Visa & Arrival in Malta - Study in Malta

Visa & Arrival in Malta

Malta splits its student arrivals into two clear lanes. EU/EEA students (plus Switzerland) walk in freely and only register for residence after arrival through Identity Malta. Non-EU/EEA students need a National Long-Stay (D) visa to enter, then a residence permit via Residency Malta / Identity Malta once on the island. This guide walks through both routes, the proof of funds, health insurance, the residence-permit registration, and your first weeks on the ground.

Two Routes In

EU/EEA and Swiss citizens

You can enter Malta without a visa or permit. After arrival you have a registration obligation:

• Register for residence with Identity Malta if your stay exceeds three months (an EU registration, not a full permit)
• Bring: passport or national ID card, acceptance letter, proof of address, and proof of sufficient means and health insurance (EHIC covers healthcare)
• Get an eResidence card confirming your right to reside as an EU student

EU citizens have the lightest process — registration rather than a visa.

Non-EU/EEA citizens

You apply for a National Long-Stay (D) visa before you travel, then register for a residence permit in Malta. The flow:

Step 1: Get your acceptance letter

You cannot start the application without an official acceptance from the University of Malta, MCAST, AUM, or an accredited institution. Your letter of admission is the anchor document.

Step 2: Apply for the National Long-Stay (D) visa

Apply through a Maltese embassy, consulate, or visa centre in your country. Submit:

• Passport (valid for the whole study period)
• Acceptance / admission letter
• Proof of funds — at least €700–1,100/month (~€8,400–13,200/year)
• Paid or evidenced accommodation in Malta
• Comprehensive health insurance valid in Malta
• Passport-style photos to specification
• Tuition payment evidence where applicable

Pay the visa application fee (confirm the current amount with your Maltese mission).

Step 3: Provide biometrics and attend your appointment

At the embassy or visa centre, prove your identity and provide biometric data (fingerprints and photo). Do this as soon as possible after submitting your application.

Step 4: Wait for the decision

Processing usually takes several weeks. Do not book non-refundable flights until your D visa is approved.

Step 5: Enter Malta and register for your residence permit

Travel on your D visa, then register with Residency Malta / Identity Malta to collect your residence permit card — the document that authorises your full stay.

Proof of Means — The Numbers

Residency Malta's expectation:

• €700–1,100 per month for living costs
• ~€8,400–13,200 for a full academic year
• Plus paid accommodation and health insurance
• Independent of tuition fees, which non-EU students pay on top (about €10,800/year undergrad at the University of Malta)

Accepted evidence: a personal bank statement, a sponsor letter with sponsor documentation, or a verified scholarship award (for example a Malta Government Scholarship). Present numbers conservatively above the minimum. Full breakdown in our costs and funding guide and the cost-of-study calculator.

Health Insurance — Get This Right

Comprehensive cover is mandatory for non-EU students and a common reason for application delays:

• Comprehensive private health insurance valid in Malta for the entire duration of the permit
• Budget roughly €150–400/year for a compliant student policy
• EU/EEA students rely on the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) instead

Malta's public system, centred on Mater Dei Hospital in Msida, is solid and English-speaking, but the residence permit still requires private cover for non-EU students. Always cross-check your policy against Residency Malta's current requirement before buying.

Visa and Permit Fees

Budget for the following one-off costs:

• National Long-Stay (D) visa application fee (confirm with your Maltese mission)
• Residence permit / eResidence card fee in Malta
• Health insurance: ~€150–400/year for a compliant policy
• Biometrics where charged
• Passport photos: small fee

Get an itemised total before you transfer money.

Processing Times — Apply Early

Plan for several weeks from a complete application to a D-visa decision, plus time to register your residence permit after arrival. Delays come from:

• Missing or weak health insurance documentation
• Unclear proof of funds (handwritten letters, accounts with sudden deposits)
• No confirmed accommodation at application

Start the moment you have your acceptance letter. Never book non-refundable flights until your visa is approved.

Your First Two Weeks: Arrival Checklist

• Register for and collect your residence permit through Residency Malta / Identity Malta
• Open a bank account at BOV (Bank of Valletta), HSBC Malta, or APS — bring your passport, visa, residence registration, and acceptance letter
• Buy a local SIM — GO, Melita, or Epic prepaid is cheap and easy
• Set up your Tallinja bus card — buses are free or near-free for students
• Register with a GP and confirm your health cover (EHIC for EU; private policy for non-EU)
• Complete enrolment with your university or MCAST
• Start your Jobsplus employment licence if you are non-EU and plan to work (after the first 13 weeks)
• Carry certified copies of your passport, visa, and acceptance letter — you will be asked for them often

Bringing Your Family

Family reunification is possible but tightly assessed for students. Spouses and minor children may apply for residence on the basis of family ties. They each need their own application, with:

• Proof of relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, apostilled and translated)
• Higher proof of means and adequate accommodation
• Their own health insurance

Student-based family permits are not guaranteed and processing is slower than the student route. If family will join you, contact Residency Malta early and budget for the higher income threshold.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Booking flights before the visa is approved. The D visa is the gate — never travel without it.
• Submitting thin insurance. Cross-check against Residency Malta's exact requirement.
• Showing weak proof of funds. Bank statements with sudden large deposits look suspicious. Plan three months ahead.
• Skipping the residence-permit registration. Without your permit card, banking, contracts, and work all stall.
• Letting your permit lapse. Renew through Residency Malta well before expiry each year.

Renewing and Staying On

Your residence permit is tied to active, full-time study and reasonable progress. You renew it through Residency Malta before expiry — start the renewal well before it lapses. You will need updated proof of means, current insurance, and evidence of acceptable academic progress.

After graduation, Malta's strong sectors — iGaming, financial services, tourism, and English language teaching — actively recruit graduates, and transitioning to a work-based residence permit is realistic. We cover that honestly in our work and career guide.

Short Courses, Exchange, and Visits

If you are coming for less than 90 days — a summer school, a language course, a conference, or a short non-degree visit — you may travel visa-free (if your nationality allows it) or on a Schengen short-stay (C) visa. Anything longer, including full degree study and most exchange semesters, requires the National Long-Stay (D) visa and residence permit. Always confirm with your host institution and the relevant Maltese mission, because formal study usually pulls you into the full residence process.

Travelling Within Schengen

Once you have your Maltese residence permit card, you can travel freely within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period for tourism. Carry your passport and residence permit card at all times. If a permit renewal is in progress, do not leave Malta until Residency Malta confirms it is safe to travel — an in-process permit can complicate re-entry.

Next Steps

1. Living in Malta — housing, banking, the climate, and daily life
2. Work and career — the honest picture on the 20-hour rule and post-study work
3. Costs and funding — secure your proof of funds and scholarships
4. The 10-step guide — the whole journey in order