The Republic of Malta joined the Schengen Agreement in 2007. Since then, entry for Russians into the country is open only on visas. Fortunately, getting the coveted pass is easy: the set of documents for filing is standard, the amount of the fee is also “general Schengen”. It is a little more difficult to become the owner of a “cartoon” – it is issued only in the consular department of the embassy in Moscow and worthy travelers are selected very carefully. However, candidates with an impeccable tourist reputation, an impressive bank account and having repeatedly visited Malta have every chance of getting the coveted “multi-entry” visa. See citypopulationreview.com for weather information.
An urgent visa to Malta is not issued.
Tourist visa to Malta: general information
| Do they give multivisa? | given for at least six months |
| Term of receipt | from 5 working days; but in fact – 15 days |
| Validity limit | 3 months from the end of the trip |
- The cost of a regular visa: 35€
- Express Visa: —
- Visa fees: 30€
Types of visas
Visa Application Centers divide Maltese visas into short-term and long-term:
- transit visa: issued by those who plan to make a transfer at the airport of Malta on their way to a third country participating in the Schengen Agreement. For a transfer to a flight between countries that do not require a Schengen visa, a transit visa is not required if the tourist does not leave the airport, and the connection is made within 24 hours;
- tourist visa (category C): can be single and multiple, issued for a trip or for a period of six months. In the latter case, it gives the right to stay in Malta for up to 90 days per six months;
- short-term target: issued to those who travel to visit relatives, for cultural or sports events, study, work, treatment and for family reunification;
- long-term (“national”): allows you to stay in the country for more than 90 days in a 180-day period, is issued directly at the consular section of the Embassy of Malta, not through the visa centers. Required for those who travel to the country to study, work, marry or reunite with relatives.
Applying for a visa yourself
Documents for all types of visas, except for long-term ones, are submitted through VfsGlobal visa centers. In this case, in addition to the consular fee, a service fee of about 2000 RUB (in rubles on the day of application) is paid. Disabled people of the 1st group and one of their attendants, as well as children under 6 years of age are exempt from paying the fee.
Documents can be submitted in person or through a representative (provided that fingerprinting was previously submitted). Pre-registration is required to visit the Moscow Visa Application Centre. You need to plan the submission in advance: the embassy will consider the papers and make a decision within 15 days.
Documents for a visa to Malta
Required documents for obtaining Schengen category C:
- Questionnaire
Fill in Latin letters and do not forget to sign, there is a sample at the office. Malta Visa Application Center website;
- international passport
With two blank pages, the validity period must exceed 3 months from the date of departure from the Schengen area; original and copies of completed pages;
- Photo
2 photographs (see photo requirements below);
- Insurance policy
Health insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 EUR, which can be obtained online;
- Photocopy of the national passport
Copy of the first page and registration page;
- Hotel booking copy
Confirmation of hotel reservation for the entire period of travel, which indicates the name and surname of the applicant (online booking printout is suitable);
- Confirmation of financial solvency
Bank statement, certificate from the bank on currency exchange, traveler’s checks, photocopy of a bank card with an extract from an ATM (at the rate of 50 EUR / day, the “age” of documents is not older than 1 month);
- Copy of ticket
Paid round-trip tickets or confirmation of air ticket reservation;
If the traveler plans to visit more than just Malta in one trip, a detailed travel itinerary must be provided.
To obtain a multivisa, you will need to justify the need for frequent trips.
For a transit visa, you will additionally need a copy of a valid visa to the country of destination, for those traveling on a business trip – a certificate of employment and an invitation or letter of participation in the event. Invited friends or relatives – an invitation, a copy of the ID-card or a copy of the residence / work permit of the inviter.
If the goal is treatment, you need to provide an application from the official bodies of Malta or the Maltese medical organization about the need to undergo treatment in Malta. Students need to have a letter of acceptance signed by the director of the Maltese educational institution, detailing the program and terms of study. Detailed lists are at visa center website.
All applicants applying for a visa must complete a consent to the processing of personal data.
Applying for a visa for children
Minors will need the same set of documents as adults (parents sign the forms), plus the original birth certificate of the child, copies of the first pages and registration pages of the passports of both parents or the official guardian (as well as a document confirming guardianship).
If a child goes on a trip with one parent, a notarized consent is required from the second parent for the child to leave with the second parent. If the child is traveling with a third person, both parents must give a notarized consent to the child’s departure. The visa application center provides originals and copies (or notarized copies) of these documents.
Photographs must be taken a maximum of 6 months prior to travel. The size of the photo is 3.5 x 4.5 cm, of which 3 cm is the face (70-80% of the photo), the neck and upper shoulders should also be visible. You need to be photographed strictly from the front, the look is directed at the camera, the background is plain white or light, the hair does not cover the forehead and cheeks. Glasses are allowed only for medical reasons, the frame is light, does not close the eyes, the glass is without blackouts and glare. Children, even small ones, are photographed without adults and foreign objects in the frame, observing the same proportions.
A photo in a headdress is allowed, but only for religious reasons. At the same time, he should not hide his eyebrows, cheeks, forehead.
Consular fee – 35 €
The amount is paid to the cash desk of the visa center in rubles immediately after the submission of documents at the exchange rate for that day. Persons with disabilities of the 1st group and one of their accompanying persons, children under 12 years of age, close relatives of EU citizens, participants in exchange programs, youth sports events, schoolchildren, full-time students, graduate students and their accompanying persons traveling for study or internship, are exempted from paying members of official delegations.
Service fee – 2438 RUB. When submitting documents through the embassy, you do not need to pay for it. Fees are non-refundable even in the event of a visa denial.
Fingerprinting
To obtain a Schengen visa, you need to pass fingerprinting. It includes fingerprinting and a digital photo taken by a specialist. The procedure is performed by adults and children over 12 years old. The exception is those from whom it is physically impossible to take fingerprints, and children under 12 years old – they are only photographed.
This is done at the visa center, it is better to clarify first whether it has the necessary equipment. Photos and fingerprints are valid for 59 months. Those who have already passed the “fingers” for other visas during this period do not need to go through the procedure again.
Visa processing time for Malta
Visa Application Centers in Malta promise to make a decision on issuing a visa within 15 calendar days. Plus, if necessary, time to send documents from regional visa centers to the consulate in Moscow. Also, the embassy has the right to request additional documents to the already provided package or independently make a request, for example, to the Immigration Service of Malta. Then the coveted “pass to the country” will be issued no earlier than 6 weeks from the date of submission of documents.
Valid term of a visa
As a rule, the Consulate of Malta issues visas for a period slightly longer than the duration of the trip. A multivisa gives the right to stay in the country for up to 90 days in each 180-day period (in order not to make mistakes in the calculations, you can use a special calculator).
The national Maltese visa allows you to stay in the country for more than 90 days in a 180-day period.