Student Visa for Malta: Study Residence Permit, Documents and Rules

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

Malta's rules depend on your citizenship. EU and EEA students register their stay, non-EU students need a study residence permit, and many also need an entry visa first. Everything below reflects the pages of Identità, Malta's identity and immigration agency, and the University of Malta (UM) in October 2026. Permit rules are updated often, so check the Identità page before you pay or travel.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens

You need no visa. If you will stay more than three months while enrolled on a course, you must register your presence with Identità's Expatriates Unit and receive a residence document. You apply on the Expatriates Portal under the Study basis, with:

a copy of your ID or passport and your acceptance letter;
comprehensive health insurance, an S1 or an entitlement certificate, unless you study at UM, MCAST or the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS), which do not require it;
proof of sufficient funds, such as a bank statement or a signed declaration of support from a relative;
Form M and the GDPR form.

Identità says the process takes about 30 working days. UM tells EU and EEA students on a course of at least two semesters to apply within the first three months after arrival.

Non-EU students: which route

The permit is for full-time courses, meaning at least 15 hours a week, at MQF Level 5 or higher, at an institution licensed by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA), with the qualification recognised by MQRIC. Part-time courses do not qualify. Accredited institutions are listed in the MFHEA qualifications registry.

Nationals who need a visa get a Type D study visa from a Maltese embassy before travel. Its purpose must be education and match your course. You apply for the permit itself after you arrive.
Visa-exempt nationals: Identità says that if your studies run beyond 90 days, you apply for the permit within 90 days of entering Malta or the Schengen area. UM's page, however, says a D-visa is required of third-country nationals studying one semester or more, including nationals who normally enjoy visa waivers, since 1 March 2024. Ask the Maltese embassy and your institution which applies to you.

Documents for the permit

You apply online on the Expatriates Portal, choosing Study. Identità lists:

the application form, signed, and a copy of your passport (valid at least six months beyond your stay);
an acceptance letter with the course title, MQF level, exact dates and full-time status;
proof that you paid tuition, at least for the first term or year;
proof of funds: bank statements for the last three months. The official pages we checked quote different monthly amounts, so confirm the current figure with Identità;
health insurance with at least €100,000 cover for treatment and hospitalisation in Malta, valid for the whole study period. Students at UM, MCAST and ITS are exempt and can show their enrolment instead (see health insurance for students in Malta);
a health screening approval if your course is longer than three months. The Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Unit guides you after arrival, and it may include a chest X-ray and vaccination records;
accommodation papers: see below;
documents in English or officially translated, and foreign public documents apostilled or legalised (see apostille and legalisation).

Accommodation papers

If you rent privately, Identità asks for a signed lease with the landlord's ID, the Housing Authority approval (private leases must be registered under the Private Residential Leases Act) and a Lease Agreement Attestation Form signed by the landlord and stamped by a lawyer, notary or legal procurator. In university accommodation you provide a Declaration of Accommodation instead. UM warns that these papers can delay your permit, so plan for them: see student housing in Malta.

Decision, validity and renewal

Identità says a decision typically takes a few weeks. You attend a biometric appointment and collect an eResidence card. The permit is usually valid for one year, or for the length of the course if shorter, and is renewed each year. Apply for renewal about a month before it expires. Identità expects continued enrolment, academic progress, regular attendance (often around 75 percent), tuition paid, funds, insurance and accommodation proof. If you change course or institution, tell Identità: you will probably need a new application.

Working and staying after study

Students with the permit may work up to 20 hours a week across all employers, not during the first 90 days, and the employer must obtain an employment licence. After you finish, a one-time post-study permit lets you stay to look for work: see working after graduation in Malta. For wider context, see working while studying in Europe.

Where to look next

Official sources

Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.