Tourist Visas and Extending Your Stay in Malta
I had a difficult time finding a reliable source for this information, either on the Web or from sundry government agencies. I finally got an answer from a police officer in Rabat who sounded convincing, so we’re going with what he says. I thought I’d post it, as I imagine there are web searchers in the same boat.
What if you want to stay in Malta longer than three months (the standard length of a tourist visa), but don’t have a working visa or want to apply for a permanent residency visa? You have two strategies:
- Every time you leave the country and re-enter, you automatically get a fresh three months of tourist visa. This is a reasonably common immigration practice. I gather there’s an accommodation industry on the Nicaragua side of the Costa Rica-Nicaragua border dedicated to this phenomenon.
- You can apply at a police station for an extension. I have a friend who did this ’several times’–I’m not sure how many times it’s possible to do this. On Gozo, you need to go to the police station in Rabat (aka Victoria, if you prefer). Don’t go to the station on Republic Street. You want the station on the road to Marsalforn, about two blocks from the traffic circle. It’s on the left, and has big red garage doors
UPDATE: Coincidentally, I just read Leif Pettersen’s article about Malta, and left a comment advocating that he visit Gozo for a different taste of the country. He left his home in Italy because he’s American, and needed to renew his 90-day tourist visa:
As I’ve mentioned previously, homeless Americans residing in Europe that have failed to convince Michelle Hunziker to marry them for EU citizenship are put in the position of always keeping one eye on the clock as their 90 day visa limitations inexorably run down. Though the last time I entered Italy the immigration officer failed to/forgot to/couldn’t be bothered to stamp my passport, meaning I might have easily over-stayed my 90 days with no one being the wiser, I deemed it necessary to do a border hop and, at least symbolically, renew my privilege to stay in the country.
September 26th, 2007 at 6:21 am
Isn’t that the fire station? :)For the common immigration practice check out this blogger - http://maltamalta.blog.com/ (peruvian living in Malta) - last I read he was going on a day trip to Sicily… sounds a bit harsh!
As for other type of residence permits you should check this form out: http://www.mjha.gov.mt/departments/citizen/urp_3cn.pdf.pdf
September 26th, 2007 at 6:42 am
It may be a fire station in the bottom, and a police station on top. The door to the police station is actually around the corner on the side street.
Thanks for the tip on the PDF. Future searchers who find this page will no doubt find it useful.
September 26th, 2007 at 6:53 am
Yes, the same process applies in Canada (except you can stay for 6 months with a tourist visa as, I suppose, it’s bigger country and you can’t see it all in just 3 months).
We lived in Vancouver for 8 months in 2004 so we had to go down to Seattle for a couple of days and come back again. Worked OK but not so easy if you’re in Nunavut.
Also, you can drive on a foreign licence in Canada if you’re a tourist, but if you’re a Permanent Resident you have only 3 months to get a BC licence.
September 26th, 2007 at 8:44 am
Hmm, I’ve spoken with immigration people in several countries where I’ve visited or had foreigners visiting me, and I’ve yet to hear that first method (leaving the country and coming back again) get the OK from anybody. This applies to Canada, Denmark and Hong Kong - and my wife just had the same experience in Indonesia.
At least for Hong Kong and Indonesia, you have to apply for an extension, receive it, and then the trip abroad-and-back is necessary to have the VISA extension slip stamped at immigration on your way back into the country.
If anybody knows differently (and can point out a rule/regulation that supports their claim) I’d love to hear about it.
September 26th, 2007 at 11:54 am
I was looking at a box of Playmobil on the weekend and was startled to see it was made in Malta.
September 26th, 2007 at 11:59 am
Andrea: Indeed, you’re right. I just went looking, and found:
http://www.playmobilmalta.com/
Apparently Playmobil has a 700-person factory on the main island. Who knew?
October 16th, 2007 at 10:39 am
im travelling to malta soon but with no visa from my home country (mauritius) as we dnt have malteese embassy here. i will have only my hotel accomodation letter. wat u guys advise me?
March 17th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
want to live and work in italy
April 9th, 2008 at 5:55 am
i want to know if i can get a tourist visa going to malta, im from the philippines, is malta country can invite already? and where should i go or what kind of embassy i go is it the italian embassy can process my tourist visa going to malta? thanks i want to know pls.