Malta Visa Waiting Time in India: Realistic 2026 Timeline

All Malta short-stay visas for Indian residents are decided by the High Commission of Malta in New Delhi, with applications lodged at VFS Global. This timeline uses the VFS India page, the Malta foreign ministry's visa FAQ and Identità, as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. For the full fee list and checklist, see our Malta visa guide for Indians.

What is the standard Malta visa processing time for Indians?

Read the table as a range, not a promise. The 15-day figure is the norm. Three weeks is what VFS itself warns applicants outside Delhi to expect, and 45 calendar days is the outer limit the ministry allows when it asks for more documents or a closer review.

Why can your Malta visa take three weeks or longer?

Three things stretch the timeline for Indian applicants.

• Distance from New Delhi. Every file goes to the High Commission in New Delhi, so VFS flags that applications from states outside Delhi may take up to three weeks.
• Transit from smaller centres. Cochin and Lucknow files need up to 3 additional days just to reach the High Commission. That transit is not counted in the standard time.
• Requests for more documents. If the High Commission needs further papers or a closer review, the ministry's rules allow the decision to stretch to 45 calendar days.

You cannot speed up a file by writing to the mission. The High Commission asks that visa queries go to VFS, not to the High Commission, and its visa section deals in writing only.

How far ahead of your trip should you apply?

Malta accepts applications up to 6 months before travel. VFS recommends applying at least 4 weeks before departure, and the ministry sets 15 calendar days before travel as the latest point to apply.

A realistic plan for someone applying in Cochin or Lucknow adds the transit days and the three-week warning together, then leaves room for a document request. Applying earlier than the 4-week minimum VFS recommends gives you that room while staying within the 6-month window.

Because the visa fee of INR 9994 / EUR 90 for adults is non-refundable if the visa is refused, avoid paying for non-refundable flights or hotels before the decision. A verifiable flight reservation meets the checklist's return-flight requirement.

How long do Malta work, study and permit applications take?

Work applicants have a step before VFS. A long-stay work permit through the Extended Service needs a valid Approval in Principle (AIP) letter from Identity Malta before you can book. The Extended Service visa fee is INR 21,834 / EUR 250, paid when booking, with a VFS service charge of INR 13,500 at the centre.

For students, Identità's own standard appointment comes within 3 weeks at EUR 100, while its extended service offers a next-day appointment at EUR 150. Those figures describe how fast you get an appointment, not how fast the visa is decided.

What do Malta's refusal figures mean for your timeline?

European Commission statistics record a 32.1% refusal rate for short-stay Schengen applications lodged at Maltese consulates in India in 2025, with 2,720 visas not issued out of 8,587 applications. The figure describes past applications at Malta's mission, not the chance of any single applicant.

It matters for planning because a refusal resets your clock. Malta's foreign ministry says to follow the appeal instructions given in the official refusal letter. If you would rather reapply, you start again with a new appointment and a new fee. Leave enough time before travel for either route.

Malta's ministry also says multiple-entry visas are generally granted to applicants who have previously held and used Schengen visas on multiple occasions. A first-time applicant should not expect one.

How do you avoid adding days to your Malta wait?

• Carry your Aadhaar card with a photocopy and a copy of your PAN card; VFS lists both.
• Submit originals with photocopies of all documents, not printed back-to-back.
• Buy travel insurance of at least EUR 30,000 only from one of the 16 Schengen-recognised insurance companies in India, covering arrival and departure dates.
• Use a passport valid at least 3 months after your stay, issued within the previous 10 years, with enough blank pages (the checklist says three; the VFS page text says two).
• Bring a 3.5cm x 4.5cm photo on a white background; children below 1 year need not attend but submit two photographs.
• Include a 3-month stamped bank statement, three payslips and ITR acknowledgments for the last two assessment years if you are employed.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files. Packages run from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for a reservation, hotel booking, itinerary and cover letter. Reach us on WhatsApp at +91 95230 91018 or through our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I call the Malta High Commission to check my visa status?

The High Commission of Malta in New Delhi asks applicants to address visa queries to VFS Global, not to the High Commission. Its visa section deals in writing only, at visa.newdelhi@gov.mt.

Is the Malta visa fee refunded if the visa takes too long or is refused?

No. The adult short-stay fee of INR 9994 / EUR 90 is non-refundable if the visa is refused. The INR 2931 VFS service fee is a separate charge. Plan bookings so a delay or refusal does not cost you more.

Who decides Malta long-stay visas for Indians?

The High Commission in New Delhi processes Schengen short-stay visas, while long-stay (D) visas are decided by Identità in Malta. Applications for both are lodged at VFS Global in India.

When is the latest I can apply for a Malta visa?

Malta's Ministry for Foreign Affairs says no later than 15 calendar days before travel. VFS recommends at least 4 weeks, which better covers the three-week warning for states outside Delhi.