Malta student visa: Complete guide 2026
Updated: 1 day ago
What Is the Malta Student Visa?
The Malta Student Visa refers to two separate applications, decided independently. Before entering the country, if your course exceeds 90 days, you apply for a Type D visa, decided by Identità's Central Visa Unit. The D-visa requirement applies regardless of whether your nationality is otherwise exempt from short-stay visa requirements. Once you have entered Malta, you apply separately for a study residence permit, also decided by Identità. This second document is what lets you remain in Malta for your studies.
Who Is It For?
Nationality: Non-EU/EEA nationals.
Study program: Full-time enrollment at an institution licensed by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority, in a course at MQF Level 5 or higher. The qualification must be recognized by the Malta Qualifications Recognition Information Centre.
Financial means: At least EUR 745.50 a month, equal to 75 percent of Malta's national minimum wage, currently EUR 994 a month, for every month of study.
What the Visa Allows
Residency: The permit is issued for the full duration of your course if it is shorter than 1 year, or for 1 year at a time, renewable annually, if your course runs longer.
Work: You can work up to 20 hours a week, but only after your first 3 months of study in Malta. Before you start each job, the employer must apply for a Jobsplus employment license on your behalf.
Family: To sponsor family reunification, you need at least 2 years of continuous legal residence in Malta. You also need reasonable prospects of permanent residence, which a student permit alone does not easily establish.
Travel: The permit allows you to travel within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
After graduation: You can apply for a residence permit called "stay for the purpose of job-searching or entrepreneurship," which lets you remain in Malta to seek employment or start a business related to your course of study. It does not itself authorize you to work. Once you find a job, you must separately apply for a work-based permit before starting. It is valid for 9 months and cannot be renewed.
Documents You'll Need to Prepare
Documents not in English need a certified translation. Documents issued abroad must be legalized or apostilled.
Passport: A copy of your passport, valid for at least 10 months when applying for the visa, and at least 8 months when applying for the residence permit.
Visa application form (for the visa): Downloaded from Identità's website and completed before your appointment.
Passport photo (for the visa): One recent color photo.
School acceptance letter (for the visa): From your institution, stating that a tuition deposit has been paid. The letter must state the institution's name as registered with the MFHEA, the full course name and MQF level, the number of ECTS credits, the course's fees, duration, and type, and its holiday periods. It must also state your weekly contact hours and the address where you will attend lectures.
Proof of financial means (for the visa): If self-funded, you need a bank statement covering the last 3 months, with a recent bank certificate, showing funds meeting the threshold. If sponsored instead, you need your sponsor's last 3 months of bank statements, a signed declaration from them, and a copy of their ID or passport.
International bank card (for the visa): A copy of the card, front and back, that you will use to access your funds in Malta.
Proof of health insurance (for the visa): Valid across the Schengen area and for study purposes, with minimum medical coverage of EUR 30,000. It must cover at least the first 120 consecutive days from your entry into the Schengen area.
Flight itinerary (for the visa): Your outbound flight to Malta, showing your name, flight date, and all stops. Entry must be no more than 2 weeks before your course starts. If your course is shorter than 6 months, you also need a return ticket.
Proof of accommodation (for the visa): Covering your first 14 nights in Malta, in your name. This can be a school-issued letter, a registered lease agreement, a notarized host declaration, or a hotel or short-term rental booking.
Study residence permit application form (for the permit): Completed directly within Identità's Expatriates Portal, not a separate document to prepare in advance.
Proof of enrollment (for the permit): Confirmation that you have registered with your institution and paid your tuition fees in full.
Proof of accommodation (for the permit): A lease agreement or equivalent. Lease agreements must carry notarial attestation from a lawyer, notary, or legal procurator. Students using school-arranged accommodation are exempt, as are students at the University of Malta, MCAST, or the Institute of Tourism Studies.
Proof of health insurance (for the permit): Minimum coverage of EUR 100,000, covering your entire stay in Malta. Students at the University of Malta, MCAST, or the Institute of Tourism Studies are exempt from this requirement.
Step-by-Step Application Process
Step 1: Secure admission
Apply to a licensed Maltese institution and obtain your acceptance letter.
Step 2: Apply for your Type D visa
Book an appointment and submit your application at an authorized visa center abroad, at least 9 weeks before your course begins.
Step 3: Wait for the decision
Processing typically takes up to 8 weeks.
Step 4: Travel to Malta
Enter no more than 2 weeks before your course starts, using your visa.
Step 5: Complete your enrollment
Finalize your registration with the institution, paying any remaining tuition balance.
Step 6: Complete your health screening
Undergo a health screening at a private clinic in Malta, presenting your immunization certificate. If you were born in a country classified as high-risk for tuberculosis, or lived in one for 6 months or more, you also need a chest X-ray, taken within 4 weeks of your arrival. Once cleared, you receive an approval email from the Infectious Disease Control Unit.
Step 7: Apply for your study residence permit
Submit your application online through Identità's Expatriates Portal within 90 days of your entry, and pay the EUR 27.50 fee.
Step 8: Attend your biometrics appointment
Request and attend an appointment with Identità to provide your fingerprints and a biometric photo, separate from the photo already submitted with your visa application. You receive an interim receipt, which serves as valid proof of legal stay while the card is processed.
Step 9: Collect your residence card
Once approved, you receive a collection letter with a PIN at your registered address, specifying where to collect your card. Bring this letter, your interim receipt, and passport to receive your residence card. No appointment is needed.
Costs and Fees
The residence permit costs EUR 27.50. The visa costs EUR 100 for standard processing, or EUR 150 for next-day processing.
Good to Know
Malta's public healthcare system isn't available to you as a student: Non-EU nationals generally cannot access it until they have contributed to social security for a qualifying period, commonly 12 months. This is why private insurance is required throughout your studies.
Health insurance coverage requirements jump sharply between stages: Your visa-stage policy only needs EUR 30,000 in coverage, but the residence permit stage requires EUR 100,000, unless you study at the University of Malta, MCAST, or the Institute of Tourism Studies.
Lease agreements now need a lawyer's or notary's stamp: Following a fraud case involving falsely used addresses, Identità requires notarial attestation on lease agreements submitted as part of residence permit applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa before traveling to Malta?
Only if your course exceeds 90 days, regardless of whether your nationality is otherwise exempt from short-stay visa requirements. If your course is under 90 days, this guide does not cover your situation.
How many hours can I work as a student?
Up to 20 hours a week, but only after your first 3 months of study in Malta. Before you start each job, the employer must apply for a Jobsplus employment license on your behalf.
What happens after I graduate?
You can apply for a residence permit called "stay for the purpose of job-searching or entrepreneurship," which lets you remain in Malta to seek employment or start a business related to your course of study. It does not itself authorize you to work. Once you find a job, you must separately apply for a work-based permit before starting.
Can my family join me while I study?
Technically possible, but difficult in practice. You need 2 years of continuous legal residence in Malta to sponsor family reunification. You also need reasonable prospects of permanent residence, which a student permit alone does not easily establish.
