Immigration Overview – Malta
During the 1990s over two thousand refugees came to Malta from Iraq and Yugoslavia, but many of them went on to resettle in Canada, US and Australia. Very few were granted Maltese citizenship. Due to its geographical position as Europe’s southern most point of entry, Malta has been confronted with a steady influx of immigration and asylum seekers. This influx even recently caused a diplomatic dispute with Italy as to which country should take in the illegal immigrants as each country was trying to say that the immigrants were in the other country’s waters.
In addition to this, due to the fact that Malta offers many business opportunities, several online gambling services and International Holding Companies are located in Malta due to the tax-friendly environment in which they are allowed to operate, therefore, a number of of these companies have relocated their employees to Malta.
Visas
EU and certain non EU citizens (like U.S. and Canadian citizens) can simply enter Malta with a valid passport or equivalent travel document. Foreign citizens coming from other countries, including India are required to apply for an entry Visa, even if they are travelling for tourist purposes alone.
Malta is a signatory of the Schengen Treaty. The Treaty provides for two different types of Visas:
• National Visas – (NV) Type D
– This Visa allows the foreign citizen to move and reside in the territory of the specific Country for which the Visa has been requested, for periods over 90 days but no longer than a year, a period defined as a long term stay. This kind of Visa is released for specific purposes only, such as adoption, subordinated work, study, to mention but a few. The NV is not released for Business purposes.
• Uniform Schengen Visas – (USV) Type C
– This Visa, on the other hand, allows the foreign worker to travel across any of the Schengen Countries for periods of no more than 90 days. This time period will begin from the citizen’s entry into the Schengen territory. The USV can be released for different reasons (i. e. tourism, study, subordinated work and also for Business purposes).
Note: It has become increasingly difficult recently for Russian nationals to obtain a residence permit with many permits being refused or delayed for a long time. Please keep this in mind if you are applying for a Maltese residence permit as a Russian national.