If you have a visa-exempt passport (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan…), today you can enter Malta visa-free with a valid passport, for up to 90 days. Once ETIAS starts, you'll need to apply before you travel (€20). Malta may ask you to show €48 per day. Visa-required nationalities (India, China, South Africa…) need a Schengen visa.
What you need for Malta, by passport
| Your passport | Today | Once ETIAS starts |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-exempt US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan… | No visa Valid passport + EES registration | ETIAS required Online application, €20 |
| Visa required India, China, South Africa, Turkey, the Philippines… | Schengen visa | Schengen visa ETIAS doesn't apply |
| EU, EEA or Switzerland | Nothing extra | Nothing extra |
Not sure which group you're in? Use the Do I need ETIAS? checker or see the official list of nationalities.
What border officers in Malta can ask for
Even without a visa, officers in Malta can check that you meet the Schengen entry conditions. Keep these handy, printed or on your phone:
- A valid passport. Valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Europe and issued within the last 10 years.
- Purpose and accommodation. Hotel booking, invitation letter or the address where you'll stay, plus anything that backs up your trip (tourism, business, family).
- A return or onward ticket. Proof that you'll leave before your 90 days are up.
- Travel insurance. Not mandatory if you travel visa-free, but strongly recommended, and you may be asked about it.
- Enough money: €48 per day. (reference amount set by the country, European Commission, 08/06/2026)
Where your border check happens when you travel to Malta
Main international airports in Malta: Malta International (MLA).
If Malta is the first Schengen country on your trip, the passport check and EES registration happen at the airport where you land. If you connect through another Schengen hub (Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Helsinki…), the check happens there and your flight to Malta is treated as an internal Schengen flight.
Malta is an island country with no land borders: you will always enter through an airport or a seaport.
The EES at airports and borders in Malta
In Malta, the Entry/Exit System (EES) is used at every external border crossing point, from Malta International (MLA) to seaports and land crossings. It started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully live since 10 April 2026. The first time you enter, officers take 4 fingerprints and a photo (no fingerprints for children under 12) and record the date; Malta no longer stamps passports. On later trips your data is only verified.
Malta in depth: language schools and longer stays
Malta is an island country, so you always enter through Malta International Airport or the ferry port from Sicily (an internal Schengen route). English is an official language, which makes Malta one of Europe's top destinations for English courses.
A course of up to 90 days fits within a visa-free stay (and, once it launches, ETIAS). Longer courses need a national study visa or residence permit from Identità, the Maltese immigration agency, arranged before you arrive.
The minimum amount is €48 per day. Language schools usually issue an enrolment letter that also helps at the border.
Good to know about Malta
- Language courses: a course of up to 90 days can be done visa-free (and with ETIAS once it starts); longer stays need a national study visa.
How long you can stay
You can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Days in Malta add up with days in every other Schengen country, so a week in Malta after a month elsewhere leaves you around 53 days. Check your balance with the 90/180 calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study English in Malta with ETIAS?
Yes, if the course is under 90 days. Longer stays need a study visa.
Do US citizens need a visa for Malta?
No. US citizens can visit Malta visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Today a valid passport is enough; once ETIAS launches, you will also need an approved ETIAS (€20) before you travel.
Do UK citizens need ETIAS for Malta?
Not yet, because ETIAS has not started. Once it launches, British passport holders will need ETIAS to visit Malta, unless they are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement as residents of an EU country.
How much money do I need to enter Malta?
€48 per day. Border officers may ask you to show it with cards, bank statements or cash.
Keep reading
Sources
- European Commission: reference amounts (08/06/2026)
- European Commission: who should apply for ETIAS
- European Commission: ETIAS FAQ (short courses)
This guide is independent and for information only. Rules can change: before you travel, always double-check on the official ETIAS website and with the authorities of the country you're visiting.