If you’re trying to understand the required procedures you have to go through to get your Passport in Malta, have a look at this article. Here we present all the essential information on this matter, in a clear and succinct presentation that’s organized under appropriate sections, so you can find exactly what you need without losing time.
Anyone who comes to Malta from outside the EU regions will be required to get a Passport in Malta before they’re allowed to settle in. If you’re an EU resident, you should be able to get in just showing your national ID card. In any case, it’s always a good idea to carry an up to date passport when you’re crossing borders, no matter what exactly your route is. Passports will be useful in a wide range of situations, from interactions with the police to eventual chances of losing your other documents. It’s also wise to reach out in advance to any new country you plan to visit, in order to check their local procedures on traveller admission.
Since getting a passport in most countries is usually a simple and easy process, you might as well just get it done at the earliest.
Here’s all the information you will need to get your passport from the Maltese Passport Office.
Maltese citizens can apply for their passport with the least effort, simply by checking in with the Passport Office (during office hours, of course) to get the required paperwork they will then just have to fill up and turn in. Local citizens can even download the passport application paperwork from the Internet, or even reach out to local police stations, travel agencies and county offices to conveniently get printed versions.
Passport Office in Malta is now relying on state of the art biometric passports, as established by international directives. Not only do these modern documents feature a photograph of the owner along with their signature, but now they also have fingerprint biometrics enabled through a specialized chip included in the passport. These modern Maltese passports became the norm in 2008, so if you’re looking to update your old passport, you will now get the current version.
This is What Adults (Over 18) Should do to Apply for Their First-Time Passport
Anyone who is 18 or older can just start their passport application by filing for A while making sure to correctly write all their personal details including date of birth. There’s a crucial section in the application form that asks for the personal details and signature of a recommender; this can be any Maltese citizen, even a local priest of any kind of professional who is willing to vouch for you saying they have known you for over two years. This endorsement is only a requirement for first-time passport applications, and it’s simply a way to expedite the application process by establishing a connection between you and a local citizen.
When you have carefully filled in form A and arranged for the signature of your recommender, you just have to head into the Passport Office to submit your form and get a picture (actually it’s a facial biometric image), along with your signature and fingerprints that will later be included in your passport. You will be expected to pay the appropriate fees at this time, which you can do by cash, card or even personal cheque.
Assuming there are no obstacles to your application or any mistakes in writing your application for, you should be called back in to get your new passport within the week – four working days is what is usually takes. Remember to have your ID card ready so you can prove your identity both when you submit the application forms and when you pick up your new passport.
If You’re Under 18 Years of Age, Follow This Passport Application Procedure
Younger applicants who are still under 18 years of age will also have to submit Form A, making sure to correctly fill in all their personal information with special attention to their birth date. The validity of these passports will be shorter the younger the applicant is; children up to 10 years of age always get a 2 years passport; from ages between 10 to 15 years they get a passport with 5 years validity; for ages 16 and 17 validity of the passport will be a full 10 years.
The main difference when applying for a passport when you’re underage is that you will have to get consent from both of your parents or legal guardians (who can also fill in the paperwork in your behalf, of course).
In this case, a recommender is also needed, and parental consent must be signed in front of that person. In case the passport is for a child under 6 years of age, a passport-size photograph (4×3 cm) is required along with the submission form; for children younger than 6 years old, two passport-size photographs will be expected. Since these photos will be used in the passport, that also means children are not required to visit the passport offices personally in order for their guardians to arrange for a passport.
Once all the paperwork requirements are gathered, you just have to submit your application to the Passport Office. To submit the passport application of an underage person, make sure all papers are properly filled in and signed. You’ll also need ID from both parents and of the required passport photos should be signed by the recommender.
In cases when a child is of age 14 or higher and they already have an ID card with photographic evidence, they won’t be required to submit any signed photos. In this case, the teenager should head to the Passport Application Office personally to get their facial biometric image taken; all children of age 12 and higher should also get their fingerprints taken.
Assuming all the paperwork mentioned above is correctly filled in, the application should be approved and the passport will usually be ready within four working days. When the time comes to collect the passport, one of the parents or legal guardians will be expected to come in person with their own ID card to get their child’s passport. If the applicant is older than 12 years of age, they’ll be expected to also check in personally at this time along with a parent; only those of ages 18 and older will be allowed to collect their own passports.
Refugees Looking to Apply for a Passport Should Follow These Instructions
Applicants who are looking to get a Refugee Passport also have to submit Form A, which must also feature the signature of a recommender, who must testify as knowing the applicant personally for at least two years. In case a refugee has other travel documents, they’ll be expected to surrender these documents when applying to get a new passport. Those who also have a Maltese ID card should also make sure to display it when submitting their papers.
When applying for a Refugee Passport from the Passport Office, you should make sure to submit your Refugee Certificate (which you can get from the Refugee Commission) along with the required paperwork. When you submit your papers, officers will get your facial biometric image as well as your fingerprints, and you’ll be expected to pay the applicable fee.
All correctly filled applications should succeed in getting a new passport within four working days. When looking to apply or pick up your Refugee Passport, you should always make sure to carry your Refugee Certificate to prove you’re eligible.
Things to Keep in Mind While Applying for an Alien’s Passport
When you need to get an Alien’s Passport, you will be expected to correctly fill in Form H. This special form is available from a number of offices including Emigrants Commission, Valleta, Castille Place and Dar l-Emigrant.
Form H will also require the signature of a recommender, and additionally, it must always be finalized with the approval from the Director of Dar l-Emigrant or any of his authorized representatives.
Once your application paperwork has been reviewed and approved by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry in charge of immigration, you will be notified personally. At this time, you should make sure to call the Emigrants Commission immediately to set up an appointment to go apply for your Alien’s Passport at the Passport Office. When starting this process, make sure to carry your Maltese ID card and your Subsidiary or Humanitarian Certificate as issued by the Refugee Commission. You will be expected to pay the relevant fees at this time, and they will take the opportunity to get your fingerprints and facial biometric image.
Alien Passports take a little bit longer to process; assuming all your paperwork has been correctly filled in, you will be looking at a period of at least 20 full working days before your passport is ready. When looking to apply for an Alien Passport and even when picking it up, you should make sure to always carry your Humanitarian/Subsidiary Certificate as well as your ID Card; you should also carry your Immigration Certificate as issued by the local Police authorities, keeping in mind this document will be surrendered to the Passport Office when you go get your new Alien’s Passport.
All You Need to Know to Arrange for a Collective Passport
Collective Passports are available from the Passport Office for specific situations, usually groups of up to 50 children who are passing through Malta while exploring Europe.
The application form for Collective Passports is Form C, which must be filled in and submitted at the Passport Office by a person who will sign and be held responsible as the Group Leader. Similarly to other types of passports, this will require the co-signature of a recommender, who will also be expected to sign one of two identical, recent and coloured passport photos (4x3cm) of every child in the group. Additionally, a signed consent from the parents of each child will also be required; this written consent must include the endorsement of the same recommender who should be present personally when the parents sign the document.
The Group Leader must submit all the documents and forms specified above at the Passport Office, as well as their own passport and ID proof. Assuming all procedures are done correctly, it will take a week to process all paperwork; at this time, the Group Leader just has to go pick up the Collective Passport along with a set of temporary ID cards, one issued for each child and featuring their name, surname, and photograph.
What to do When You Need a Passport Urgently in Malta
In situations where you need a passport urgently for special reasons, you may be able to get the Passport Office to accelerate the process and get your passport done within 24 hours.
Applying for an urgent passport typically involves reaching out to the Immigration Authorities over at the Malta International Airport (you can call them on 21 22 2941 locally). Keep in mind this service will usually involve hefty extra fees, and will only be assigned to you if you have to depart Malta urgently. In cases where your passport is simply lost, destroyed or stolen, you will have to go through the standard application procedure.
Final Thoughts on Emergency Documents Available from the Passport Office
If you’re ever in a situation where you don’t have a passport and absolutely need some kind of emergency document to leave the island, you may be able to get overnight help from the Passport Office – provided you apply personally and convincingly state your case.
Do keep in mind the Emergency Passport is only issued under very specific and extreme circumstances when you’re pressed to leave the island; you won’t be able to get this document merely to satisfy your convenience.
