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Migration and Home Affairs
  • 1 April 2025

Student in Malta

Are you a non-EU citizen wishing to study in Malta? You can find information below on the conditions to fulfil and procedures to follow, as well as the rights you can enjoy during your stay.

Conditions

You may come to Malta for the purpose of studies if:

  • You are enrolled in a higher education institution;
  • You are admitted to pursue, as your main activity, a full-time course of study leading to a higher education qualification recognised by the Malta Qualification Recognition Information Centre (MQRIC);
  • You obtain a residence permit/visa.

You can study at the University of Malta or in a private college officially authorised to provide such courses, provided that the course falls under MQRIC level 5 and above according to the National Further and Higher Educational Authority.

You may also come to Malta for other purpose of studies which do not fall under the above category of courses. These include Students who are studying a course which falls under MQRIC level 1 to Level 4 according to the National Further and Higher Educational Authority, including English courses and mostly foundation courses at higher educational institutes.

Procedures

Where and how to apply

Visa

If subject to a visa requirement, you must obtain a visa at the Embassy or Consulate in your country of origin or residence, prior to your intended arrival in Malta. 

Residence permit

If required, you must apply for a residence permit with Identity Malta Agency once you are in Malta.

Documents required

For courses leading to higher academic qualifications (MQRIC level 5 and above according to the National Further and Higher Educational Authority):

(a) You are in possession of a valid travel document which shall have a period of validity which covers, at least, the duration of the course;

(b) If you are a minor, a notarised authorisation from both parents (legal guardians) or an equivalent document to reside in Malta for the purpose of study for the duration of the course;

(c) Comprehensive health-insurance policy, valid for the duration of the planned stay, showing all aspects being covered, which supports the applicant in the eventuality of requiring any type of medical assistance or hospitalisation or repatriation during the whole period of stay in Malta;

(d) Payment of an application fee of €27.50;

(e) You are in possession of sufficient resources to cover subsistence costs for the duration of the planned stay without having recourse to social assistance;

(f) You shall provide evidence pertaining to return travel costs. Examples of such evidence include a valid ticket/reservation for departure, or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket;

(g) You shall provide the address of your principal place of residence in Malta;

(h) You shall not be considered a threat to public policy, public security or public health;

(i) You shall provide evidence attesting to being accepted by a higher education institution in Malta to follow a course of study. The letter of admission (letter of acceptance) from the higher education institution shall include the institution’s details, course details (course title, tuition hours, MQF level, tuition language, start and end dates), settlement regarding course related fees, accommodation provided by institution (if applicable) and confirmation that applicant has sufficient knowledge of the tuition language (as applicable);

(j) You shall provide evidence attesting to the payment of fees charged by the education institution and sufficient resources to cover the study costs. Applicants hosted by approved higher education institutions shall be exempted from this requirement;

(k) You shall provide evidence attesting to having sufficient knowledge of the language of the course to be followed.

Other courses level 1-4

  1. You are in possession of a school’s letter of acceptance which shall include the number of tuition hours per week and the duration of the course;
  2. You shall provide the address of your principal place of residence in Malta;
  3. Comprehensive health-insurance policy, valid for the duration of the planned stay;
  4. If you are a minor, a notarised authorisation from both parents (legal guardians) or an equivalent document to reside in Malta for the purpose of study for the duration of the course, a copy of your guardian’s passport, and your birth certificate legalized and translated in English;
  5. Payment of an application fee of €70;
  6. The original and a copy of the your passport;
  7. A passport photo;
  8. Flight information.
Duration of validity of permitsIf your application is successful, you will be granted a residence permit or a visa for the purpose of studying for one year or, if the course is less than one year, for the duration of the course.
AppealsAppeals to the Immigration Appeals Board are possible but must be filed within three working days from the decision subject to appeal.
Further informationIdentity Malta Agency can refuse to issue or withdraw a residence permit or visa, e.g. in the cases of fraud or failure to meet the requirements.

Rights

Employment during studies

 

 

 

 

Outside his or her study time, a student following a course leading to higher academic qualifications, MQRIC level 5 and higher, according to the National Further and Higher Educational Authority, is entitled to be employed and may be entitled to exercise self-employed economic activity for a maximum period of 20 hours per week, subject to the rules and conditions applicable and provided that such student is in possession of an employment licence issued by Jobsplus.

Students who are taking a course exceeding 90 days of MQRIC levels 1 to 4, may work for a maximum of 20 hours of week, provided that such student is in possession of: an Employment Licence issued in terms of article 11(3) of the Immigration Act and a Type D Visa. Access to employment may only be given after 12 weeks of studies and applications are subject to labour market tests.

Employment after studies

If you wish to work after you have completed your studies, you must obtain an employment licence and meet the necessary conditions.

You may apply for a residence permit of a validity period of a minimum of 9 months to seek employment or set up a business.

Change of statusIf you fulfil the necessary requirements you are allowed to change status with no restrictions.

Mobility

Mobility

If you hold a valid authorisation issued by another Member State for the purpose of studies in the framework of a Union or multilateral programme that comprises mobility measures or in the framework of an agreement between two or more higher education institutions, you may enter and stay in Malta in order to carry out part of the studies or research on the basis of that authorisation and a valid travel document for a period up to 360 days.

If you are not covered by a Union or multilateral programme that comprises mobility measures or by an agreement between two or more higher education institutions, you shall submit an application for an authorisation to enter and stay in Malta in order to carry out part of the studies in a higher education institution.

The higher education institution in Malta shall notify Identity Malta Agency, after the student has notified the competent authorities of the other Member State, of the intention of the student to carry out part of the studies in the higher education institution in Malta.

Documents required

Required documents are:

  1. evidence that you carry out part of the studies in Malta in the framework of a Union or multilateral programme that comprises mobility measures or of an agreement between two or more higher education institutions and evidence that you have been accepted by a higher education institution in Malta;
  2. where not specified under paragraph (a), the planned duration and dates of the mobility;
  3. evidence that you have sickness insurance;
  4. evidence that during the stay you will have sufficient resources to cover subsistence costs without having recourse to the social assistance system in Malta, study costs, as well as the travel costs to the other Member State in the cases referred to in regulation 30(2) and (3);
  5. evidence that the fees charged by the higher education institution have been paid, where applicable.
Duration of permitA long-stay visa or a residence permit is issued for the period up to 360 days.
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