Malta Transit Visa

A Malta transit visa allows the holder to enter a Malta airport to catch a flight to a third country. Citizens of most countries do not need a visa if they do not leave the airport transit area. However, certain nationalities need a visa even just to enter the airport.

Who Needs a Malta Transit Visa?

Citizens of the countries listed below need a transit visa to enter Malta, even if they do not leave the airport transit area:

• Afghanistan
• Bangladesh
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Ghana
• Iran
• Iraq
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Somalia
• Sri Lanka

Remember: If you typically do not need a visa to visit Malta and the Schengen Area, then you also do not need a visa to transit in Malta.

Exemptions from Malta Transit Visa

Even if you are from one of the countries listed above, you are exempt from a transit visa if:

• You already have a Schengen visa or a residence permit from a Schengen country.
• You have a valid visa from one of the following:
  • Member State of the European Union
  • European Economic Area
  • Canada
  • Japan
  • United States
• You are a holder of a valid residence permit issued by:
  • Member State
  • European Union
  • European Economic Area
• You are the holder of a residence permit issued by the following:
  • Canada
  • Japan
  • United States
  • San Marino
  • Andorra
• You are a family member or a citizen of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland.
• You are the holder of a diplomatic passport.
• You are a citizen of a country that is part of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation and a flight crew member.

How To Apply For A Malta Transit Visa?

When applying for a Malta transit visa, follow these steps:

1. Contact the embassy or visa application center to book an appointment. You must contact the Embassy of Malta or a visa application center in your home country to book an appointment before applying for a visa.
2. Fill out the application form and pay the fee. The application must be filled completed and signed at the end. Make sure you pay the application fee after completing it. The payment can be made at the embassy or consulate when submitting documents.
3. Collect the required documents. Make sure you submit all the required documents. If you can’t submit any required documents, you must have a strong reason, or the embassy will refuse your visa.
4. Wait for a response. After submitting the documents, wait for a response. You shall receive a response from the embassy within 15 days.

»Read more about how to apply for Malta visa.

What Are the Requirements For a Malta Transit Visa?

To apply for a transit Malta visa, you must submit these documents:

• A valid passport. The passport must be valid at least three months after the return date, with two blank pages. Copies of any previous visas must be attached to the passport.
• Two passport-size photos. Photos must be passport-sized 35-45mm, with colors and a light background.
• Visa application form. Make sure you fully complete the application form. Do not leave any blank spaces.
• Proof of visa fee payment. You must have a document proving that you have finished the application fee. This document can be the recipe for the payment.
• Flight itinerary or reservation. You must have a document proof with your personal and flight information.
• Travel health insurance. You must purchase a policy covering a minimum of €30,000 in the entire Schengen area.

»Full set of documents needed for a Malta visa application.

How Long Is The Malta Airport Transit Visa Valid For?

A Malta airport transit visa is typically issued for 24 hours,  to be used only to change flights from Malta to another country. You cannot leave the airport zone even if you have to stay there overnight. If you have to leave the transit area and enter Malta, you must apply for a Malta tourist visa.

In most cases, if you need to change flights in more than one Schengen country, you must apply for a regular Schengen visa. However, airport transit visas can also be issued with the following durations:

• One-way transit visa, which allows you to transit through a Schengen country only once.
• A return transit visa, which allows you to transit through one or two Schengen countries.
• Multiple transit visa, which allows you to transit through several Schengen countries.

How Long Does It Take To Get A Malta Transit Visa?

It will take 5 to 15 days for your Malta transit visa to process from the day you submit your documents to the consulate or embassy. You will receive an email or text message from the embassy or consulate with your visa response.

Malta Transit Schengen Visa For Seafarers

A Malta visa for seafarers is valid for five days and is issued to seamen who will:

• Join a ship/vessel in Malta.
• Transfer from a ship to another ship that will be docked in Malta.
• Land in Malta due to the end of their contract, or unexpected events such as sickness, holidays, different family matters, etc.

Note: EU/EEA and Swiss Seamen do not need a transit visa to enter Malta.

What Are the Requirements for a Seafarer Transit Visa?

Seafarers applying for a transit visa for Malta must submit the following documents (in addition to the standard documents):

• Seaman’s book. 
• Inviting letter from the shipping company. 
• Work contract. 
• Flight reservation (if it’s needed). 

How Much Does a Malta Transit Visa Cost?

Here are the fees for a transit visa in Malta:

• The standard visa fee for adults is €90.
• For children between the age of 6 and 12 visa fee is €45.
• For Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijan citizens, the visa fee is €35.

When submitting the documents to the embassy or consulate, you can pay the application fee. 

Exempted from the Malta transit visa fee are:

• Citizen and family members of EU/EEA/Swiss.
• Children under the age of 6. 
• Students and teachers that are traveling for school or study purposes. 
• Scientists that are traveling for researches purposes. 
• Holder of a diplomatic passport.
• Holder of a residence permit or a visa from any other Schengen country.