A list of Malta Visa-Free Travel Destinations for Maltese nationals are listed further down below.
Malta Visa-Free Countries
Holders of a Maltese passport benefit from visa free access or visa on arrival to more than 190 jurisdictions. This major advantage facilitates global mobility for Maltese citizens who wish to travel for various reasons such as leisure, family holidays, business or other purposes.
Maltese citizenship can be acquired in various ways including by descent, by marriage and also by investment. Although on one hand, Maltese citizenship gives visa free access to over 190 countries, those who are not Maltese nationals but obtain residence in Malta, gain access to the Schengen Area without a visa. The Schengen Area is an area encompassing twenty-nine European countries which have formally abolished passport and border controls. Bulgaria and Romania are the last newest countries joining this bloc, having joined in March of 2024.
Learn more on the Granting of Maltese Citizenship for Exceptional Services Regulations
Malta Visa-free Travel Destinations in the Schengen Area
Visa-free travel destinations for Maltese nationals and Maltese residents include all signatories of the Schengen Agreement which established the so-called Schengen Area. This therefore means that apart from Maltese passport holders, even holders of a Maltese residence permit benefit from Schengen access. Apart from the right of entering without a visa, Maltese residents can also stay in the Schengen Area for 90 days in a 180-day period. Malta joined the Schengen Area in 2007.
List of Visa Free Countries for Malta Passport Holders
The Schengen countries are outlined below:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Other Visa-free Travel Destinations for Maltese Nationals
The Maltese Passport has ranked 5th place in the 2024 passport index, granting visa free access to the following countries (in addition to the Schengen countries outlined above):
- Albania
- Andorra
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belize
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Eswatini
- Fiji
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Ireland
- Israel
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kosovo
- Kyrgyzstan
- Macao
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Nicaragua
- North Macedonia
- Palau
- Palestinian Territories
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Romania
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- South Korea
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Suriname
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Tanzania
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Tuvalu
- Türkiye
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
- Zambia
The duration of stay permitted depends on each individual country and it is always recommended that one checks the current entry conditions with the embassy or consulate of the country before travelling.
Malta Visa Free Countries: Destinations Requiring only an Online Visa
Citizens of Malta only require an e-visa to travel to the jurisdictions outlined below:
- Canada
- Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
- Kenya
- New Zealand
- Pakistan
- Seychelles
- Sri Lanka
- United States of America
Travelling to the USA with a Maltese Passport
Maltese passport holders travelling for tourism or business purposes to the United States of America do not require a visa for a maximum of 90 days on the following conditions:
- One has to travel with a biometric passport.
- One has to fill in an e-form called ESTA at least 72 hrs prior to departure, such information has to be submitted via the US Embassy website:
- If any of the above mentioned criteria is not met than a Maltese national needs to apply for a US visa,
Notes on Malta Visa Requirements
Below you can find some highlighted countries and their entry requirements:
- Maltese nationals do not require a visa to visit Hong Kong for a period of up to 90 days.
- Maltese nationals travelling to the SULTANATE of OMAN require a visa for all purposes and any durations of stay in Oman.
- Visa for the Philippines is not required for a period not exceeding 30 days.
- Visa for Taiwan is not required for a period not exceeding 90 days.
- Visa for Nepal is issued on arrival.
- Maltese nationals do not require a visa to visit the Dominican Republic for up to 90 days.
- Maltese nationals do not require a visa to visit St Kitts and Nevis for a period of up to 90 days.
- Maltese citizens do not require a visa for Turkey if they are visiting for cultural, leisure or medical care visits. The travel period should not exceed 90 days.
Maltese nationals travelling to other countries not mentioned above are advised to contact the authorities prior to their planned travel to confirm whether an entry visa is required for the country of destination.
General Recommendations
It is always advisable that individuals travelling abroad always carry a passport with at least six months validity and ensure that their passport has at least two blank pages for any entry stamps or visas which might need to be affixed.
