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Published:
02.05.2024
Last Updated:
02.09.2025
02.05.2024

Malta Visa-free Travel Destinations

By
Jean-Philippe Chetcuti
(
Managing Partner
)
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Malta Visa Free Countries for Malta Passport Holders

Malta Visa-free Travel Destinations listed by Malta Immigration Law Firm providing residency, citizenship & Malta Visa-free Travel Destinations

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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 merit. 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 Maltese Citizenship by Merit 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
  • Cyprus
  • Dominica
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • El Salvador
  • Eswatini
  • Fiji
  • Gambia
  • Georgia
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala
  • Haiti
  • Honduras
  • Hong Kong
  • Ireland
  • Jamaica
  • Japan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kosovo
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Lesotho
  • 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
  • Samoa
  • San Marino
  • Sao Tome and Principe
  • Senegal
  • Serbia
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Suriname
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • Tajiskistan
  • Tanzania
  • Thailand
  • Timor-Leste
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tunisia
  • Tuvalu
  • Türkiye
  • Uganda
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • 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 Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

Citizens of Malta only require an ETA to travel to the jurisdictions outlined below:

  • Canada
  • Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
  • Israel
  • Kenya
  • New Zealand
  • Pakistan
  • Seychelles
  • Sri Lanka
  • United Kingdom
  • 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:

  1. One has to travel with a biometric passport.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

Copyright © 2025 Chetcuti Cauchi. This document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Professional legal advice should be obtained before taking any action based on the contents of this document. Chetcuti Cauchi disclaims any liability for actions taken based on the information provided. Reproduction of reasonable portions of the content is permitted for non-commercial purposes, provided proper attribution is given and the content is not altered or presented in a false light.

continue learning
what's inside

Malta Visa Free Countries for Malta Passport Holders

Malta Visa-free Travel Destinations listed by Malta Immigration Law Firm providing residency, citizenship & Malta Visa-free Travel Destinations

Malta Visa-Free Countries

A list of Malta Visa-Free Travel Destinations for Maltese nationals are listed further down below.

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 merit. 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 Maltese Citizenship by Merit 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

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
  • Cyprus
  • Dominica
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • El Salvador
  • Eswatini
  • Fiji
  • Gambia
  • Georgia
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala
  • Haiti
  • Honduras
  • Hong Kong
  • Ireland
  • Jamaica
  • Japan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kosovo
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Lesotho
  • 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
  • Samoa
  • San Marino
  • Sao Tome and Principe
  • Senegal
  • Serbia
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Suriname
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • Tajiskistan
  • Tanzania
  • Thailand
  • Timor-Leste
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tunisia
  • Tuvalu
  • Türkiye
  • Uganda
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • 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 Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

Citizens of Malta only require an ETA to travel to the jurisdictions outlined below:

  • Canada
  • Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
  • Israel
  • Kenya
  • New Zealand
  • Pakistan
  • Seychelles
  • Sri Lanka
  • United Kingdom
  • 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:

  1. One has to travel with a biometric passport.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

Copyright © 2026 Chetcuti Cauchi. This document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Professional legal advice should be obtained before taking any action based on the contents of this document. Chetcuti Cauchi disclaims any liability for actions taken based on the information provided. Reproduction of reasonable portions of the content is permitted for non-commercial purposes, provided proper attribution is given and the content is not altered or presented in a false light.

testimonials

What success sounds like,from our clients

I engaged Chetcuti Cauchi to transition my citizenship by investment process, started before the ECJ decision, to the new Citizenship by Merit laws in Malta. Partners Jean-Philippe Chetcuti, Priscilla Mifsud-Parker, and Antoine Saliba-Haig inspired confidence in their extensive experience from the first conversations, which confirmed my decision to work with a local specialist law firm. JP, Priscilla and Antoine stayed involved throughout the case right to completion, in a process that clearly needed senior legal attention. I am now a proud Maltese citizen, having moved from the US to Malta with my family. I'm in love with Malta, the Mediterranean lifestyle, the inclusivity and above all, the warm people I now form part of.

Tech Entrepreneur & Venture Capitalist, USA

Dr. Chetcuti has always shown great wisdom and knowledge. He’s remarkably courteous and client-oriented.

UHNWI speaking to Chambers & Partners, Private Wealth Law

My wife and I have an association with Chetcuti Cauchi since 2009. They assisted  us with our original residence permit applications for Malta and since then  have taken care of our annual income tax submissions and Permanent Residence and residence card renewals. They always handle our matters very efficiently  and professionally. The consultants that work with us are friendly, helpful  and very competent. They are familiar with the regulations and procedures in  the related government departments, and this makes the process run extremely  smoothly for us. We are very satisfied with the service we received from  Chetcuti Cauchi and will continue to maintain our relationship with them in  future. We can highly recommend them for any of the services that they offer.

Andre Bodenstein
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