Malta Tourist Visa for Indians: Requirements and Process

The requirements below are as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. India is on the EU list of countries whose nationals need a visa, so there is no visa on arrival and no online-only visa for Malta. A short-stay visa allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period. For other Malta visa types, start from our Malta visa page for Indians.

Who decides your Malta tourist visa, and where do you apply?

The High Commission of the Republic of Malta in New Delhi (D15, Block D, Anand Niketan) processes Schengen short-stay visas for residents of all of India. It also covers Nepal, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The High Commission asks that visa queries be sent to VFS Global, not to the mission.

You lodge the application at a VFS centre in New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow or Mumbai. Documents are submitted in person as originals with copies, and your photograph and fingerprints are captured at the centre. Children below one year need not attend, but two photographs must be submitted for them.

Which documents does every Malta tourist applicant need?

• Application form, filled in and signed; both parents sign for minors.
• One recent colour photograph, 3.5cm x 4.5cm, white background, not stapled.
• Passport valid at least 3 months after the intended stay, issued within the previous 10 years, with at least 3 blank pages (the VFS page text says two). Your old passport is mandatory.
• Original and photocopy of the passport biodata page, last page and previous Schengen visa stamps.
• Aadhaar card with a photocopy, and a copy of your PAN card.
• Overseas travel medical insurance valid in all Schengen countries for the entire trip, minimum EUR 30,000, bought from one of the 16 Schengen-recognised insurance companies in India.
• Cover letter stating purpose, duration, accompanying persons, transport and accommodation.
• Return or round-trip flight reservation, plus intra-Schengen transport if you visit several states.
• Proof of accommodation: a confirmed hotel booking, or a 'Declaration of Proof' signed by your host and witnessed by a Maltese Public Notary, with the host's ID, proof of residence and income.
• A travel agency certificate for an organised trip, or another document showing your travel plans.

Print documents single-sided and include photocopies of everything in each application.

Which financial documents match your profile?

The 2026 VFS tourism checklist sets out different proof depending on who you are.

Form 16 is not named on any official Malta checklist; the tourism checklist asks for payslips and ITR acknowledgments instead.

How do you apply for a Malta tourist visa, step by step?

1. Fix your dates. You can apply up to 6 months before travel. VFS recommends at least 4 weeks before departure, and Malta's Ministry for Foreign Affairs sets 15 calendar days before travel as the latest point.
2. Fill and sign the application form.
3. Book an appointment on the VFS website. The visa fee is paid when you book.
4. Assemble the file in originals plus copies, following the lists above.
5. Attend the VFS centre in person for document submission, photograph and fingerprints. Optional services include courier (INR 808), SMS (INR 149), Premium Lounge (INR 3983), Prime Time Passport Collection (INR 450) and Hold at Location (INR 450); all are non-refundable.
6. Wait for the decision and collect your passport or receive it by courier.

How much does it cost and how long does it take?

How closely does Malta examine Indian applications?

Closely. European Commission data shows that 32.1% of Schengen visa applications lodged at Maltese consulates in India in 2025 were not issued (2,720 of 8,587), and 44.9% in 2024 (1,645 of 4,203). These are refusal rates for all applicants at Malta's posts in India, not a prediction for yours. A file whose dates, bookings and finances agree with each other is the best answer to that scrutiny. A flight and hotel reservation bundle helps keep those dates aligned without paying for non-refundable bookings before the decision.

Frequent travellers have a route to longer visas: Malta's foreign ministry says multiple-entry visas are generally granted to applicants who have previously held and used Schengen visas on multiple occasions. If you are refused, follow the appeal instructions in the official refusal letter. Since 10 April 2026 the EU Entry/Exit System has replaced passport stamping for short-stay travellers, so your fingerprints and facial image are recorded at the border.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for Malta visa files, from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us via our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can Indians get a visa on arrival in Malta?

No. India is on the EU visa-required list (Annex I of Regulation 2018/1806), so Indians must obtain a Schengen short-stay (C) visa through VFS Global in India before travelling to Malta.

Do I have to visit the VFS centre myself for a Malta tourist visa?

Yes. Documents are submitted in person and your photograph and fingerprints are captured at the centre. Children below one year need not attend, but two photographs must be submitted for them.

Can I stay with friends in Malta instead of a hotel?

Yes, if your host provides a 'Declaration of Proof' signed by them and witnessed by a Maltese Public Notary, together with the host's ID, proof of residence and income.

How do Indians get permission to work in Malta?

Employment uses the Single Permit, a combined work and residence permit applied for through Identità with a Maltese employer. Once an Approval in Principle letter is issued, the worker books a long-stay (D) visa appointment at VFS in India.