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 reads two details that other Schengen missions let pass. From 1 January 2026 travel insurance must come from one of 16 approved Indian companies, and the passport needs three blank pages, not the usual two. The High Commission in New Delhi quotes 15 calendar days from the day it receives the file, and warns that applications lodged at VFS centres outside Delhi can take up to three weeks once transit is counted. The adult fee is ₹9,828, a child of 6 to 12 pays ₹4,915, and the VFS charge is ₹2,883 per application. Younger and single applicants should expect the ties-to-India question to be asked hardest.
- Processing time
- About 15 days
- after you submit
No visa is ever guaranteed — the final decision always rests with the Malta visa authority. We make sure your file is presented at its strongest.
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”-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…
Stay Duration
Up to 90 days in any 6-month period
Starting Fee
₹9,828
Apply At
16 VFS centres
Four ways to file a Malta visa
Two of these are perfectly sensible depending on your file. Here is the honest difference between them.
You file it
On your own
An online platform
Form-driven
A local agent
Shop down the road
SureshotVisa
Licensed consultancy
- Who actually reads your file?
- You file itSometimes. You do — against a checklist you foundAn online platformNo. A form validates fields, not evidenceA local agentSometimes. Usually whoever is free that daySureshotVisaYes. One named consultant, start to decision
- Who is answerable if it goes wrong?
- You file itNo. Nobody. It is your applicationAn online platformSometimes. Support, within their own termsA local agentSometimes. Depends entirely who you walked in toSureshotVisaYes. A licensed company — licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024
- Will anyone tell you NOT to apply yet?
- You file itNo. No one is looking at it but youAn online platformNo. The flow exists to take the applicationA local agentNo. Rarely — the fee depends on you applyingSureshotVisaYes. We say so when the file is not ready
- Do you know the full cost before you start?
- You file itYes. Embassy and centre fees are publishedAn online platformSometimes. Service fee often appears at checkoutA local agentNo. Quoted after they ask your budgetSureshotVisaYes. Every fee published on this site, GST included
- If you have been refused before?
- You file itNo. The letter rarely says which document failedAn online platformNo. Outside what a form can handleA local agentSometimes. Many hand the papers backSureshotVisaYes. That is the work we take on
- Farming income, self-employed, no ITR?
- You file itSometimes. Provable — but not with a generic checklistAn online platformNo. The form has no field for itA local agentSometimes. Varies enormouslySureshotVisaYes. J-forms, mandi receipts, business proofs
“An online platform” and “a local agent” describe how those models work, not any particular company. If your file is straightforward, the first column is a genuinely good answer.
What a refusal actually costs you
Before you file the Malta Tourist Visa yourself — the part that is not on the application form.
The money is gone before the decision is
- The visa fee is €90 for an adult and €45 for a child aged 6–12, charged in rupees at the rate the mission sets. (Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1415)
- The Visa Code says it plainly: the fee “shall not be refundable except in the cases referred to in Articles 18(2) and 19(3)” — wrong consulate, or turned away at the counter. A refusal is neither. (Regulation (EC) 810/2009, Art 16(7))
- The visa-centre service charge is separate, and also gone.
- Your travel insurance had to cover a minimum of €30,000. (Art 15(3))
- Then whatever you already paid for flights and hotels and cannot get back — and the leave you already booked.
The government fee and the visa-centre charge are paid straight to them. We never mark them up.
The time costs more than the money
- You may lodge up to six months before travel, and as a rule no later than 15 calendar days before. (Art 9(1))
- The appointment “shall, as a rule, take place within a period of two weeks from the date when the appointment was requested”. (Art 9(2))
- A decision comes within 15 calendar days, extendable to a maximum of 45. (Art 23(1)–(2))
- There is no waiting period after a refusal. You can apply again the next day, and pay again. What you lose is the dates, not the right.
You get a tick, not an explanation
A refusal must be given on the standard form in Annex VI. (Art 32(2)) The officer ticks a box. These four decide most Indian tourist files — word for word:
- Box 2“justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay was not provided”
- Box 3“you have not provided proof of sufficient means of subsistence…”
- Box 10“the information submitted regarding the justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay was not reliable”
- Box 13“there are reasonable doubts as to your intention to leave the territory of the Member States before the expiry of the visa”
Box 13 names no document. That is the problem — reapplying without knowing which document failed is how the second refusal happens.
And it stays on the record
- “Information on a refused visa shall be entered into the VIS.” (Art 32(5)) A Malta refusal is visible to every other Schengen consulate. It is a database record — not a stamp in your passport.
- Canada asks about it directly. IMM 5257, Background Information, question 2(b): “Have you ever been refused a visa or permit, denied entry or ordered to leave Canada or any other country or territory?” That question does not expire, and an undeclared refusal is treated as misrepresentation.
If your file is simple and your papers are conventional, file it yourself — you do not need us. If it is not, that is the work. No one can promise a visa. The officer decides.
Find out which part of your file is weakYour whole Malta Tourist Visa,
handled for one honest price.
A strong Malta file clearly explains your travel purpose, funds, and ties to India. We structure and submit everything properly — so your case is presented clearly and professionally.
All-in · 18% GST included · no hidden charges
File-ready in 3–5 working days after documents
5★ · 100+ reviews · reply in 5 min
Everything below — included, nothing extra
- Document checklist
- Application form guidance
- Document review
- Cover letter
- Purpose of travel structure
- Financial proof review
- Sponsor document guidance
- Submission & appointment support
- Post-submission guidance
Not sure you qualify? Start with a refundable ₹499 possibility report — an honest Yes / Maybe / No, credited to this fee. Read the full guide
Price is for our consultancy service only and includes 18% GST. No agency can guarantee a visa — the final decision rests with the visa authority.
Your fee, justified
₹12,999 fee — what exactly is included?
Our professional fee isn't just form-filling. It covers complete Malta visitor visa preparation, document & refusal-risk review, financial-proof structuring, submission support and post-filing guidance. Tap any item to see what's inside.
Two Malta applicants with identical bank balances can need completely different files. Before anything is prepared, a licensed consultant works through your profile and decides what your case has to prove:
- We identify which refusal ground your profile is most exposed to
- We decide whether your income or your ties carry the file — they are rarely both strong
- We work out how much of the trip your own funds must visibly cover
- We test whether the trip length and cost are realistic for your profile, and say so if not
- We check how a previous refusal changes what this file has to answer
- We tell you plainly if you should not apply yet
A visitor visa isn't approved because documents are attached — the purpose, funds, travel plan and return ties have to support each other. Deciding how they will, for your case, is the work.
A salaried applicant, a farmer with no ITR and a retired parent being sponsored need three different evidence sets. We build yours:
- We name the exact documents your profile needs — and the ones it does not
- We tell you what to leave OUT: unexplained extras make a file look padded
- We find the substitute evidence when a standard document does not exist for you
- We flag anything in Punjabi or Hindi that needs translating before it is read
- We sequence the file the way the officer reads it, not the way you collected it
This avoids missing what matters — and avoids piling on documents nobody asked for and nothing explains.
Most files are checked for whether a document is present. Officers check whether the documents agree. We read yours the second way:
- Every name, date and spelling matched across every paper
- Leave dates, ticket dates and itinerary dates reconciled with each other
- Bank credits traced to the income that is supposed to have produced them
- Employer and sponsor letters checked for whether they would survive a verification call
- Each document checked for issuer and for validity on your actual travel dates
- A final read by someone deliberately looking for the reason to refuse it
Almost every applicant does the first pass themselves. Almost nobody does the last one.
Funds are one of the most common refusal triggers. A high balance alone isn't enough if the money doesn't look genuine, stable, and tied to your income. We check:
- Whether the balance is reasonable for the trip
- Average balance vs trip cost
- Sudden large deposits that need explaining
- Salary / business income vs bank statement
- ITR vs income profile
- Whether you can afford the trip without leaning entirely on a sponsor
- Whether sponsor support is properly explained
- Whether funds look genuine and traceable
We help structure the financial side professionally so it reads as genuine, not borrowed for the application.
We help present a clear, realistic purpose — tourism, a holiday, a family/relative visit, an event, a business meeting, or parents visiting children — and make sure it lines up with your dates, funds, itinerary and documents.
A weak or vague purpose makes a file look doubtful. We keep it clear, simple and professional.
We prepare or structure the main explanation letter — a professional summary that makes your case easy for the officer to understand. It covers:
- We write it in the officer's reading order, not in the order things happened
- We aim it at the refusal ground your profile is most exposed to
- We keep it to one page — long letters read as pleading rather than explaining
- We point every claim at the document that proves it, so nothing stands alone
- If you were refused before, we make it address that ground head-on instead of hoping
This is not a guarantee letter — it's a clear, professional explanation of your case.
The officer must be satisfied you'll leave Malta after your authorized stay. We identify and present your reasons to return:
- We work out which of your ties is genuinely strongest — often not the one you expect
- We turn each one into evidence rather than a sentence in a letter
- We check the ties still hold on your travel dates, not just today
- We identify exactly where the file looks thin, and what would fix it
- We tell you honestly if ties are your weak point, before you spend the embassy fee
If someone in Malta is inviting you, we guide the sponsor-side documents:
- Invitation letter
- Sponsor status proof (passport / PR / citizenship)
- Sponsor employment & income proof
- Sponsor bank statement, if needed
- Relationship & communication proof
- Who bears expenses & stay arrangement
A sponsor supports the case but never guarantees approval — your own purpose, funds and ties must still be strong. We also flag if a file is leaning too heavily on the sponsor.
We guide or assist with the application form and details (online portal or the VFS/embassy form, depending on Malta), and check consistency between the form and your documents:
- Personal, passport & travel-history details
- Employment & education history
- Family information
- Purpose of visit & funding details
- Sponsor information, if applicable
- Previous-refusal declarations
- Background questions
- Correct document categories
Wrong, incomplete or inconsistent information can hurt this application — and future ones too.
How a file is lodged depends on the country — some are fully online, while others (most Schengen states) need you to complete the form first, then book a VFS appointment and submit a physical file in person. We guide the exact Malta process:
- Completing the application form first, where required, to unlock the appointment
- Booking the VFS / embassy appointment
- Arranging documents in the right order — for upload or the VFS counter
- Guiding the visa-fee payment
- Final review before submission or your VFS visit
- What to carry to the appointment (originals, photos, forms)
- Submitting / lodging and saving the confirmation
- What happens after submission
After submission, if biometrics are required, we guide you through:
- Biometrics Instruction Letter
- VFS appointment booking
- Documents to carry
- What to expect at the VFS centre
- How biometrics update in your application
- What to do once biometrics are done
Biometrics fee is separate, paid to the authority / VFS as applicable.
Our support doesn't stop at submission. We stay connected and guide you on:
- How to check application updates
- What official messages mean
- What to do if more documents are requested
- What to do after a Passport Request
- VFS passport submission & courier return
- Decision-update explanation
- Next steps after approval
- Basic guidance if refused
What's not included (paid direct, at actual cost)
- Government / embassy visa fee
- Biometrics fee
- VFS service charges
- VFS courier & SMS charges
- VFS premium-lounge charges
- Travel insurance
- Flight tickets
- Hotel bookings
- Translation charges
- Notary / attestation
- Medical exam, if ever required
- Any other third-party charges
No agency can guarantee a visa — the final decision is always the visa officer's. Our role is to prepare, review, structure and present your file professionally from the documents and profile you provide.
Good to know before you apply
Rules that apply to every Malta visa type — worth a quick read so nothing trips up your file.
- 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 citizens visiting Malta for tourism, holidays, sightseeing, or leisure
- Travellers using Malta as their main Schengen destination
- Visitors planning combined Mediterranean itineraries (Italy + Malta) with Malta as the main stop
Not eligible under this visa:
- Travellers whose main Schengen destination is another country — apply through that country instead
- Anyone planning to work, study long-term, or settle in Malta — apply for the appropriate Long-Stay D Visa with Identità authorisation
- Maltese, EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens — visa not required
- Bangladesh residents — route through Embassy of Italy in Dhaka, not VFS Malta India
What it costs
Government & VFS fees
Paid directly to Malta / VFS — these are not our service fee, and we never mark them up.
| 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.
Flights · Hotels · Insurance · Itinerary
What Malta actually requires — and what it does not.
Malta applies the Schengen rules, so travel insurance is not a nice-to-have — it is a legal condition of the visa.
2 of 4 are compulsory for Malta
Flight reservation
The Malta consulate wants a return itinerary with a real PNR covering your exact dates. It does not want a paid ticket, and buying one before a decision puts your money at risk for nothing.
Where people slip: Flying into one city and out of another with nothing showing how you travel between them. Officers read the whole route, and an unexplained gap reads as a plan that does not hold together.
How to hold a flight without payingHotel booking
Accommodation for EVERY night of the stay. Not most nights — every one. A gap is a documented refusal ground under the Schengen code.
Where people slip: Free-cancellation bookings are accepted, but if the entire file is free-cancellation the officer sees a trip nobody has committed to. Some of it should be real spend.
Refundable hotel booking, explainedTravel insurance
Minimum EUR 30,000 medical cover, valid in every Schengen state, including repatriation and emergency medical evacuation, for the full period of stay. Regulation (EC) 810/2009 — this is law, not preference.
Where people slip: Buying cover for the adults and forgetting the children. Every traveller needs their own EUR 30,000, infants included — a real refusal we have seen on a family of four.
What the cover must actually sayTravel itinerary
A day-by-day plan matching your flights, your hotels and the country you applied to. Malta must be your main destination or your first point of entry, or you are at the wrong consulate.
Where people slip: Spending more nights in another Schengen country than in Malta. That gets a file rejected before it is even assessed.
The letter your itinerary attaches toWe arrange all four for your Malta file.
We are a B2B travel agency as well as a visa consultancy, working with partners including Riya Travel — so the flight, the hotel and the policy all come from us, issued the same day, and you deal with one team instead of four. Every booking is a real one under your own name.
What to gather
Documents required
Having a document isn't the same as presenting it right — that's the part we handle.
Personal Documents
6 items- Malta visa application form (fully filled, dated, signed)Required
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 backgroundRequired
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)Required
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 passportRequired
Old passport mandatory for all nationalities under High Commission of Malta rules.
- Aadhaar Card (original + photocopy) — Indian nationals residing in IndiaRequired
Mandatory across all Malta visa categories.
- Entry/exit Schengen stamps from previous passports (photocopies, if available)
Strengthens travel history.
Travel & Accommodation
4 items- Round-trip flight reservation (return or round ticket)Required
Full flight itinerary clearly indicating applicant's name, date of flight, all stops — preferably transiting outside the Schengen area, OR direct routing to Malta. If visiting multiple Schengen states, intra-Schengen flight / train / car-rental proof.
- Travel medical insurance — EUR 30,000 minimum, Schengen-wideRequired
Effective 1 Jan 2026, MUST be from one of 16 approved Indian insurance companies on the Malta-approved list. Must cover the entire trip including arrival + departure date. Multi-entry visas: cover the first trip.
- Cover letter from applicant — purpose, duration, names of accompanying persons, transport + accommodation detailsRequired
- Proof of accommodation — confirmed hotel booking OR Declaration of Proof (notarised by Maltese Public Notary)Required
Hotel booking preferred.-accommodation cases: 'Declaration of Proof' filled, signed by host + stamped by Maltese Public Notary; attach copy of host's Malta ID Card / passport bio-data page + proof of residence (title deed / lease / utility bill) + proof of host's income + host's health insurance if applicable. If visiting multiple Schengen states: proof for each.
Financial Documents
4 items- If employed — Original bank statement (last 3 months, branch-manager stamped/signed) + payslips (last 3 months) + employment contract + employer's leave-approval letter + Indian ITR (last 2 years)
- If self-employed / company owner — Original bank statement (last 3 months, stamped/signed) + Company registration + GST registration number + Business bank account statement + Indian ITR (last 2 years)
- If sponsored — Sponsor's original bank statement (3 months, stamped/signed) + applicant's bank statement + national-form sponsorship proof (where applicable) + applicant's ITR (last 2 years)
- If retired — Pension statements for last 3 months and/or proof of regular income from property / business
Tourism-Specific Documents
2 items- Certificate of the travel agency confirming the booking of an organised trip OR detailed travel-plan documentRequired
Day-by-day itinerary across Malta + any other Schengen states. Strengthens 'genuine tourist' narrative.
- Confirmed hotel booking for the entire stay in MaltaRequired
If multiple Schengen states — accommodation proof for each. accommodation: Declaration of Proof witnessed by Maltese Public Notary.
Minor-Specific Documents (if applicable)
4 items- If minor traveling with one parent — Notarised written consent from the non-travelling parent (or court order for sole custody) + copy of non-travelling parent's passport
- If minor traveling alone — Notarised written consent from BOTH parents/guardians + copies of both parents' passports
- Copy of identification document(s) of parent(s)/guardians having custody — with signature and photograph
- Birth certificate apostilled by Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Mandatory for Family Reunification minor + EU/EEA family member minor cases.
Required · optional / if applicable
The journey.
7 steps from intake to approval. Curved spine on the right shows the natural pace — never as linear as government sites pretend.
- 01
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.
- 02
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).
- 03
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.
- 04
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.
- 05
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.
- 06
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.
- 07
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.
What works
5 levers that flip a borderline case.
- Valletta is at its best April–June and September–October. July–August are very hot and crowded; December–February are mild but rainy.
- Combine Malta with Sicily (Italy) for a Mediterranean trip — same Schengen visa unlocks both. Apply via Malta only if you'll spend more time there.
- From 1 January 2026, insurance MUST be from one of the 16 approved Indian companies — buy this early to avoid counter refusals.
- Apply 4–6 weeks before travel. Non-Delhi VFS centres (Cochin, Lucknow) and Nepal/Maldives applications add 3–6 days transit to the High Commission.
What kills cases
Top 3 refusal triggers we see.
- 1Insurance not from one of the 16 approved Indian companies (effective 1 Jan 2026)
- 2Passport with fewer than 3 blank pages (Malta requires 3 — not 2)
- 3Insufficient ties-to-India narrative (especially for younger / single applicants)
Download official forms
Each link opens the official Malta page on VFS Global (we never host third-party forms): pick your visa category there and use its "Download Form" section for the current version.
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
Schengen Tourist Visa Eligibility Check
Answer 10 quick questions to see your likelihood of approval. This is not a guarantee — final decision is always with the Embassy — but it flags common weak spots so you can address them before applying.
What's the primary purpose of your trip?
How long do you plan to stay?
Have you previously visited any Schengen country?
Have you ever been refused a Schengen (or any country's) visa?
Past refusals must be disclosed — they show up in VIS database across Schengen countries.
Do you have confirmed travel bookings?
Reservations are enough — don't buy tickets until visa approval.
What's your current employment status?
What's your typical 3-month bank balance?
Schengen needs ~₹700/day covered. For a 10-day trip, minimum ₹70,000 stable balance.
How many years of Income Tax Returns (ITR) can you show?
What are your strongest ties to India (return-intent)?
Embassies want evidence you'll come back — not overstay.
Who are you travelling with?
Indicative only — final decision is always with the Embassy.
Frequently asked
Questions, answered straight
Effective 1 January 2026, the High Commission of Malta in India accepts travel medical insurance ONLY from one of 16 approved Indian insurance companies on the Malta-approved list. This is to crack down on counterfeit / non-honourable policies that were being submitted with previous Schengen applications. Generic policies — even if they meet the EUR 30,000 Schengen-wide coverage and 30-day validity — will be refused at VFS counter. Always check the latest approved list on visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/mlt/ before purchasing.
Standard processing 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). May extend up to 3 weeks for applications from non-Delhi locations. Cochin / Lucknow / Nepal add 3 days transit; Maldives add 6 working days. Allow another 3–6 days for transmission between VFS and High Commission. Apply at least 4 weeks (ideally 6) before travel.
No. Bangladesh applicants must submit Short-Stay (C) visa applications through the Embassy of Italy in Dhaka — Malta's jurisdiction over Bangladesh routes via Italy under bilateral arrangements. India + Nepal + Maldives residents apply through VFS Malta India.
Yes — we ensure your insurance is from the approved 16-company list, prepare the financial pack to High Commission standard, confirm passport meets the 3-blank-page rule (Malta-specific), structure the itinerary, and submit at VFS. ₹499 consultation to start.
Yes, in practice you should have one. The Malta consulate wants a return itinerary with a real PNR covering your exact dates. It does not want a paid ticket, and buying one before a decision puts your money at risk for nothing. What people call a dummy ticket is simply a reservation you have not paid for — a real PNR, held with the airline, released if you do not travel. That is standard and completely acceptable. What is never acceptable is an edited or invented itinerary, because that is a false document. Flying into one city and out of another with nothing showing how you travel between them. Officers read the whole route, and an unexplained gap reads as a plan that does not hold together. We issue the real reservation the same day; send us your dates.
Yes, and it is compulsory. Accommodation for EVERY night of the stay. Not most nights — every one. A gap is a documented refusal ground under the Schengen code. Free-cancellation bookings are accepted, but if the entire file is free-cancellation the officer sees a trip nobody has committed to. Some of it should be real spend. We book the hotel for you on free-cancellation terms, so nothing is lost if your plans move or the answer is no. Contact us and it goes in with the rest of your file.
Yes, and it is compulsory. Minimum EUR 30,000 medical cover, valid in every Schengen state, including repatriation and emergency medical evacuation, for the full period of stay. Regulation (EC) 810/2009 — this is law, not preference. Buying cover for the adults and forgetting the children. Every traveller needs their own EUR 30,000, infants included — a real refusal we have seen on a family of four. We issue the policy ourselves through our travel partners, written to the exact cover Malta demands, with the certificate ready the same day. Message us with your dates and the number of travellers.
Yes, in practice you should have one. A day-by-day plan matching your flights, your hotels and the country you applied to. Malta must be your main destination or your first point of entry, or you are at the wrong consulate. Spending more nights in another Schengen country than in Malta. That gets a file rejected before it is even assessed. We build the itinerary so your flights, your hotels and your stated purpose all tell one story. Message us and we will put it together with your Malta application.
Reviewed by Sherbir Singh Grewal, SureshotVisa — a government-licensed consultancy (Licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024). Verify us.
Why trust us with a Malta file
Four things you can check before you trust us with a rupee.
Every visa consultant says they are experienced and reliable. Here is the version you can verify yourself in about a minute — which is the only version worth reading.
If your Malta visa is refused, our fee comes back in full.
No deductions, no “processing charges”, refund initiated within 7 days to the account you paid from. We are that confident about the files we take on — and when we are not confident, we tell you before you spend anything.
The one part nobody can return is the government's money: the embassy fee goes to the mission and the visa-centre fee to VFS. Any consultant promising those back is not telling you the truth. Read the policy
A regulator sits above us
Licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024, issued by the District Magistrate, Patiala and valid to 22 July 2029. That is not a badge we designed — it is an authority you can complain to if we let you down. Most agents cannot give you a number to check.
Your file is read six times, by people, in order
Names and dates matched across every paper, each document checked for issuer and validity, the money traced to its source, the purpose checked for contradictions, ties documented rather than claimed, then one final read by someone trying to refuse it. That last pass is the one almost nobody does alone.
We tell people not to apply
The ₹499 report can come back as "no, not yet", and we are paid the same either way. A free assessment has every incentive to tell you yes. That single design choice is why our answer on your Malta case is worth anything at all.
5.0★ from 100+ Google reviews — posted for Pro Lifeset Overseas Pvt Ltd, the licensed firm behind SureshotVisa. Read them on Google rather than taking a screenshot on a website's word.
Verify all of thisNo consultant can guarantee a visa — the officer always decides. What we guarantee is our own work, and we put our fee behind it.
How we get it done
Your Malta Tourist Visa, from your first message to your passport back.
15 questions about this visa specifically. The first two are open — tap any other to read it.
Refused? Our full service fee comes back.Government and visa-centre fees are the one part nobody can refund.
+What do you actually do on my Malta Tourist Visa that I can't do myself?
You can file it yourself, and for a straightforward case you may not need anyone — we will say so if that is what we think. What we add is the part almost nobody does alone: reading your file the way the Malta officer will. Your documents get checked against each other rather than against a checklist, so a date on your leave letter cannot contradict your ticket and a bank credit cannot appear from nowhere. Then someone reads the whole file again, deliberately looking for the reason to refuse it.
+What happens in the first 24 hours after I message you?
A licensed consultant reads your situation and comes back the same working day: whether the case is ready, what is missing, and whether you should apply at all. You get a checklist built for your profile — salaried, self-employed, farming income, retired or sponsored files each need a different evidence set — plus a realistic view of Malta timing. Nothing is charged for that conversation.
+How do you build the Malta Tourist Visa file, step by step?
Six passes over the same papers, in the order the officer reads them. One: every name, date and spelling matched across every document. Two: each document checked for who issued it and whether it is still valid on your travel dates. Three: the financial story traced to its source, not just to a closing balance. Four: purpose and itinerary checked for internal contradictions. Five: ties to India documented rather than asserted. Six: a final read by someone deliberately trying to refuse it. Most applicants do the first pass. Almost nobody does the last.
+My bank balance is strong. Isn't that enough for a Malta visa?
It is one box on the officer's form, and it is the box most applicants have already covered. The refusal grounds that catch well-funded files are the other ones: purpose of travel not justified, intention to leave before the visa expires not established, accommodation or insurance not evidenced. Officers also read where the money came from rather than what the closing figure says — a large deposit that landed three weeks before you applied, with nothing explaining it, is one of the most questioned items in any file.
+How long can I actually stay on a Malta Schengen visa?
Up to 90 days in any 6-month period (Schengen area-wide), from the date of first entry. The window rolls: on any given day the authorities count backwards 180 days and add up the days you were inside. It is not 90 days per country and it does not reset when you leave and come back. Entries are single, double, or multiple entry as granted by the high commission. type c limited to 90 days in any 6-month period across the schengen area from the date of first entry. the schengen code allows lodging applications up to 6 months before intended travel; not later than 15 calendar days before.. Getting this arithmetic wrong is how people end up overstaying without realising, which follows you into every future application.
+Should I apply to Malta or to another Schengen country?
You apply to the country you will spend the most nights in. If the nights are equal across several, you apply to the one you enter first. Applying to the "easier" consulate when your itinerary says otherwise is a well-known refusal ground and, if the mismatch looks deliberate, it reads as misrepresentation rather than a mistake. Send us your itinerary and we will tell you which mission is the correct one for your trip — sometimes that is not Malta.
+How do you get me a Malta appointment when the portal shows no slots?
By watching it properly, which is dull work rather than a trick — releases come in batches at no fixed hour, and cancellations reappear constantly. We hold your file complete and ready so that the moment a workable date appears it can be taken immediately, instead of you scrambling for a document while the slot goes. What nobody can do is create an appointment or jump the queue: the release schedule belongs to the visa centre. Any agent claiming a private channel to slots is describing something that does not exist.
+How exactly do you prepare my documents?
You send whatever you have on WhatsApp — photos are fine. We build the checklist for your profile, tell you precisely what is missing and in what form, then assemble the file in the order the officer reads it. Cover letter and itinerary are written to match your actual documents rather than a template. Anything in Punjabi or Hindi that matters — land records, J-Forms, affidavits — gets flagged for translation, because an officer who cannot read a document treats it as if it were not submitted. You approve the finished file before anything is filed.
+Do I need to pay for VFS premium lounge or prime-time service?
No — and this is where most applicants waste money. Premium lounge, prime time and courier add-ons buy comfort, a shorter queue and convenience. They do not buy a better decision, a faster embassy verdict or a friendlier officer, because the mission never sees which counter you used. The reason people buy them is usually anxiety about being turned away at the desk for a missing paper. We remove that anxiety instead: you arrive with a checked, ordered file and a briefing on exactly what to carry and what you will be asked, so the ordinary counter is enough. Buy them if you want the comfort — just do not buy them believing they help your case.
+What actually happens on the day at the visa centre?
You arrive with your appointment confirmation, passport, the file we prepared and the fee receipts. Staff check the documents against their list, take your photograph and fingerprints, and keep your passport. It is a submission counter, not an interview — they are not assessing your case and are not the people who decide it. We brief you beforehand on what to carry, what to expect and how to answer the handful of factual questions they do ask, so a single visit is enough. After that your file goes to the mission and we track it until the decision.
+How long does a Malta Tourist Visa take, start to finish?
Three things sit between today and your trip: preparing the file properly, waiting for an appointment, and the mission's own processing. Malta currently states 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). May extend up to 3 weeks for applications lodged at non-Delhi VFS centres or from Indian states outside Delhi. Applications from Cochin, Lucknow, and Nepal add 3 days transit; from Maldives add 6 working days. Allow an additional 3–6 days for the transmission of documents between VFS and the High Commission and for their return to VFS. Apply at least 4 weeks before travel — 6 months in advance is the earliest the Visa Code allows. for the decision itself. We control the first, which is usually days. The middle depends on slot releases. The third is entirely the mission's and no consultant can shorten it — anyone telling you otherwise is selling something they cannot deliver. Tell us your travel date and we will tell you honestly whether it is realistic.
+What do I have to do myself?
Send your documents on WhatsApp, answer the questions we ask about your case, and attend the biometrics appointment. That is the whole list. Collection, checking, forms, portal work, appointment booking, submission and tracking are ours. For professional accounts we collect documents from your clinic, office or factory.
+How much of what I pay for the Malta visa is actually your fee?
Most of it is not ours. The Malta government fee (currently ₹9,828) goes to the mission and the visa-centre fee goes to VFS — both charged to you at cost, never marked up, and shown as separate lines on one GST invoice in the registered company name. Our service fee is the only part we set, and it is published rather than quoted case by case.
+Can you guarantee my Malta visa?
No, and anyone who does is lying to you. The decision rests entirely with the visa officer and no consultant, licensed or otherwise, has any influence over it. What we commit to is that your file will not be the reason you are refused. And if you are refused, our service fee comes back to you in full — the government's fees are the one part nobody can return.
+How do I check you are a real, licensed firm?
We are Pro Lifeset Overseas Pvt Ltd, licensed by the Government of Punjab under licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024, valid to 2029 and issued by the District Magistrate, Patiala — so there is a regulator with authority over us. Every payment carries a GST invoice in the registered company name and we never take money into a personal account. Ask any consultant for those three things; the answer tells you a lot.
Other Malta Visa Types
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.
View guideVisiting 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 accommodation cases.
View guideCultural / 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.
View guideFamily 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.
View guideOfficial 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.
View guideStudent 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.
View guideMedical 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.
View guideSeamen Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Malta Schengen Type C visa for Indian seafarers joining or disembarking from vessels in Malta harbour. Initiated by the shipping company/maritime agency.
View guideSource & 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.
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