Visit Malta
In most cases visitors, coming for pleasure or business, only need a valid passport or other ID document, in the case of EU citizens.
Non-EU citizens, wishing to visit Malta for a longer period of time, need to have the following documents:
- A travel document valid for at least three months after the anticipated date for the visit;
- A valid visa (unless they are from one of the countries on a list that do not need visas) for the purpose of the visit, which must always be obtained from a Maltese embassy or consulate abroad;
- Proof that they have enough money to cover their expenses for their entire stay;
- They must not be on the list of people not allowed into the country or into the Commonwealth.
Citizens from European Union Member States, and European Economic Area Member States and Switzerland have the right to enter, stay and live in Malta. If they decide to live in Malta, they must ask for a residence card within three months after arrival on the island.
How to get to Malta?
You can get to Malta by air or sea. Flights between Malta and Rome take an hour and London is three hours’ away. Connections to most European capitals take between 1 hour and 3 and a half hours. There are daily ferry crossings to Sicily and regular routes to other Italian ports.
Where to stay in Malta?
There are many quality accommodation options in Malta, ranging from three-, four- and five-star hotels to flats and homes for rent. On the Visit Malta website, you can find the different kinds of accommodation available.
Custom formalities
There are no limits to what you can take out of the country. You may, however, have to prove the items are for personal use if the customs officers consider the quantity of goods to be excessive.
Vaccines and health precautions
No specific vaccines are needed before visiting the archipelago. Emergency hospital treatment is free for European Union citizens. Private medical assistance is advisable for other nationalities.
Time zone in Malta
Malta works on Central European Time (CET) which is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and six hours ahead of American EST. Clocks in Malta are put one hour forward for summer time, between the last week of March and the last week of October.
Festivities and celebrations in Malta
The Maltese islands have an extremely rich culture, which is linked to its eclectic, secular history. Consequently, Malta offers a busy programme of entertainment throughout the year, including annual festivals and special occasions.
See www.visitmalta.com/en/events for further information about the events and festivities.
Bank holidays in Malta
Malta has 14 official holidays in the year:
New Year’s day- 1 January
St. Paul’s Shipwreck- 10 February
St Joseph’s day- 19 March
Liberty day- 31 March
Good Friday- Moveable
International Workers’ day- 1 May
Sette Giugno- 7 June
Feast of Saints Peter and Paul- 29 June
The Feast of the Assumption- 15 August
Our Lady of Victories- 8 September
Independence day- 21 September
The Immaculate Conception- 8 December
Republic day- 13 December
Christmas- 25 December
Office hours Malta
The private sector generally works a 40-hour, five-day week. Working hours for industry are from 7 o’clock in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon, with a break for lunch. Shop opening hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., but they can get authorisation to stay open until 10:00 p.m., if they wish. Many shops close for lunch.
Opening hours for government offices vary, but civil servants work from 7:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., with a 45-minute lunch break. Between 16 June and 30 September, they work from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. without a break.
