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Malta

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
991
Top destination, 2023
Netherlands
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
373
UK visas issued, 2025
268
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
0.0%
NationalityMTISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<MTMALTA<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
MT1<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<2

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Malta need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaFree movement (EU/EFTA citizens)Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomNo visa; electronic travel authorisation (ETA) requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaNo visa; electronic travel authorization (eTA) needed to flyIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 90 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Malta move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. Netherlands158
  2. Italy127
  3. Germany122
  4. France117
  5. Switzerland88
  6. Portugal61
  7. Belgium59
  8. Austria43
  9. United States40
  10. Australia32
  11. Sweden21
  12. Denmark20
  13. Hungary20
  14. Norway15
  15. Luxembourg13

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

1,2272,454200020032006200920122015201820212023
1,2272,4542000200420082012201620202023
Data table
2000319
2001246
2002266
2003302
2004365
2005492
2006494
2007496
2008604
2009491
2010469
2011500
2012457
2013463
20142,454
2015421
2016513
2017563
2018584
2019676
2020633
2021670
2022992
2023991
Share going to the top destination
15.9%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Malta who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Australia34,451
  2. Canada5,795
  3. Italy2,127
  4. Luxembourg282
  5. Bulgaria227
  6. Hungary188
  7. South Africa174
  8. Denmark174
  9. Norway117
  10. Greece95
  11. Finland62
  12. Portugal53

Living abroad by year

34k67k19901995200020052010201520202024
34k67k19902000201020202024
Data table
199066,353
199567,484
200064,124
200561,981
201058,858
201554,505
202049,061
202443,940
Living abroad, 2024
43,940
Change since 2000
-31.5%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
78.4%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Malta by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B2147
  2. A242
  3. F139
  4. C1/D38
  5. G227
  6. J120
  7. H1B9
  8. G18
  9. L17
  10. G46

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

220440201720182019202020212022202320242025
22044020172019202120232025
Data table
2017254
2018399
2019396
2020147
2021183
2022343
2023440
2024383
2025373
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. IR14
  2. CR12
  3. IR22
  4. E11
  5. CR21
Immigrant visas, FY2025
10
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
2
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Malta who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Malta with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

40802015201620172018201920202021202220232024
4080201520172019202120232024
Data table
201560
201670
201780
201860
201950
202040
202120
202230
202340
202440
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens20
  2. Employment-based preferences10
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Intracompany transferees (L-1)90
  2. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)70
  3. Spouses and children50
  4. Specialty occupations (H-1B)40
  5. Other temporary workers20
  6. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)10
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Malta)
40
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Malta)
30
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
10,650
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Malta (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Malta (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Work117
  2. Study110
  3. Family26
  4. Visitor11
  5. Other4

Visas issued by year

17434820152019202120232025
17434820152019202120232025
Data table
20151
20181
20192
202011
2021263
2022348
2023263
2024276
2025268
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
340
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of Malta, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
2025010050
202400050
202100550
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Malta, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

15292005–062007–082009–102011–122013–142015–162017–182019–202021–222023–242025–26
15292005–062009–102013–142017–182021–222025–26
Data table
2005–0614
2006–0720
2007–0829
2008–098
2009–1010
2010–1124
2011–1218
2012–1314
2013–1413
2014–1517
2015–1612
2016–179
2017–1812
2018–1916
2019–209
2020–218
2021–228
2022–2313
2023–2414
2024–2511
2025–2612
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Core Skills8
  2. Specialist Skills4
Granted, 2025–26
12
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Malta living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

20402012201420162018202220242025
20402012201420162018202220242025
Data table
201213
201312
201418
201516
201617
201719
201827
201928
202227
202331
202433
202540
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Permanent Resident12
  2. Student7
  3. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services6
  4. Spouse or Child of Japanese National4
  5. Dependent2
  6. Business Manager2
  7. Highly Skilled Professional2
  8. Designated Activities2
  9. Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident1
  10. Entertainer1
Residents, December 2025
40
In work-related statuses
12
Share in work-related statuses
30.0%
Students
7
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in Malta

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Malta, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
France9900.0%
Italy5500.0%
Spain4400.0%
Poland1100.0%

Applications by year

1212422009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
121242200920122015201820212024
Data table
200962
201018
201160
201295
201353
2014131
2015242
2016206
201776
201834
201937
202036
202136
202215
202319
202419
Refusal rate, 2024
0.0%
Refusal rate, 2019
2.7%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Malta in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark20252159304
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland2025862
Austria20251826-8
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Malta

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Malta, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
China1——
Egypt1——
France1——
Germany1——
Greece1——
Ireland1——
Italy1——
Japan1——
Kuwait1——
Libya1——
Netherlands1——
Palestine1——
Poland1——
Qatar1——
Russia1——
Spain1——
Tunisia1——
Türkiye1——
Countries
18
Missions
18
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Malta, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

160319200020032006200920122015201820212024
160319200020052010201520202024
Data table
200017
200113
200221
200326
2004319
2005222
2006209
2007229
2008264
2009260
2010230
2011227
2012200
2013246
2014253
2015274
2016251
201724
201821
201913
202014
202114
202212
202316
202416
Remittances received, 2024
US$16 million
Share of GDP, 2024
0.06%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more