Applying for visa to Malta

If you're planning to study or travel in Malta, you'll need to apply for a Schengen visa of category C. This could be either a study visa to Malta, or a tourist visa to Malta. To obtain a visa to study in Malta, you'll have to provide the following package of documents:

1. A valid foreign passport that's still active at least 90 days after your return from a trip.

2. Two color photos that meet international passport requirements.

3. A visa application form filled in English, either handwritten or printed, with your original signature.

4. A copy of any previously issued Schengen visas, if applicable.

5. Confirmation of your accommodations in Malta, which could include:

   • A hotel booking (with the hotel's address, your reservation period, your personal information, and the contact details of a responsible officer).
   • A copy of an invitation containing the personal information and contact details of the person inviting you.
   • A copy of your course reservation (if you're arriving for passing an educational program), along with a payment confirmation.
   • Copies of your air or sea travel tickets with fixed dates.
   • An itinerary of your travel plans in Malta.
   • A copy of a pension certificate (for retirees) or student card (for students), and a sponsorship letter from a person who is funding the trip, confirming his solvency.

6. Confirmation of financial solvency (bank account statement, salary certificate, etc.) showing you have at least 48 euros per day (per person) for your stay.

7. A copy of your insurance policy covering potential medical costs in Malta. This policy should account for a minimum of 30,000 euros and last at least as long as your stay under the Schengen visa

If you're transiting through Malta without a visa, you're allowed to change flights within 24 hours, provided the flights are between non-Schengen zone countries. You're not permitted to leave the Maltese airport's transit zone in this case.

If traveling with minors, fill out a form for each child, providing a copy of their birth certificate, a copy of the parent or guardian's passport who completed the form, and a notarized consent from the other parent or guardian.

The visa photo requirements are as follows: two 3.5x4.5 cm photos of good color quality with a gray or white background, showing at least 70% of your face, taken within six months before submitting the application.

You must also attach a consent form to the processing of your personal data to your visa application. Minors' consent forms should be signed by their official representatives.

You can submit a package of documents for your visa application to some of the Maltese Embassy's visa centers either personally or through a proxy. In the latter case, you'll need to provide a power of attorney.

A short-term visa for Malta usually takes up to 5 working days to process and is valid for up to 1 month. The actual length of your stay will depend on your flight and hotel reservation dates, as well as any dates mentioned in an invitation.

The standard Schengen visa allows you to stay in the Schengen area for 90 days during a six-month period. You can calculate your stay using a special calculator on the EU Ministry of Internal Affairs' website.

Visa application fees include a one-time consular fee of 60 euros and a service fee, which are non-refundable if your visa application is refused. Some applicants are exempt from the consular fee.

Please remember that each visitor to Malta must complete a registration card during the flight, and this includes children recorded in their parents' passports.

If your passport expires or is damaged, your valid visa, including a study visa for Malta, will not be transferred to the new passport. You'll have to submit the standard package of documents according to  the chosen visa category to the visa department.

To obtain a long-term study visa, or "national" visa (type D), for a stay in Malta exceeding 90 days, specific requirements must be complied. The visa permits travel within the Schengen area for up to five days for transit purposes, while primarily granting the holder access to Malta. Once in Malta, the holder must then proceed to obtain a residence permit. It's important to note that the regulations for long-term stays are regulated by the Maltese authorities.

Certain primary documents such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or school diplomas/certificates issued in Malta may require a notarized apostille translation. Official documents with an apostille won't need any further verification to be acknowledged by other states according to the convention.

The required documents for a long-term study visa to Malta include:

1. A completed visa application form in English, signed by the applicant.
2. A passport, which is valid for at least three months beyond the visa expiration date and has at least 2 blank pages.
3. One photocopy of your foreign passport, excluding the blank pages.
4. Two recent passport-size photographs (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm) on a white background, with the clear image of the applicant.
5. Confirmation of a hotel reservation for the entire travel period within the Schengen countries. In the event of a family stay or school accommodation, written confirmation and a copy of the ID card or passport of the inviter is needed. If you are residing in an apartment in Malta, please provide a real estate lease and rent receipt.
6. Confirmed round-trip ticket reservations.
7. Confirmation of valid insurance policy covering the Schengen area with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros.
8. An admission letter from a school/institute/university in Malta detailing the course and study period, stamped and signed by the relevant authority.
9. Confirmation of financial solvency, by providing a bank statement, certificate of foreign currency purchase, or a credit limit on a credit card. If the trip is sponsored, a sponsorship letter and financial guarantees from the sponsor are required. The required amount for daily living is 50 euros, and the funds should be enough for at least 91 days. The validity of financial documents is one calendar month.
10. A letter from the Department of Citizenship and Emigration Affairs is required if the educational course stipulates an academic qualification.
11. A copy of a civil passport featuring personal data and permanent registration address is required.

For applicants under 18 years old it is necessary to provide:

1. A copy of the passport (first and registration pages) of the parent who signed the application form and sponsorship letter. If under guardianship, a document confirming the guardian's status is required.
2. Consent from both parents or the official guardian is needed. If the child is traveling with one parent, consent from the other parent is necessary. The consent document should clearly state its applicability to Malta and the Schengen countries.