Since Malta entered the Schengen area, the procedure for obtaining a visa has become somewhat complicated. Travel agencies have expressed doubts that people will want to relax in this country due to the large number of bureaucratic obstacles. But their fears were unfounded, the flow of tourists to the island remained the same due to the fact that there are Maltese visa centers in many large cities of Russia. A visa to Malta for Russians is issued immediately as soon as a person crosses the threshold of the visa center.
Types of Malta Visas
To know what documents are required to obtain an entry permit, you need to decide on the purpose of the trip. It depends on what type of visa you need to Malta. At the Maltese Embassy you can get:
- Type of visa to Malta is “A” and “B”. This variety is issued for those who visit the island in transit. Transit visa “A” is valid only at the airport. That is, you can’t leave its limits. Visa "B" - allows for one to five days to be outside the airport and travel around the country.
- A visa to Malta for Russians of type “C” is issued if the purpose of the trip is tourism, business, study or visiting relatives, friends.
- The visa type “D” is issued to those who plan to stay on the island for more than 90 days. It is called interethnic. National gives the opportunity to stay on the island of Malta for no more than 90 days.
A visa to Malta for Russians can be single or multiple. When making the first one, you can visit the island only once, and the first entry should be specifically to Malta. The second option (multiple, or multivisa) makes it possible to repeatedly enter the island during the term of the document.
Features of applying for a visa to Malta
A tourist visa to Malta for Russians is issued if the applicant has a purchased tour or hotel reservation. A business visa is issued to specialists in various fields and businessmen. The purpose of their trip should be meeting with partners, attending seminars, conferences, symposia and exhibitions. It is worth noting that a business visa is issued only if there is an invitation from business partners.
A guest visa is considered to be short-term and is issued if there is an invitation from acquaintances, friends or relatives who live in Malta and / or are property owners on the island.
Student and child visas to Malta
Quite often, parents go on vacation with their kids, or the children go to Malta to study. In this case, according to the chosen type, a visa to Malta is issued. Documents are the same as those listed on the main list, but you should additionally attach a sponsorship letter, parental permission to leave the child, a questionnaire filled out by the child, a photo, and so on.
A student visa can be obtained by those who travel to Malta to take professional or language courses, as well as to study on the island. Such a visa gives the right to stay on the island for a longer time than a regular tourist. But at the same time, it is issued under a number of conditions of the embassy. You can only enter and leave on a student visa through Malta Airport. Another important requirement is the provision of an official letter of admission to the university, courses and so on.
Documents for applying for a visa
To obtain a visa to Malta, you must submit to the embassy a full package of documents, otherwise you will be denied entry. For citizens of Russia the following package of documents is required:
- Passport of a citizen of Russia with copies necessary for applying for a visa.
- Valid passport.
- Photo size 3.5 * 4.5 cm - 3 pcs. Pictures must be signed on the back with a pencil. The face of the applicant should occupy 70-80% of the photograph.
- Application form for a visa to Malta, completed in English by typing.
- Medical insurance for the entire duration of the trip.
It is also required to have documents confirming financial guarantees. Those who cannot provide such guarantees for any reason need to present the sponsor's documents with their confirmation or a sponsorship letter. In addition, you must provide a student ID, a pension certificate, certificates from school, university, copies of birth certificates of children, marriage or divorce. All certificates must be received no later than two weeks before the submission of documents.
Visa Application Dates
Documents should be submitted to the embassy approximately two weeks before the date of the planned trip. But it should be borne in mind that in the midst of the tourist season in visa centers there can be a large number of applicants, and, accordingly, the time for considering documents during this period can significantly increase. Documents are considered in a period of four to five days. The time for issuing an urgent visa is much shorter.
Malta visa cost
Basically, the amount that you have to spend when applying for a visa to Malta consists of several items of expenses. This is a tour purchase, payment for a flight, and so on. In addition, the applicant must pay the service fees for the services provided by the visa center. If you are doing paperwork yourself, then most likely your expenses will end there. If a special agency, travel agency or any other intermediary company is engaged in obtaining a visa for you, then the cost will increase by the amount that you pay to your assistant organization for the services rendered.
Please note that in case of refusal to enter Malta, most agencies return the money paid for their services. But the funds paid as a service and consular fee are not returned to the client.
A visa is issued only after a full review of the submitted documents. Be sure to check if they are filled correctly. And also control the accuracy of the data that you provide. This is very important because incorrectly completed documents or inaccurate information can cause a refusal to obtain a visa to Malta.