Malta (MT)

A valid passport is required for entry to Malta for non-EU/EEA nationals and for travel within and outside the EU. EU citizens may travel with a valid national ID card. Ensure your passport has at least 6 months validity beyond your planned stay if you are a non-EU citizen.

Malta's official national ID card issued by Identità (formerly Identity Malta Agency). Maltese citizens receive this at birth registration. EU citizens resident in Malta receive an eResidence card. The ID card contains a unique identity number (ID number) that is used in all government, tax, healthcare, and banking transactions — equivalent to the CPR number in Denmark or the SSN in the USA.

EU/EEA/Swiss citizens who intend to reside in Malta for more than 3 months must apply for an eResidence Card at Identità within 3 months of arrival. The eResidence card is mandatory for employment, banking, healthcare registration, and most government services. You cannot receive a Maltese identity number without this card — and without an ID number, you are effectively locked out of the formal economy.

Non-EU nationals who wish to reside in Malta must obtain a residence permit from Identità / the Principal Immigration Officer. Various categories exist: employment, family reunification, student, self-employed, Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP), and investor categories. Applications are made through Identità's offices.

A full birth certificate is required for registering children, applying for Maltese citizenship, changing civil status, and various administrative procedures. Non-Maltese birth certificates must typically be apostilled and officially translated into Maltese or English.

Required for registration as a married couple, family reunification applications, name changes, inheritance claims, and many administrative procedures. Foreign marriage certificates must be apostilled and translated if not in English.

A utility bill, rental contract, or official letter addressed to you at your Maltese address. Required for opening bank accounts, registering with Identità, obtaining an eHealth card, and most formal registrations. Rental contracts should ideally be registered with the Commissioner for Revenue (CFR).

Required when applying for the eResidence card as an employed EU citizen, for banking purposes, and for various benefit and tax registrations. The contract should be on company letterhead and signed by both parties.

Malta uses the Maltese ID card number as the Tax Identification Number. EU citizens receive this with their eResidence card. Non-EU citizens receive it with their residence permit. Required for all tax filings, employment, and financial transactions with the Commissioner for Revenue (CFR — taxandcustoms.gov.mt).

A police conduct certificate (clearing criminal record) is required for many employment positions in gaming, finance, legal, and public sector roles. Foreign applicants need to obtain a background check from their country of origin, apostilled and translated as required.

Certificates, diplomas, and degrees are required for regulated profession recognition and some employment applications. Documents from non-English-speaking countries must be translated. MFHEA (Malta Further and Higher Education Authority) handles recognition of foreign qualifications.

Required for bringing cats, dogs, or ferrets into Malta. Must show microchip, valid rabies vaccination, and veterinary health certificate. Malta has specific bio-security requirements given its island status — additional documentation may be required for travel from outside the EU. See petRelocationInfo for full details.