Family visa in Malta

• Family reunification is for the spouse (at least 21, in a monogamous marriage) and unmarried minor children of a sponsor who already holds a Maltese residence permit, under S.L. 217.06. The Family Members Policy can also admit unmarried adult relatives who depend on the household, case by case.
• Foreign spouses of Maltese citizens, and their children under 21, apply under Article 4 of the Immigration Act. Third-country nationals in a de-facto relationship with a Maltese national can apply for a temporary permit, with evidence of a steady relationship and a possible interview.
• The policy excludes EU citizens and their family members, refugees and other protection holders, and third-country nationals whose residence authorisation will not be extended beyond one year. Family permits give no automatic right to work: relatives need their own Single Permit, while partners of Maltese nationals can work after getting a Jobsplus licence.

Sources: Identità (Government of Malta). Checked 16 October 2026.

• The sponsor must show stable and regular income of about €18,900 a year, the median wage in a June 2024 release that is reviewed periodically, plus 20% for each family member in the application. To be safe, have more than €19,000 a year before that 20% is added.
• Counted income includes employment pay, pensions, interest and dividends, allowances, benefits and declared rental income, after income tax and social security are deducted. Overtime counts only if it is stable and was worked for at least six months in a year.
• A Key Employee or Specialist Employee sponsor can apply before the 12 months are up with gross income of about €50,000 a year for the sponsor and one dependant, plus a further amount for each extra dependant. To be safe, have more than €51,000, with insurance and a private school place for children.

Sources: Identità (Government of Malta). Checked 16 October 2026.

• Under the policy you send the sponsor’s written request, a copy of every passport page for each relative, civil status certificates proving the relationship, proof of the declared income and the last six payslips, and health insurance of at least €100,000 per relative covering Malta and other European countries.
• Marriage and birth certificates must be apostilled or legalised. Reunification also asks for the sponsor’s permit, a registered lease with Housing Authority approval and an architect’s attestation, and health screening certificates. Foreign documents need an English or Maltese translation, and travel documents must be valid for at least 6 months.
• Spouses of Maltese citizens apply on Form E.01 (E.02 for renewals) with apostilled or fully legalised documents where required. Partners of Maltese nationals use Form O and give evidence such as joint bank statements, leases, dated photographs and sworn affidavits.

Sources: Identità (Government of Malta). Checked 16 October 2026.

• Under S.L. 217.06 the sponsor must hold a permit valid for at least one year, have lived legally in Malta for at least 2 years and have reasonable prospects of permanent residence. Under the policy, applications are accepted only 12 calendar months after the sponsor’s first permit was issued, and earlier ones are inadmissible.
• You apply online through the Expatriates portal and book an appointment. Relatives must not be in Malta when the application is made, except children born there, and must report to the Expatriates Unit on arrival for a temporary residence permit.
• The policy says decisions are normally communicated within 60 days of submission. The Police Immigration Office vets relatives over 12, and a refusal comes with reasons and the sponsor may appeal.

Sources: Identità (Government of Malta). Checked 16 October 2026.

• The family member, exemption and partner pages state no fee for the permit itself, so ask Identità before relying on a figure.
• Identità says a D-visa is needed by all non-EU nationals who plan to visit Malta for more than 90 days, up to a maximum of 365 days. Its fee is €150 for the standard service or €250 for the extended service, plus a VFS administration fee, and varies for family members of EU nationals.

Sources: Identità (Government of Malta). Checked 16 October 2026.

• Family permits can be renewed while the income, accommodation and health insurance conditions are still met. Renewals go through the same portal, on Form G.06 under the policy (new applications use G.05).
• Renewal needs proof of ongoing stable income, accommodation proof if not sent before, health insurance or national insurance contributions, updated passport copies and, for children aged 5 to 16, confirmation of school enrolment. The pages do not state how long a first permit lasts.

Sources: Identità (Government of Malta). Checked 16 October 2026.

• The route to permanence is long-term residence: five years of legal, continuous residence, stable and regular resources, your own accommodation and the integration measures in S.L. 217.05. The status is permanent, the card is valid for five years and the fee is €500.
• Identità’s FAQ asks for the 100-hour I Belong course (pass mark 75%) and a Maltese test at MQF Level 2 (at least 65%), no single absence over six months and no more than ten months abroad in total. It says the standard processing time is up to six months, extendable by another six.

Sources: Identità (Government of Malta). Checked 16 October 2026.

• Under the Income Tax Act, a person not domiciled in Malta pays tax on foreign income only when it is received in Malta. For 2027 the table for a single person runs from 0% up to €12,000 to 35% above €60,000, and married couples and parents have different tables.

Sources: Legislation Malta (legislation.mt). Checked 16 October 2026.

• Digital nomad visa in Malta
• Retirement tax status in Malta
• Work permit in Malta
• Permanent residence by investment in Malta

• Visas in Malta
• Malta

1. List of third countries whose nationals are exempted from holding a visa when crossing the external borders, Identità (Government of Malta), Central Visa Unit. Checked 16 October 2026. Document uploaded to the Identità site in October 2023; lists Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States of America.
2. Visa: frequently asked questions, Identità (Government of Malta). Checked 16 October 2026. Visa-exempt nationals may visit the Schengen area for the first 90 days in every 180 without a visa; a visit of more than 90 days needs a Malta D-visa even for visa-exempt nationals; D-visas are processed by the Central Visa Unit, taking up to 8 weeks from the VFS appointment; fees are non-refundable.
3. Non-employment permits: Family Members Policy, Identità (Government of Malta), Expatriates Unit. Checked 16 October 2026. Read on 16 October 2026. Eligible relatives; sponsor with a permit valid at least one year, applications only after 12 calendar months from the issue of the sponsor’s first permit; stable resources at the median wage of EUR 18,940 (NSO release of 12 June 2024, subject to periodic review) plus 20% per family member; KEI and SEI exception at EUR 50,000 gross a year for the sponsor and one dependant plus EUR 6,000 for each further one; decision within 60 days; no right to work; renewal on Form G.06.
4. US citizens abroad: filing requirements, Internal Revenue Service. Checked 16 October 2026. US citizens abroad file in the same way as those at home, on worldwide income.
5. Malta tax treaty documents, Internal Revenue Service. Checked 16 October 2026. IRS page linking the United States-Malta treaty and its technical explanation.
6. Five tips for authenticating Canadian documents to use abroad (page of 9 January 2025), Global Affairs Canada. Checked 16 October 2026. Opened 16 October 2026. Canada has been party to the Apostille Convention since January 2024. Global Affairs Canada (Authentication Services Section) apostilles federal documents, including those of the RCMP, and documents from Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island and Yukon; Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan documents go to the province; no fee at Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa; no processing times given.
7. Malta travel advice and advisories (entry and exit requirements), Government of Canada (travel.gc.ca). Checked 16 October 2026. Last updated 18 August 2026. Malta is a Schengen country; Canadian citizens need no visa for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across all Schengen countries; a longer stay needs a visa from the high commission or embassy before departure; the regular Canadian passport must be valid at least 3 months beyond the date you expect to leave the Schengen area; the Entry/Exit System collects a facial image and fingerprints; ETIAS applications are "not yet open" (30 European countries).
8. Notarial services (legalising documents) in Australia, Internet Archive copy of 12 March 2026, Smartraveller (Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade). Checked 16 October 2026. Page last updated 4 March 2026: DFAT legalises Australian public documents and notarised copies by apostille or authentication for 105 Australian dollars; it cannot say whether the overseas authority needs it, so ask that authority.
9. FAQs SIGMA 2025/26: residence permits, single permit holders, family reunification and visa requirements, Identità (Government of Malta), Expatriates Unit. Checked 16 October 2026. PDF of 11 pages read on 16 October 2026 (the 2025/26 edition). Single Permit: employer applies, up to 4 months by law and about 2 months on average, KEI fast track 5 working days and SEI 15 working days; family reunification under S.L. 217.06; Family Members Policy; D-visa fees EUR 150 standard service and EUR 250 extended service, up to about 8 weeks from the VFS appointment; appeal to the Immigration Appeals Board within 15 days.
10. Income tax treaties: treaties in force (Malta), Australian Treasury. Checked 16 October 2026. Page last updated 24 March 2026. Malta: agreement signed 9 May 1984, in force 20 May 1985, with the multilateral instrument applying (the table's MLI date is 1 April 2019).
11. Use your NZ documents overseas (apostille and authentication), New Zealand Government (govt.nz), Department of Internal Affairs Authentication Unit. Checked 16 October 2026. Page last updated 15 September 2026. Lists Malta as an apostille country; NZ$37 for one apostille certificate, 15 working days, or 5 working days on the urgent service (NZ$120).
12. Tax treaties (New Zealand double tax agreements in force, signed and under negotiation), Inland Revenue (New Zealand), Tax Policy. Checked 16 October 2026. Opened 16 October 2026. 41 agreements in force; Malta is on none of the lists (in force, signed, or being negotiated).
13. Non-employment permits: Family Member, Identità (Government of Malta), Expatriates Unit. Checked 16 October 2026. Read on 16 October 2026. Family members who meet S.L. 217.06 receive a residence permit for reunification with a sponsor who already holds a Maltese residence permit; others may qualify under the family members policy; travel documents valid at least 6 months at submission; apostilled or fully legalised documents where applicable; applications online through the Expatriates portal; no fees, processing times or validity stated.
14. Non-employment permits: Exemption under National Legislation, Identità (Government of Malta), Expatriates Unit. Checked 16 October 2026. Read on 16 October 2026. Foreign spouses of Maltese citizens, and children under 21 of the foreign spouse and of the Maltese citizen, apply under Article 4 of the Immigration Act (Cap. 217); Form E.01 for new applications and E.02 for renewals; online through the Expatriates portal; fees, processing times and validity not stated.
15. Temporary permits: Partner of a Maltese Citizen, Identità (Government of Malta), Expatriates Unit. Checked 16 October 2026. Read on 16 October 2026. For third-country nationals in a de-facto relationship with a Maltese national; evidence of a steady relationship such as utility bills, lease agreements, joint bank statements, flight tickets, dated photographs and sworn affidavits; possible interview; work only after a Jobsplus licence; Form O; fees, validity and processing times not stated.
16. Non-employment permits: Long-Term Residence, Identità (Government of Malta), Expatriates Unit. Checked 16 October 2026. Read on 16 October 2026. Third-country nationals legally and continuously resident for five years or more, with stable and regular resources, own accommodation and integration measures under S.L. 217.05; the status is permanent and the permit is issued for five years; fee EUR 500; Form L; online through the Expatriates portal; travel documents valid at least six months.
17. Expatriates FAQs: long-term residence, Identità (Government of Malta). Checked 16 October 2026. Read on 16 October 2026. Five years of lawful continuous residence with no single absence over six months and no more than ten months abroad in total; I Belong integration course of 100 hours with a pass mark of 75%; Maltese test at MQF Level 2 with at least 65%; fee EUR 500; card valid five years; up to six months to process; appeal within 3 working days.
18. Income Tax Act (Cap. 123), consolidated text, articles 4 and 56, Government of Malta, Legislation Malta (legislation.mt). Checked 16 October 2026. PDF read on 16 October 2026; amendments listed up to Act III of 2026. Article 4(1)(g) provisos (i) and (ii); article 56(1)(b)(i), marked as applicable from the year of assessment 2027 (Act III of 2026, article 13(2)).