Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021

Visas and residency

Check the entry requirements for Malta.

Residency
If you are resident in Malta on or before 31 December 2020, you will be able to stay. You will need to obtain a new residency card by 30 June 2021, in line with the Withdrawal Agreement.

If you have been living in Malta for three months or more and have not yet registered for residency, or if your residence document has expired, you should contact Identity Malta by emailing eu.ima@gov.mt.

If you have previously registered for residency, you will receive a letter from Identity Malta by 31 December 2020 about your new card. The letter will tell you when and where to go to apply for it, as well as what documents you will need to take with you.

Read the Maltese government’s guidance on residency on the Identity Malta Facebook page.

Due to the impact of coronavirus, Identity Malta temporarily paused some parts of this service. The full application process re-launched on 1 July 2020:

• if you have already received a letter to obtain your new card, you should attend your appointment
• if you have already registered but have not yet received a letter, Identity Malta will send one to you. You should attend the appointment stated in the letter to apply for your new card

For information on visas and residency you can:

• read information about visas and residency in Malta on the Maltese government website
• read the guidance on moving or retiring abroad

Passports and travel

The rules on travel will stay the same until the transition period ends on 31 December 2020. During this time you can continue to travel to countries in the Schengen area or elsewhere in the EU with your UK passport.

Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay.

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Malta.

Passports from 1 January 2021
Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip.

From 1 January 2021, you must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). This requirement does not apply if you are entering or transiting to Malta, and you are in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement.

If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.

You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on it.

As a non-EEA national, different border checks will apply when travelling to other EU or Schengen area countries. You may need to show a return or onward ticket and that you have enough money for your stay. You may also have to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing. Your passport may be stamped for visits to these countries.

Entry requirements
From 1 January 2021, you will be able to travel to other Schengen area countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for purposes such as tourism. This is a rolling 180-day period.

To stay for longer, to work or study, or for business travel, you will need to meet the entry requirements set out by the country to which you are travelling. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit. You may also need to get a visa if your visit would take you over the 90 days in 180 days limit.

Periods of stay authorised under a visa or permit will not count against the 90-day limit. Travel to the UK and Ireland will not change.

Different rules will apply to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen Area. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.

We will update these pages with details of any changes to the rules as soon as information is available.

Visit our forum section for Malta here and register for our Free Forum here.

Disclaimer

This information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Maltese authorities.

Source: gov.uk