Malta visa free countries allow visa free access and travel without complex entry requirements. Whether you’re seeking insight on Maltese travel documents or considering Malta’s expedited naturalization process, our detailed guide on Malta passports and the number of countries Malta passport holders have access to can help you make the best of one of the strongest passports available to EU citizens.
In this guide you will find:
- A Malta visa-free countries list
- Malta passport visa-free countries for 2024
- Types of Visas for Malta passport holders
- Benefits of the Malta passport, and more!
77 Visa Free Countries for Malta Passport Holders
The table below lists the countries that allow visa free entry to Malta passport holders:
 Antigua and Barbuda |  Haiti |  Sao Tome and Principe |
 Argentina |  Honduras |  Seychelles |
 Armenia |  Hong Kong |  Singapore |
 Austria |  Israel |  Solomon Islands |
 Bahamas |  Jamaica |  South Africa |
 Barbados |  Japan |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
 Belarus |  Kazakhstan |  Switzerland |
 Belize |  Kosovo |  Taiwan |
 Botswana |  Kyrgyzstan |  Tanzania |
 Brazil |  Macao |  Timor-Leste |
 Brunei |  Malaysia |  Tonga |
 Cabo Verde |  Marshall Islands |  Trinidad and Tobago |
 Chile |  Mauritius |  Tunisia |
 Colombia |  Mexico |  Tuvalu |
 Costa Rica |  Micronesia |  Uganda |
 Czech Republic |  Mongolia |  Ukraine |
 Dominica |  Morocco |  United Arab Emirates |
 Dominican Republic |  Nicaragua |  United Kingdom |
 Ecuador |  Palau |  Uruguay |
 El Salvador |  Palestine |  Uzbekistan |
 Eswatini |  Panama |  Vanuatu |
 Fiji |  Paraguay |  Vatican |
 Gabon |  Peru |  Venezuela |
 Gambia |  Philippines |  Zambia |
 Grenada |  Saint Kitts and Nevis |  Zimbabwe |
 Guatemala |  Saint Lucia |
38 Passport Free Countries for Malta Passport Holders
The table below lists European Union countries that allow Malta citizens to Enter with only an ID card:
 Albania |  Georgia |  Netherlands |
 Andorra |  Germany |  North Macedonia |
| Austria |  Greece |  Poland |
 Belgium |  Hungary |  Portugal |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina |  Iceland |  Romania |
 Bulgaria |  Ireland |  San Marino |
 Croatia |  Italy |  Slovakia |
| Cyprus |  Latvia |  Slovenia |
 Czech Republic |  Liechtenstein |  Spain |
 Denmark |  Lithuania |  Sweden |
 Estonia |  Luxembourg | Switzerland |
 Finland |  Monaco |  Turkey |
 France |  Montenegro |
32 Visa on Arrival Countries for Malta Passport Holders
The table below lists the countries that allow visa on arrival access to Malta passport holders:
 Bahrain |  Iraq |  Oman |
 Bangladesh |  Jordan |  Pakistan |
 Bolivia |  Kuwait |  Qatar |
 Burkina Faso |  Lao |  Rwanda |
 Burundi |  Lebanon |  Saudi Arabia |
 Cambodia |  Madagascar |  Sierra Leone |
 Comoros |  Malawi |  Somalia |
 Egypt |  Maldives |  Tajikistan |
 Ethiopia |  Mauritania |  Thailand |
 Guinea-Bissau |  Mozambique |  Togo |
 Indonesia |  Nepal |
4 eTA Countries for Malta Passport Holders
The below table lists the countries that allow Malta passport holders entry with an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization):
 Australia |
 New Zealand |
 South Korea |
 United States |
18 Countries that Require an eVisa for Malta Passport Holders
The table below lists the countries that allow Malta passport holders entry with an eVisa:
 Angola |  Guinea |  Papua New Guinea |
 Azerbaijan |  India |  Russia |
 Benin |  Iran |  South Sudan |
 Bhutan |  Kenya |  Sri Lanka |
 Djibouti |  Myanmar |  Suriname |
| Ethiopia |  Nigeria |  Vietnam |
29 Countries with Visa Requirements for Malta Passport Holders
The table below lists the countries that require Malta passport holders to obtain a visa:
 Afghanistan |  Cuba |  Namibia |
 Algeria |  Equatorial Guinea |  Nauru |
| Bhutan |  Eritrea | Niger |
| Burundi |  Ghana |  North Korea |
 Cameroon |  Guyana |  Sudan |
 Central African Republic |  Kiribati | Suriname |
 Chad |  Lesotho |  Syria |
 China |  Liberia |  Turkmenistan |
 DR Congo |  Libya |  Yemen |
 Congo |  Mali |
Other requirements for Malta passport holders
- Each travel destination country has unique requirements. Some countries may require additional documentation, such as an invitation letter, proof of employment, or a health certificate.
- Entry requirements for Malta citizens travel to specific countries may include proving they have sufficient financial means to support themselves for the duration of stay.
It’s worth noting that the visa requirements for countries in the above list are subject to change, and it’s crucial to check the latest travel advisories before planning your trip.
Overview of the Malta Passport
Malta passports identify holders as Maltese and EU nationals, a country located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. A Malta passport serves as a form of ID for Malta citizens, providing essential information such as the holder’s name, photograph, and date of birth.
The Passport Office, governed by the Identity Malta Agency, is the government entity that issues Maltese passports to Malta nationals.
Malta has been a member of the European Union since 2004 and is also a member of the Schengen Area – a borderless zone comprising 27 European countries. The country’s official languages are English and Maltese. Through EU membership, Malta uses the EURO as its official currency, along with 20 other EU nations.
As a member of the European Union, Malta citizens enjoy passport free travel to the 26 other EU member states. In addition to these countries, Maltese passport holders have visa on arrival and visa free entry to most countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
Read Our Ultimate Guide to the Malta Passport
A Closer Look - Popular Malta Passport Visa Free Countries
Entry without a prior visa varies among countries, depending on the visa waiver policy and the diplomatic relations between respective governments. Consequently, passports provided by certain nations hold greater appeal to frequent travelers, international investors, and individuals with passports that offer limited visa free entry.
Regarding global rankings, Malta’s passport ranks moderately well at 34 out of 197 countries on our Global Passport Index. This ranking is based on:
- Quality of life
- Investment opportunities
- Global mobility
While investment opportunities in Malta could see an improvement, the country ranks amongst the top nations for quality of live and enhanced mobility. With electronic visas, electronic travel authorization, visa on arrival, and travel without a visa options, Malta passport holders can access 172.
Europe: Maltese citizens have passport free entry to 26 countries in the European Union, including Spain, Portugal, France, and Germany, and EU territories such as the Dutch and French West Indies. As a Schengen country, Malta citizens enjoy borderless travel to other countries comprising the Schengen zone. European visa free countries outside the EU include Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia, and the United Kingdom.
Americas: Visa free access is available to almost every country in the Americas for Malta passport holders. Both Canada and the United States allow visa free entry by offering electronic travel authorization, and entry without a visa extends to territories, including the US Virgin Islands and American Samoa. There is also a large list of visa free territories of European countries available to Malta citizens. Malta nationals can travel to British overseas territories of the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos Islands visa free. They can also travel to Dutch and French territories of Curaçao, Aruba, Martinique, and French Guiana visa free.
Asia/Oceania: Malta passport holders enjoy visa free travel to many Asia countries, including Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) entry is available for travel to Australia and New Zealand.
Malta Passport by Investment Program
The Malta citizenship by naturalization program is an immigration scheme provided by the Maltese government that allows foreigners to gain a Maltese passport in 12 to 36 months by making substantial investments in the Maltese economy. Successful investors gain the advantage of Malta citizenship and access to Malta visa free countries.
The Community Malta Agency (CMA) oversees the citizenship program, which involves a set of three investments: Purchasing or leasing real estate, making a government contribution, and making a philanthropic donation.
- Real estate investment: A €700,000 real estate purchase or five-year lease worth €16,000 annually.
- Non-refundable contribution: An exceptional direct investment of €600,000 or €750,000.
- Philanthropic donation: A donation of €10,000 to a registered cultural, scientific, sport, philanthropic, welfare of animals, or artistic non-governmental organization or society.
A non-refundable donation of €600,000 allows investors to obtain Malta passports within 36 months. Increasing the investment to €750,000 reduces the naturalization period to 12 months.
Read our Malta Citizenship by Investment Guide
How can Malta passport holders travel without a visa?
Malta passport holders can enter visa free or with a visa on arrival to numerous countries worldwide. The specific requirements and restrictions vary depending on the respective nation’s visa regulations.
Here are the standard ways Maltese passport holders can travel to a destination country without a visa:
- Visa free countries: Visa free countries allow Maltese citizens to enter without obtaining an entry permit, electronic visa, or a prior visa before travel.
- Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA): Some countries with a visa waiver policy offer Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to Malta passport holders.
- Visa on arrival: Visa free travel is possible to visa on arrival (VOA) countries, allowing Maltese passport holders to travel visa free and pay a visa fee to obtain a visa on arrival at border control.
- Passport free countries: Certain travel destinations have bilateral agreements with Malta, allowing Malta passport holders access without presenting their passports. EU and Schengen nations, and specific non-EU countries such as Serbia, Montenegro, and Turkey.
Benefits of a Malta Passport
EU Citizenship
Malta forms part of the European Union. This means that Malta citizens have freedom of movement, granting the right to reside in other nations in the European Union without applying for an EU residence permit. Those with a Malta passport can freely travel to other Schengen countries. Additional EU benefits of Maltese citizenship include access to various social services, healthcare systems, and educational opportunities.
Dual citizenship
Maltese citizens are allowed dual citizenship, enabling them to retain their original nationality while enjoying the benefits of Maltese citizenship.
Tax benefits
Holding a Maltese passport offers a range of tax benefits, including no inheritance tax, estate duty, or wealth tax, and offers various tax incentives for residents.
How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?
Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique migration consultancy firm with years of experience delivering bespoke residence and citizenship by investment solutions for international families. With offices worldwide and an experienced, hands-on team, we have helped hundreds of clients worldwide acquire citizenship, residence visas, or homes while diversifying their portfolios with robust investments.
We guide you from start to finish, taking you beyond your citizenship or residency by investment application.
Frequently Asked Questions Malta Passport Visa Free Countries
How many countries can a Malta passport holder enter without a visa?
As of 2023, Malta passport holders can travel to 172 countries without a visa, a visa on arrival, applying for electronic travel authorization (eTA), or an electronic visa (e-visa). However, the number of visa free countries that don’t require regular visas can fluctuate over time as countries update their entry requirements for short and extended stays.
Additionally, a travel destination country may impose temporary travel restrictions or temporary restrictions in response to global events and public health situations, such as quarantine requirements.
Is the Malta passport strong?
The Malta passport ranks 34th in the world concerning passport strength, according to the Global Passport Index. The index measures the number of travel destinations passport holders have visa on arrival or visa free access to, in addition to countries that allow Malta citizens to apply for an online visa (e-visa) or obtain electronic travel authorization.
The index also asses each country’s quality of life and investment opportunities. At 34th place, the Malta passport is strong. Its strength is reflected in the enhanced mobility it provides Maltese citizens, including visa waiver entry to strict countries like the United States, New Zealand, and Australia.
Which countries are visa free for Malta permanent residence?
Individuals with Malta permanent residence often enjoy visa free or visa on arrival privileges to various travel destinations. Malta’s EU membership allows Maltese permanent residents to travel to EU and Schengen countries visa free. Malta citizens and foreign permanent residents of Malta can travel without regular visas to territories of EU countries, including French Guiana and French Polynesia. Possessing a permanent residence permit in Malta can enhance your visa application when seeking entry to countries like the United States and the United Kingdom.
Do Maltese citizens need a visa for Serbia?
Malta citizens can not only travel visa free to Serbia, but can use their national ID to enter the country.
Does a Malta passport grant visa free access to the USA?
Malta is part of the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which waives the requirement to apply for a regular visa. This means that Malta passport holders are generally eligible for visa free travel to the USA for short visits (up to 90 days) for purposes of tourism, business, or transit. The program necessitates applying for electronic travel authorization, which is valid for two years. The decision to approve entry into the United States ultimately lies with the US immigration officer encountered upon arrival.
How can Malta citizens agree to travel conditions set by visa free countries?
Maltese citizens can agree to a respective nation’s visa regulations by complying with the terms of their visa free travel and stay regulations, such as traveling with a passport valid for at least six months and leaving the country before their visa free days expire. Entry requirements for Maltese citizens may include paying a visa fee for electronic visas or when arriving in visa on arrival countries.
Is the Malta passport visa free to Canada?
Yes, a Malta passport grants visa-free travel to Canada. Additionally, Maltese passport holders enjoy visa-free access to the United States and Australia.
Do Malta passport holders need a visa for the UK after Brexit?
No, Malta passport holders do not need a visa to enter the UK after Brexit. They can travel to the UK visa-free for short stays of up to six months, as the UK has maintained visa-free access for EU citizens, including those from Malta, for tourism, business, and family visits. However, for longer stays or certain activities, a visa may be required.
Is Schengen area travel visa-free for Malta passport holders?
Yes, travel within the Schengen Area is visa-free for Malta passport holders. As an EU member state, Malta is part of the Schengen Agreement, allowing its citizens to travel freely within the 27 Schengen countries without the need for a visa.
