Schengen Short-Stay (Type C) — Seamen (Informational)Verified 2026-05-12Malta Seamen Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C) — Informational
Applicants for a Seamen's visa must be employed in any capacity on board a vessel, seeking to enter Malta solely to join a vessel or to depart with a vessel for a foreign port. The application is carrier-driven: the shipping company in India confirms the seafarer's role and Malta destination, while the shipping agency in Malta confirms the embarking arrangements (vessel name, flag, port, embarking/disembarking dates). SureshotVisa does not handle carrier-specific crew submissions — we focus on individual short-stay and student visas. This page is informational; speak directly with your shipping company / maritime agency.
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SureshotVisa specialises in individual short-stay and student visas, not carrier-specific seafarer submissions. The shipping company / maritime agency in Malta initiates the invitation with seafarer's book details, ship name and flag, port and itinerary. We can advise on the VFS step once the shipping-company documentation is in hand, but the underlying employment / vessel arrangements are handled by the shipping company directly.
Malta — Schengen member · High Commission New Delhi · AIP from Identità rules everything
One Malta visa = all 29 Schengen countries. But Employment D needs an Identità AIP first, and only 16 Indian insurance companies are accepted.
All India applications are decided by the High Commission of Malta, New Delhi (NOT Embassy — Malta is Commonwealth) through VFS Malta centres. The High Commission also handles Nepal + Maldives. Bangladesh applicants route Short-Stay (C) through the Embassy of Italy in Dhaka. For Long-Stay D Visas (Employment / Study / Family Reunification), the substantive decision is made by Identità in Malta (Valley Road, Msida) — Employment requires an Approval in Principle (AIP) letter before VFS, FR requires an Identità certificate, Study requires MFHEA-accredited enrolment.
29 Schengen countries
Full Schengen member since 2007 — Malta visa unlocks the whole zone, not just Malta.
Regional jurisdiction
HC of Malta, New Delhi covers India + Nepal + Maldives. Bangladesh routes via Embassy of Italy in Dhaka.
15 days (C) · 6–8 weeks (D)
Short-Stay 15 days standard; Long-Stay D 6–8 weeks at Identità. Cochin/Lucknow/Nepal add 3 days transit; Maldives 6.
The four Malta rules that bounce most files at counter
- Employment D = AIP first. Identità issues an Approval in Principle (AIP) letter; the AIP must still be valid on your VFS appointment date (~60-day validity). Without the AIP and the ORIGINAL Identità work permit, VFS refuses at counter.
- Family Reunification D = Identità certificate. Expatriates Unit at Identità issues the Family Reunification certificate BEFORE you can book the FR appointment. Indian affidavits don't substitute.
- Student D = MFHEA accreditation. Only MFHEA-listed institutions qualify. School letter must specify Institution Name (as on MFHEA), MQF level, ECTS, course hours, lecture address. Funds = ≥75% of Maltese national minimum wage per month of study.
- All visas: insurance from 16 approved Indian companies only (effective 1 Jan 2026). Generic Schengen policies — even at €30,000+ — get refused at VFS counter.
Tourism / hospitality D-Employment: Skills Pass Part 1 + Part 2 completion certificates from the Institute of Tourism Studies are mandatory. Aadhaar Card is mandatory for Indian residents across every visa category — no exceptions. Malta also requires 3 blank passport pages (not 2, like most Schengen states) and an old passport submitted alongside the current one.
Three more details Indian sites get wrong: (1) Birth / marriage certificates must be apostilled by India's Ministry of External Affairs — not just notarised. (2) The “Declaration of Proof” for free-accommodation cases must be witnessed by a Maltese Public Notary (inside Malta) — Indian notarisation doesn't qualify. (3) 5-day rule: VFS gives a 5-day window for missing documents; after that the file is refused.
Note: SureshotVisa handles the 9 Schengen Short-Stay (Type C) categories — Tourist, Business, Visit Family/Friends, Cultural/Sport/Film Crew, Family of EU/EEA, Official Delegation, Student/Religious C, Medical, and Seamen (informational) — plus 3 Long-Stay D Visas (Employment, Study, Family Reunification) end-to-end through VFS. The substantive Identità step inside Malta is initiated by your Maltese-side employer / institution / sponsor; we coordinate but the decision happens in Malta, not in India.
Processing
Standard processing time is 15 calendar days at the High Commission of Malta, New Delhi (from the date the file is received from VFS — not the VFS submission date)
Stay Duration
Duration as required for joining vessel or transit through Malta harbour
Starting Fee
₹9,828
Apply At
16 VFS centres
Special Instructions — Read Before Applying
These requirements apply to ALL Malta visa types. Violations mean your application will be rejected — read each one carefully.
- 1High Commission of Malta, New Delhi (NOT Embassy — Malta is a Commonwealth member) decides ALL India + Nepal + Maldives Short-Stay (C) applications via VFS. Bangladesh applicants route Short-Stay (C) through the Embassy of Italy in Dhaka — unique subcontinent quirk. Long-Stay D Visa decisions are made by the Central Visa Unit within Identità (Valley Road, Msida, MSD 9020 MALTA).
- 2INSURANCE WHITELIST (effective 1 January 2026): travel medical insurance for Malta Schengen visas in India is accepted ONLY from one of 16 approved Indian insurance companies on the Malta-approved list. Generic policies — even meeting EUR 30,000 coverage and Schengen-wide validity — will be refused at counter.
- 3EMPLOYMENT D VISA — APPROVAL IN PRINCIPLE (AIP) MANDATORY: applicants must hold a valid AIP letter from Identità Malta BEFORE booking the VFS appointment. AIP must remain valid through the appointment date (typically 60-day validity). Without the ORIGINAL Identità work permit, VFS will refuse the file at counter. AIP fees paid at the application stage are non-refundable.
- 4FAMILY REUNIFICATION D VISA: requires a Family Reunification certificate issued by Identità's Expatriates Unit BEFORE booking the VFS appointment. Indian-side affidavits cannot substitute for this certificate.
- 5STUDENT D VISA — MFHEA ACCREDITATION: only institutions registered with Malta Further & Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) are eligible. The school enrolment letter must specify Institution Name (as registered with MFHEA), Full Course Name (as on MFHEA website), MQF level, ECTS credits, course duration in months, contact hours per week, and the address of lectures.
- 6SKILLS PASS for tourism/hospitality D-Employment workers: Skills Pass Part 1 + Part 2 completion certificates from the Institute of Tourism Studies are mandatory. Without them, tourism-sector Employment D Visa files are refused.
- 7STUDENT FUNDS RULE: bank statement of the last 3 months attached with a recent bank certificate must show funds equal to at least 75% of the Maltese national minimum wage for every month of study. If sponsored, sponsor's 3-month bank statement + signed declaration letter + sponsor's ID/passport bio-page are mandatory.
- 8AADHAAR CARD MANDATORY for Indian nationals residing in India — required on every visa category (original + photocopy at VFS).
- 95-DAY LIMIT for submission of missing documents via VFS — after that the file is refused. The High Commission reserves the right to request further documentation or a personal interview.
- 10Photo specification: 3.5cm × 4.5cm (35×45mm) in colour on white background, ICAO standards (face 70–80% of frame, 32–36mm chin to top of head), less than 6 months old, no edits/filters. PASTED (not stapled) on the form. Applicants' photos will be captured at VFS as part of biometrics, but one printed photo per specification must accompany the application.
- 11Travel medical insurance: EUR 30,000 minimum coverage, valid for ALL Schengen countries, covering accident / urgent medical / emergency hospital / repatriation. For Employment D, minimum 180 consecutive days. For Medical D (long-term), EUR 100,000 minimum.
- 12Indian passport must be issued within the last 10 years, with AT LEAST 3 BLANK PAGES (not 2 — Malta-specific), valid 3 months beyond intended Schengen departure (8 months for most D Visas / 10 months for Student D). Handwritten or non-machine-readable Indian passports issued after 01.04.2010 are not accepted.
- 13Apply at least 4 weeks before travel; 6 months ahead is the earliest the Schengen Code allows. Cochin, Lucknow, Nepal applications add 3 days transit to the High Commission; Maldives applications add 6 working days. Long-Stay D processing: 6–8 weeks minimum.
- 14All documents must be submitted in ENGLISH. Translations must be done by translators on the Identità-approved list at identita.gov.mt/public-registry-sec-page-translators-list — generic Indian translators are not accepted.
- 15Indian Income Tax Return acknowledgements: last 2 assessment years for Short-Stay (C) categories. Original bank statements (3 months, branch-manager stamped/signed) + employer letter + leave-approval letter where applicable.
- 16Modes of payment at VFS: cash, Visa, Mastercard, RuPay. Optional services — Courier ₹795, SMS ₹146, Premium Lounge ₹3,917, Courier + Assurance ₹1,040, Form Filling ₹3,182. All optional fees non-refundable.
Who Can Apply
- Indian seafarers joining a vessel in Malta harbour
- Seafarers disembarking from a vessel in Malta and continuing to a non-Schengen destination
- Seafarers with carrier-led application — shipping company / maritime agency in Malta initiates the documentation
Not eligible under this visa:
- Tourists / general business travellers — apply under Tourist or Business C Visa
- Anyone WITHOUT a shipping-company invitation + Maltese maritime-agency confirmation
Fees (in INR)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Schengen Short-Stay visa fee — adult (Type C) | ₹9,828 |
| Schengen visa fee — child (6–12 years) | ₹4,915 |
| VFS service charge — per application | ₹2,883 |
Visa fees are set by the High Commission of Malta in INR and tied to the EUR / INR exchange rate — they are revised periodically. All fees and VFS service charges are non-refundable in case of refusal. VFS service charges are inclusive of CGST 9% + SGST 9%. Optional VFS services: Courier ₹795, SMS ₹146, Premium Lounge ₹3,917, Courier + Assurance ₹1,040, Form Filling ₹3,182 — all non-refundable. From 1 January 2026, travel medical insurance must be issued by one of the 16 approved Indian insurance companies on the Malta-approved list — generic policies are not accepted.
Documents Required
Personal Documents
- !Malta visa application form (fully filled, dated, signed)
Download from visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/mlt/. For minors, BOTH parents must sign and parent ID proof attached.
- !One recent passport-size photograph — 35×45mm, white background
ICAO standards, less than 6 months old, colour, face 70–80% of frame, PASTED (not stapled) on the form. Biometrics + a fresh photo are also captured at VFS.
- !Valid passport + ORIGINAL + photocopy of biodata page + last page (Indian passports)
Max 10 years old, valid ≥3 months beyond Schengen return (≥8 months for D / ≥10 months for Student D), ≥3 BLANK PAGES (Malta-specific — not 2). Handwritten / non-machine-readable Indian passports issued after 01.04.2010 not accepted.
- !Old passports + photocopies of all pages; police report (FIR) if passport lost and not marked on new passport
Old passport mandatory for all nationalities under High Commission of Malta rules.
- !Aadhaar Card (original + photocopy) — Indian nationals residing in India
Mandatory across all Malta visa categories.
- ○Entry/exit Schengen stamps from previous passports (photocopies, if available)
Strengthens travel history.
Seamen-Specific Documents
- !Travel itinerary with travel dates + details of Charter flights / Shipping Vessel
- !Original up-to-date letter from the shipping company in India
Confirms applicant is going to Malta to join a ship; name + telephone + e-mail of contact person in Malta; name and references of vessel ownership; length of stopover in Malta; that employer takes full responsibility for all expenses while in Malta. Signed and stamped by company/agency.
- !Applicant's contract with the shipping company (duration of employment)
- !Letter from the shipping agency IN MALTA confirming embarking arrangements
Signed and stamped. Includes: seafarer's name + place/DOB + passport + seafarer's book number + validity, position on vessel, name + flag of vessel, port and date of boarding/disembarking, itinerary to Malta (entry date + airport), Indian agency collaborating, and Maltese agency's commitment to bear all responsibility for the seafarer (including repatriation).
- !Copy of the seaman's book
- !Flight reservation
Financial Documents
- !Original bank statement showing movement in the last 3 months — stamped and signed by the bank
- !Indian Income Tax Return acknowledgment for the last 2 assessment years
! = mandatory · ○ = optional / if applicable
🗺️ Step-by-Step Application Process
Confirm Malta is your main Schengen destination
Apply via Malta if your itinerary spends most time (or has its main purpose) there. If splitting time evenly between Schengen states, apply through the country of first entry. Bangladesh applicants apply through the Embassy of Italy in Dhaka.
Download + complete the Malta Schengen visa application form
Get the form from visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/mlt/. Fully fill in (in English), date, sign. For minors, BOTH parents must sign. Paste the 35×45mm photograph (do not staple).
Get supporting documents in order
Passport (≤10 years old, ≥3 blank pages, ≥3 months validity beyond return) + Aadhaar (Indians) + EUR 30,000 insurance from one of 16 approved Indian companies + bank statements (3 months, stamped) + ITR (2 years) + employer/sponsor letters + accommodation + flight reservation. Take ORIGINAL + photocopy of every document.
Book your VFS appointment online
Schedule at visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/mlt/. Pay VFS service charge ₹2,883 in cash / Visa / Mastercard / RuPay at the centre. Optional services: Courier ₹795 / SMS ₹146 / Premium Lounge ₹3,917.
Submit at VFS in person + biometrics
Attend with all documents (original + photocopy in equal number to applicants). Biometrics + a fresh photograph captured at the centre. Children below 1 year are exempt from biometric process — submit 2 photos instead. 5-DAY LIMIT for any missing documents — after that the file is refused.
Wait for the decision (15 calendar days standard)
The High Commission of Malta, New Delhi decides. Cochin / Lucknow / Nepal applications add 3 days transit; Maldives add 6 working days. Allow an additional 3–6 days for document transmission between VFS and the High Commission. Apply 4 weeks (ideally 6) before travel.
Collect your passport from VFS
Once notified, collect from VFS or via the optional courier service. Verify visa validity dates, entry type, and stay duration before leaving the counter.
Download Official Forms
Official forms are hosted by VFS Global — we don't host third-party forms ourselves, so you always get the latest version.
📋 How to download from VFS:
- Click the form name below — opens VFS Switzerland page
- Select the visa category you're applying for (e.g. Tourist, Business, Student)
- Scroll down to the "Download Form" section at the bottom
- Click the PDF icon next to the form name → saves to your device
Malta Visa Application Form (Schengen Short-Stay / Long-Stay D)
Download the appropriate Short-Stay (C) or Long-Stay (D) PDF application form from the VFS Malta India website. Complete fully, date and sign. For minors, both parents must sign.
Declaration of Proof Form (for free-accommodation cases)
When the Maltese host is providing free accommodation, this form must be filled, signed by the host, signed and stamped by a Maltese Public Notary, and submitted with the host's ID Card copy + proof of residence (title deed / lease / utility bill).
identita.gov.mt — Maltese identity agency (D Visa AIP, Family Reunification, eResidence)
For Long-Stay D Visas (Employment / Study / Family Reunification / Other), the substantive case is decided by Identità (Valley Road, Msida, MSD 9020). Employment AIP, Family Reunification certificate, and Student permit applications are filed here BEFORE the D Visa at VFS.
MFHEA Register of Accredited Institutions
Malta Further & Higher Education Authority — official register of accredited Maltese educational institutions. Student D Visa applicants must enrol at an MFHEA-listed institution; school enrolment letters must state the institution name exactly as registered.
Identità — Approved Translators List
All documents must be submitted in English. Translations must be done by translators on Identità's approved list — not generic Indian translators.
Delivery Service Disclaimer
For applicants opting for courier return of passport — fill and sign the Delivery Service Disclaimer.
List of 16 Approved Indian Travel-Insurance Companies (Malta)
Effective 1 January 2026, only 16 specified Indian insurance companies are accepted for Malta Schengen visas. Other policies (even if meeting the €30,000 coverage threshold) will be refused at counter.
VFS Application Centres
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Malta Seamen Visa informational on this site?+
Can SureshotVisa help once the shipping company has issued documents?+
Why does SureshotVisa list some Malta Long-Stay D categories with limited end-to-end handling?+
This page is for information only
SureshotVisa does not process this visa category. For other Malta visa types we can help with — Tourist, Visitor, Business, Student, or Family Reunification — see the related visa types below.
Other Malta Visa Types
Malta Tourist Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Apply for a Malta Tourist Visa (Schengen Type C) from India through VFS. Valletta UNESCO Old Town, Mdina Silent City, Blue Lagoon Comino, Hagar Qim temples, Marsaxlokk fishing village. ₹9,828 visa fee.
Malta Business Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Malta Business Visa (Schengen Type C) for Indian professionals — meetings, conferences, trade shows, training, and partner visits in Malta. Inviting Maltese company letter required. ₹9,828 visa fee.
Malta Visiting Family / Friends Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Schengen Type C visa to visit family or friends in Malta. Apostilled birth / marriage certificate by Ministry of External Affairs (India) + invitation letter + Declaration of Proof for free accommodation cases.
Malta Cultural / Sports / Film Crew Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Malta Schengen Type C visa for Indian film crews shooting in Malta, cultural performers, sports federation members, and conference / event participants. Includes Jobsplus work permit for film crews where applicable.
Malta Family Member of EU/EEA National Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
FREE Malta Schengen Type C visa for non-EU family members of EU / EEA nationals under EU free-movement rules. Spouse, civil partner, dependent children under 21, dependent ascending relatives. Requires endorsement email from the High Commission of Malta.
Malta Official Delegation Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Malta Schengen Type C visa for Indian government officers travelling for official meetings, consultations, negotiations, or events held by intergovernmental organisations. Requires Note Verbale from sending authority.
Malta Student or Religious Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Malta Schengen Type C visa for short-term study (under 90 days) or religious purposes. Bank statements of last 6 months required for student applicants (signed and stamped). For longer study, apply for the Student D Visa instead.
Malta Medical Treatment Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Malta Schengen Type C visa for medical treatment in Malta where the stay is under 90 days. Requires certificate from Indian medical doctor + Maltese medical institution confirming treatment + proof of pre-payment.
Source & Disclaimer
Data on this page is sourced from the official VFS Global Malta website and Embassy of Malta. Last verified 2026-05-12. Always verify with the official embassy before applying — fees and requirements change without notice.