How to Get a Malta Visa from India in 2026 (Full Guide)

This guide uses VFS Global's Malta page for India, Malta's Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Identità and European Commission data, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For a quick summary, see our Malta visa page for Indian passport holders.

Which Malta visa do Indians need?

India is on the EU list of countries whose nationals need a visa (Annex I of Regulation 2018/1806). There is no visa on arrival and no e-visa for Malta. Your choice depends on the length and purpose of the stay:

• Schengen short-stay (C) visa: tourism, business, family visits, medical trips, culture, sport, film crews, seamen, and short student or religious visits. It allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
• National long-stay (D) visa: study or training, work, scientific research, family reunion and provision of service. Long-stay D visas are decided by Identità in Malta.

Malta's foreign ministry says multiple-entry visas are generally granted to applicants who have previously held and used Schengen visas on multiple occasions.

How much does a Malta visa cost in rupees?

The rupee figure follows the current exchange rate, and the visa fee is not refunded if the visa is refused. Optional extras include courier INR 808, SMS INR 149 and Premium Lounge INR 3983. VFS hides its long-stay options from the page's selector, so the D-visa rupee figures may be outdated; Identità's own student visa fee is EUR 100 standard or EUR 150 extended.

Which documents does VFS want for a tourist visa?

Malta's 2026 tourism checklist asks for:

• The application form, filled and signed (both parents sign for minors).
• One recent colour photo, 3.5cm x 4.5cm, white background, not stapled.
• A passport valid at least 3 months after the intended stay, issued within the previous 10 years, plus your old passport.
• Overseas travel medical insurance valid for all Schengen countries, at least EUR 30,000, bought from one of the 16 Schengen-recognised insurers in India.
• A cover letter stating purpose, duration, accompanying persons, transport and accommodation.
• A return flight reservation and a confirmed hotel booking, or a host's 'Declaration of Proof' witnessed by a Maltese Public Notary.
• Employed applicants: original 3-month bank statement, 3 months' payslips, employment contract, holiday approval and ITR acknowledgments for the last two assessment years.
• Aadhaar card with a photocopy and a copy of your PAN card.

Submit originals plus photocopies, and do not print documents back-to-back.

Where do you apply, and how long does Malta take?

VFS runs centres in New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai. Short-stay files are processed by the High Commission of Malta in New Delhi, whose jurisdiction covers all of India. Address visa queries to VFS, not to the High Commission.

How often does Malta refuse Indian applicants?

The European Commission publishes refusal rates for Schengen short-stay applications by consulate. For applications lodged at Maltese consulates in India, the refusal rate was 32.1% in 2025 (2,720 visas not issued; 8,587 applications lodged) and 44.9% in 2024 (1,645 visas not issued; 4,203 applications lodged). These figures describe all applicants in those years; they do not predict your outcome. They do show why a complete, consistent file matters. After a refusal, follow the appeal instructions in the official refusal letter.

Can you work or study in Malta from India?

Yes, but the permit comes first. For work, your Maltese employer applies to Identità, and you book a long-stay appointment at VFS only after receiving a valid Approval in Principle (AIP) letter.

Before you book your VFS slot

• Buy insurance from the approved list. Policies from outside the 16 recognised insurers are not accepted.
• Carry Aadhaar and PAN. Both are on the checklist.
• Expect biometric registration at the border. The EU Entry/Exit System became fully operational on 10 April 2026 and replaced passport stamping for short-stay visitors.
• Plan for transit time. Applying from Cochin or Lucknow adds up to 3 days before the High Commission receives your file.

Full checklists are on the VFS Global Malta India page. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters for Malta files, from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Do children need to attend the Malta VFS appointment?

Photos and biometrics are captured at the VFS centre. VFS notes that children below 1 year need not attend and should submit two photographs instead.

Can a Maltese or EU family member's relative apply differently?

Yes. Maltese, EU or EEA family members who need a visa may write to visa.newdelhi@gov.mt for an appointment, and VFS lists a separate 'Family Member of EU and EEA' short-stay category.

Is Form 16 required for a Malta tourist visa?

Form 16 is not named on the official Malta checklist. The tourism checklist asks for payslips and ITR acknowledgments for the last two assessment years.

How long must my passport be valid for Malta?

It must be valid at least 3 months after your intended stay and issued within the previous 10 years. VFS also asks for blank pages and your old passport.