Maltese visa resources
Eligibility for a Malta long-stay visa
Who Malta's national long-stay (Type D) visa and single permit are for, and the purposes of stay they cover.
Important
Malta's national long-stay routes are for third-country nationals (non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens) who intend to stay in Malta for longer than 90 days. The national (Type D) visa is issued for a period exceeding 90 days but no more than 365 days, in accordance with national rules, and is distinct from the short-stay Schengen visa.
Eligibility turns on the purpose of the stay and on meeting the conditions for that specific route, including sufficient means, accommodation and appropriate insurance.
Purposes Malta's national visa covers
- Employment
- Study
- Family reunification
- Business, traineeships, research and cultural activity
- Medical, religious, sporting, humanitarian and similar purposes
Single permit eligibility (employment)
- Third-country national with a confirmed job offer from a Maltese employer for work of more than six months
- Application may be made from outside the Schengen area, or while legally staying in Malta or another Schengen state
- The permit ties the holder to the specific employer and role identified in the application
Other residence programmes
Investment- and remote-work-based routes (Malta Permanent Residence Programme, Nomad Residence Permit, Startup Residence Programme) are run separately by the Residency Malta Agency and have their own eligibility rules.
Next steps
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.