requested

Your valid passport must have:

• At least three blank pages
• A validity period that extends beyond the duration of your stay, plus another 3 months

Your travel medical insurance must:

• Have a minimum coverage of €30,000
• Be from a recognised provider
• Cover the entire duration of your stay in Malta
• Cover the entire duration of the visa originally issued to you

Students not pursuing a higher-education qualification must provide an enrolment/acceptance letter from a local educational institution, licensed by the national regulator. For courses below MQF Level 5, the documentation must include:

• Confirmation that the student will be covering a minimum of 15 contact hours per week
• A copy of the timetable
• A schedule of lessons per every month of study

Students who are pursuing a higher-education qualification must provide an enrolment/acceptance letter from a local education institution, licensed by the national regulator. The document must include:

• Confirmation that 60 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) will be obtained within a maximum period of one year (the same proportion will be applied for other credit systems)
• A copy of the timetable
• A schedule of lessons per every month of study

Please note that any additional documents deemed necessary by the Consular Post should be produced upon request.

Please note that you may be required to legalise your foreign certificates.

 

Further information on the full requirements of a National Long Stay Visa (D-Visa) can be found here.

How to apply

Prior to the visa process, your university should submit a list of accepted students to the Central Visa Unit (CVU).

Once the CVU has approved you, they will invite you to apply for your visa via your university.

Students should apply at the premises of an authorised External Service Provider.

Studying for over 6 months

Students attending courses longer than 90 days must apply for a Residence Permit within the first 3 months of arrival in Malta.

Gather your documents

To apply for your National D-Visa, you will need to gather the following documents:

• Completed and signed visa application form
• 1 recent passport-sized photo
• Valid passport
• Proof of sufficient financial means (equivalent to 75% of the national minimum wage for every month of study)
• Air travel ticket/s to the final destination with the return trip (where applicable)
• Host/hotel confirmation for the duration of the stay
• Letter of sponsorship, including a copy of the identification document and contact details of sponsor/s (if applicable)
• Proof of scholarship (if applicable)
• Proof of sufficient language proficiency (to be eligible to apply for the selected course of study)
• Full-refund travel medical insurance
• Birth certificate/family book (in the case of minors)
• Authorisation of two parents or legal guardians (in the case of minors)
• The passport data pages of two parents or legal guardians (in the case of minors)
• Proof of payment received by the educational institution related to your course

Please note that:

• For courses of a value of up to €1,000, the receipt covering full payment shall be requested
• For courses of a value of more than €1,000 but less than €2,500, the receipt covering up to 75% of the course shall be requested
• For courses of a value that is equal to or higher than €2,500, the receipt covering up to 50% of the course shall be requested

Your valid passport must have:

• At least three blank pages
• A validity period that extends beyond the duration of your stay, plus another 3 months

Your travel medical insurance must:

• Have a minimum coverage of €30,000
• Be from a recognised provider
• Cover the entire duration of your stay in Malta
• cover the entire duration of the visa originally issued to you

Students not pursuing a higher-education qualification must provide an enrolment/acceptance letter from a local educational institution, licensed by the national regulator. For courses below MQF Level 5, the documentation must include:

• Confirmation that the student will be covering a minimum of 15 contact hours per week
• A copy of the timetable
• A schedule of lessons per every month of study

Students who are pursuing a higher-education qualification must provide an enrolment/acceptance letter from a local education institution, licensed by the national regulator. The document must include:

• Confirmation that 60 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) will be obtained within a maximum period of one year (the same proportion will be applied for other credit systems)
• A copy of the timetable
• A schedule of lessons per every month of study

Please note that any additional documents deemed necessary by the Consular Post should be produced upon request.

Please note that you may be required to legalise your foreign certificates.

Further documentaion can be found here.

How to apply

Non-EU/EEA students must submit visa applications through the Identity Malta Online Application.

Once your application has been accepted, you will need to attend an in-person appointment at the Expatriates Unit at Identity Malta to submit your original documents.

Study and employment

Students will only be allowed to work a maximum of 20 hours per week after their first 3 months of study in Malta.

Source accessed 12.02.25.

Working for up to 6 months

Citizens of EU/EFTA countries and their close family members (spouses and children), even if the latter are not EU or EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) citizens, do not require any employment licences to work in Malta.  

You can enter Malta for up to 90 days to complete work in the below roles:

• au pair
• non-executive director (not employed or paid by a company in Malta)
• seafarer (working on a ship registered in/sailing under the flag of another EU country)

If you have an EU intra-company transfer (EU ICT) permit from another country, your employer must notify Identity Malta by post.

Exemptions are covered by the Schengen visa waiver.

For work up to 6 months, you qualify for an employment license. 

How to apply 

• Your employer submits an employment license application via email.
• Once the vetting process is complete, a digital employment license will be issued via email.

Gather your documents 

• Completed employee licence application form 
• Completed residence card application form 
• UK passport for you and any dependants 
• Degree or other qualification certificate 
• CV 
• Job description 
• Employment contract with the company in Malta 
• Proof of accommodation 
• Proof of health insurance 
• Marriage certificate, if married and applying with family 
• Birth certificates of any children, if applying with family 
• Health screening approval (if applicable) 

 

 

Working for 3 months to a year

Citizens of EU/EFTA countries and their close family members (spouses and children), even if the latter are not EU or EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) citizens, do not require any employment licences to work in Malta.  

All other nationals, coming from non-EU and non-EFTA countries, and who are termed as Third Country Nationals (TCNs), must submit a single permit application to be able to work and reside in Malta. 

 

UK/non-EU/EEA students require a Single Permit to work for more than 3 months in Malta.

The single permit procedure requires students to be authorised to work and reside in Malta.

If you require a visa before travelling, please await a reply from the visa department with a list of the supporting documents required for a National visa. Please make sure you attach your approval/principle letter to your e-mail.

Gather your documents

EU/EEA students do not need a visa. However, you must apply for an E-Residence Permit. This document proves your legal status to remain, live and work in Malta, as well as providing you with healthcare.

UK students must not apply for a Visa without obtaining prior authorisation. You will need an employer to apply for a work permit for you.

Discover more about travelling to Malta for work.

Employers should ensure that third-country nationals are in possession of the necessary authorisation, prior to their employment commencement, as per the employment guidelines.

To apply for your Single Permit, you will need to gather the following documents:

• Copy of a valid employment contract
• Private medical insurance cover for 12 months
• A position description, signed by the employer
• A covering letter from the prospective employer
• A signed CV accompanied by references, showing work experience covering at least a 3-year period*
• Completed employee licence application form
• Completed residence card application form
• UK passport (for you and any dependants)
• Degree or other qualification certificate
• Proof of accommodation
• Proof of health insurance
• Marriage certificate (if married and applying with family)
• Birth certificates of any children (if applying with family)

*Your references need to be submitted to Identity Malta. If the applicant does not have adequate work experience but is suitably qualified, the applicant must obtain local MQRIC equivalence of the qualifications before submission of the application.

 

For work up to 6 months, you qualify for an employment license.

How to apply 

• Your employer submits an employment licence application via email 
• Once the vetting process is complete, a digital employment license will be issued via email 

Gather your Documents: 

• Completed employee licence application form 
• Completed residence card application form 
• UK passport for you and any dependants 
• Degree or other qualification certificate 
• CV 
• Job description 
• Employment contract with the company in Malta 
• Proof of accommodation 
• Proof of health insurance 
• Marriage certificate, if married and applying with family 
• Birth certificates of any children, if applying with family 
• Health screening approval (if applicable) 

 

If you are staying for more than 3 months you will need to apply for a residence permit following these steps: 

• You must book an appointment online 
• You will attend an appointment at the Identita Expatriates Unit to submit your biometrics and apply for a residence permit 
• You will receive a letter confirming you can collect your work and residence permit from the Identita Expatriates Unit 

Read more information on travelling to Malta for work here.

1. Source accessed 15.02.25
2. Source accessed 15.02.25