Where the Malta passport takes you
The Maltese passport carries visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to around 184 destinations, fifth on the Henley Passport Index. It includes the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China and Brazil. More importantly it is an EU passport: a Maltese citizen does not visit the other 26 member states, they live and work there by right. The number that matters is not 184 but 27.
Henley's 2026 index puts Malta at 184 destinations, ranked 5th; our own list below, which counts every UN member state, comes to 153 entries without a visa in advance (121 visa-free, 25 on arrival, 7 with an eTA) and 12 that require a visa. The gap between the lists is territories, which Henley counts and this table does not for Malta. Counts differ between passport indices because each treats territories, transit rules and visa-on-arrival categories differently. Treat any single number, ours included, as a snapshot: access is granted bilaterally and can be withdrawn without notice, as the section on what changed shows.
What it opens, and what it does not
The whole European Union and Schengen Area by right of citizenship, not as a visitor, plus the United Kingdom with an ETA, Ireland, Switzerland and Norway.
Visa-free or eTA: Singapore, Japan, South Korea, China, Malaysia, Thailand. On arrival or eVisa: Indonesia, India.
United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia.
South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, Mauritius.
Very little. The dozen destinations that still require a visa are the usual ones for any Western passport: Russia is an eVisa, and a handful of states in Africa and Asia need a visa in advance. For a Maltese citizen the constraints on travel are practical, not documentary.
The full list, by region
Every destination, sorted by region, with the type of access and the permitted stay. Visa-free means you board with the passport alone; visa on arrival and eTA mean a fee or an online form, not a consulate; eVisa means an application in advance, online; visa required means a consulate. Notable destinations that still require a visa: Ghana.
Visa-free Visa on arrival eTA eVisa Visa required
Europe 41 visa-free · 1 eTA · 1 eVisa
| Destination | Access | Stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | Visa-free | 90 days | ID card valid |
| Andorra | Visa-free | ID card valid | |
| Austria S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Belarus | Visa-free | 30 days | Visa-free until 31 December 2026. |
| Belgium S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Visa-free | 90 days | 90 days within any 6-month period ID card valid |
| Bulgaria S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Croatia S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Czech Republic S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Denmark S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement (DK) ID card valid | |
| Estonia S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Finland S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| France S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement (in Regions of France ) ID card valid | |
| Germany S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Greece S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Hungary S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Iceland S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Ireland | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Italy S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Latvia S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Liechtenstein S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Lithuania S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Luxembourg S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Moldova | Visa-free | 90 days | 90 days within any 180 day period |
| Monaco | Visa-free | ID card valid | |
| Montenegro | Visa-free | 90 days | ID card valid for 30 days |
| Netherlands S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ( European Netherlands ) ID card valid | |
| North Macedonia | Visa-free | 90 days | ID card valid |
| Norway S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Poland S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Portugal S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Romania S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Russia | eVisa | 30 days | e-Visa holders must arrive and departure via 29 checkpoints |
| San Marino | Visa-free | ID card valid | |
| Serbia | Visa-free | 90 days | 90 days within any 6-month period ID card valid |
| Slovakia S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Slovenia S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Spain S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Sweden S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Switzerland S | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Ukraine | Visa-free | 90 days | 90 days within any 180 day period |
| United Kingdom | eTA | 6 months | ETA UK (valid for 2 years when issued) required. ID card valid for subjects with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme until at least 31 December 2025. Adults can use ePassport gates. |
| Vatican City | Visa-free | ID card valid |
Americas 32 visa-free · 1 eTA · 2 eVisa
| Destination | Access | Stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | Visa-free | 6 months | |
| Argentina | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| Bahamas | Visa-free | 3 months | |
| Barbados | Visa-free | 3 months | |
| Belize | Visa-free | 1 month | |
| Bolivia | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| Brazil | Visa-free | 90 days | 90 days within any 180 day period |
| Canada | Visa-free | 6 months | eTA not required if entering by land. |
| Chile | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| Colombia | Visa-free | 90 days | 90 days - extendable up to 180-days stay within a one-year period |
| Costa Rica | Visa-free | 180 days | |
| Cuba | eVisa | 90 days | Can be extended up to 90 days with a fee. |
| Dominica | Visa-free | 90 days | 90 days within any 180 day period |
| Dominican Republic | Visa-free | 30 days | |
| Ecuador | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| El Salvador | Visa-free | 6 months | |
| Grenada | Visa-free | 3 months | |
| Guatemala | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| Guyana | eVisa | 30 days | An eVisa(Approval letter) can only be obtained after contacting the Department of Immigration and Citizenship by phone. Payment is done upon arrival. |
| Haiti | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| Honduras | Visa-free | 3 months | |
| Jamaica | Visa-free | ||
| Mexico | Visa-free | 180 days | |
| Nicaragua | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| Panama | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| Paraguay | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| Peru | Visa-free | 90 days | 90 days within any 6-month period |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | eTA | 3 months | |
| Saint Lucia | Visa-free | 90 days | 90 days within any 180 day period |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Visa-free | 90 days | 90 days within any 180 day period |
| Suriname | Visa-free | 90 days | An entrance fee of USD 50 or EUR 50 must be paid online prior to arrival. Multiple entry e-Visa is also available. |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Visa-free | 90 days | 90 days within any 180 day period |
| United States | Visa-free | 90 days | ESTA is valid for 2 years from the date of issuance. ESTA is also required when entering the country by cruise ship or land. A Form I-94 is required for entry into the United States by land. It carries a $30 fee and can |
| Uruguay | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| Venezuela | Visa-free | 90 days |
Asia 21 visa-free · 13 on arrival · 1 eTA · 9 eVisa · 3 visa required
| Destination | Access | Stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | eVisa | 30 days | A visa is not required for individuals born in Afghanistan or for those who can provide proof that one of their parents is an Afghan national or was born in Afghanistan. e-Visa : Visitors must arrive at Kabul Internation |
| Armenia | Visa-free | 180 days | |
| Azerbaijan | eVisa | 30 days | |
| Bahrain | Visa on arrival | 14 days | |
| Bangladesh | Visa on arrival | 30 days | |
| Bhutan | eVisa | 90 days | The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of 200 USD per person, per night for almost all visitors to Bhutan. Additionally, if payment is made in US dollars from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2027, the SDF is 100 USD. |
| Brunei | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| Cambodia | Visa on arrival | 30 days | Visa is also obtainable online. |
| China | Visa-free | 30 days | Visa-free from 30 November 2024 to 31 December 2026. |
| Cyprus | Visa-free | Freedom of movement ID card valid | |
| Georgia | Visa-free | 1 year | ID card valid |
| India | eVisa | 30 days | e-Visa holders must arrive via 32 designated airports or 5 designated seaports. An Indian e-Tourist Visa may only be obtained twice within 1 calendar year. Foreigners of Pakistani origin or who hold a Pakistani Passport |
| Indonesia | Visa on arrival | 30 days | Not available at all entry points. |
| Iran | eVisa | 30 days | |
| Iraq | eVisa | 60 days | Visa on arrival or eVisa for up to 30 days for travel to Iraqi Kurdistan . |
| Israel | eTA | 3 months | |
| Japan | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| Jordan | Visa on arrival | 30 days | Conditions apply |
| Kazakhstan | Visa-free | 30 days | |
| Kuwait | Visa on arrival | 3 months | |
| Kyrgyzstan | Visa-free | 60 days | |
| Laos | Visa on arrival | 30 days | 18 of the 33 border crossings are only open to regular visa holders. e-Visa may be used to enter Laos through the Luang Prabang , Pakse and Vientiane international airports, 3 Thai-Lao Friendship Bridges , in Boten (road |
| Lebanon | Visa on arrival | 1 month | Extendable for 2 additional months Granted free of charge at Beirut International Airport or any other port of entry if there is no Israeli visa or seal, holding a telephone number, an address in Lebanon, and a non refun |
| Malaysia | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| Maldives | Visa on arrival | 30 days | |
| Mongolia | Visa-free | 30 days | Visa-free from 4 January 2023 to 31 December 2026. |
| Myanmar | eVisa | 28 days | eVisa holders must arrive via Yangon , Nay Pyi Taw or Mandalay airports or via land border crossings with Thailand — Tachileik , Myawaddy and Kawthaung or India — Rih Khaw Dar and Tamu . eVisa available for both tourism |
| Nepal | Visa on arrival | 90 days | |
| North Korea | Visa required | ||
| Oman | Visa-free | 14 days | An eVisa valid for 30 days is also available. |
| Pakistan | eVisa | 90 days | Online Visa eligible. Issued in 7-10 business days. |
| Philippines | Visa-free | 30 days | |
| Qatar | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| Saudi Arabia | Visa on arrival | 90 days | |
| Singapore | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| South Korea | Visa-free | 90 days | K-ETA exemption until the end of 2026. |
| Sri Lanka | Visa on arrival | 30 days | Sri Lanka introduced an ETA valid for 30 days. |
| Syria | Visa on arrival | 30 days | |
| Tajikistan | Visa-free | 30 days | Visa also available online. |
| Thailand | Visa-free | 60 days | |
| Timor-Leste | Visa-free | 90 days | 90 days within any 180 day period |
| Turkey | Visa-free | 90 days | ID card valid |
| Turkmenistan | Visa required | 10-day visa on arrival if holding a letter of invitation provided by a company registered in Turkmenistan with a prior approval from the Foreign Ministry . Visitors can apply to extend their stay for an additional 10 day | |
| United Arab Emirates | Visa-free | 90 days | 90 days within any 180 day period |
| Uzbekistan | Visa-free | 30 days | |
| Vietnam | eVisa | 30 days | |
| Yemen | Visa required | Yemen introduced an e-Visa system for visitors who meet certain eligibility requirements (group travel of 10 or more people, business trips, and transit etc.). |
Africa 17 visa-free · 12 on arrival · 2 eTA · 15 eVisa · 8 visa required
| Destination | Access | Stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | Visa required | Persons may be denied entry if entering with a passport containing visas or stamps issued by Israel. Visitors on tours organized to some southern regions by an approved travel agency may obtain a visa on arrival for up t | |
| Angola | Visa-free | 30 days | 30 days per trip, but no more than 90 days within any 1 calendar year for tourism purposes only. Visitors must have a return/onward ticket and a hotel reservation confirmation. An International Certificate of Vaccination |
| Benin | eVisa | 30 days | Must have an international vaccination certificate. Three types of electronic visa are offered: the e-Visa valid for 30 days for a single entry (50 EUR), the e-Visa valid for 30 days for several (multiple) entries (75 EU |
| Botswana | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| Burkina Faso | eVisa | 1 month | |
| Burundi | Visa on arrival | 30 days | It is mandatory for those who want to get a visa on arrival to complete the form online prior to boarding. |
| Cameroon | eVisa | ||
| Cape Verde | Visa-free | 30 days | Must register online at least five days prior to arrival. Visitors must pay the Airport Security Fee (TSA) before visiting. The cost is 3,400 CVE (approx. 31 EUR ) and can be paid via the online platform (EASE). |
| Central African Republic | Visa required | ||
| Chad | eVisa | ||
| Comoros | Visa on arrival | 45 days | |
| Côte d'Ivoire | eVisa | 3 months | eVisa holders must arrive via Port Bouet Airport . |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | eVisa | 7 days | |
| Djibouti | Visa on arrival | 31 days | |
| Egypt | Visa on arrival | 30 days | |
| Equatorial Guinea | eVisa | 90 days | e-Visa holders must arrive via Malabo International Airport . The processing fee is 75 USD . |
| Eritrea | Visa required | ||
| Eswatini | Visa-free | 30 days | |
| Ethiopia | Visa on arrival | up to 90 days | eVisa holders must arrive via Addis Ababa Bole International Airport |
| Gabon | Visa on arrival | 90 days | Electronic visa holders must arrive via Libreville International Airport . |
| Gambia | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| Ghana | Visa required | ||
| Guinea | eVisa | 90 days | |
| Guinea-Bissau | Visa on arrival | 90 days | |
| Kenya | eTA | 90 days | Applications can be submitted up to 90 days prior to travel and must be submitted at least 3 days in advance. eTA fee is 32.50 USD . Proof of reservation at the hotel where visitors plan to stay is required (if staying w |
| Lesotho | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| Liberia | eVisa | ||
| Libya | eVisa | 30 days | Independent travel is not permitted, and visitors must organize their visit through a tour guide. A tourist police escort is required at all times. An eVisa will not be granted without a sponsor or tour agency. A securit |
| Madagascar | Visa on arrival | 90 days | |
| Malawi | Visa on arrival | 90 days | |
| Mali | Visa required | ||
| Mauritania | eVisa | 30 days | Available at Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport . |
| Mauritius | Visa-free | 180 days | |
| Morocco | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| Mozambique | Visa on arrival | 30 days | |
| Namibia | Visa on arrival | 90 days | |
| Niger | Visa required | ||
| Nigeria | eVisa | Holders of written e-Visa approval issued by the Immigration Authority can obtain a visa on arrival, provided they hold a visa application form and e-Visa application payment receipt and have an invitation letter from a | |
| Republic of the Congo | Visa required | ||
| Rwanda | Visa-free | 30 days | |
| Senegal | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| Seychelles | eTA | 3 months | Travelers must obtain an ETA before departure. |
| Sierra Leone | Visa on arrival | 1 month | |
| Somalia | eVisa | 30 days | All visitors must have an approved Electronic Visa (eTAS) before the start of their journey. |
| South Africa | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| South Sudan | eVisa | Obtainable online 30 days single entry for 100 USD, 90 days multiple entry for 200 USD and 180 days multiple entry for 350 USD. Printed visa authorization must be presented at the time of travel. | |
| Sudan | Visa required | ||
| São Tomé and Príncipe | Visa-free | 15 days | |
| Tanzania | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| Togo | eVisa | 15 days | |
| Tunisia | Visa-free | 3 months | ID card valid on organized tours |
| Uganda | Visa-free | 3 months | May apply online. |
| Zambia | Visa-free | 90 days | |
| Zimbabwe | Visa-free | 3 months |
Oceania 10 visa-free · 2 eTA · 1 eVisa · 1 visa required
| Destination | Access | Stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | eTA | 90 days | 90 days on each visit in 12-month period if granted |
| Fiji | Visa-free | 4 months | |
| Kiribati | Visa-free | 90 days | 90 days within any 180 day period |
| Marshall Islands | Visa-free | 90 days | 90 days within any 180 day period |
| Micronesia | Visa-free | 90 days | 90 days within any 180 day period |
| Nauru | Visa required | ||
| New Zealand | eTA | 3 months | International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy must be paid upon requesting an Electronic Travel Authority. Holders of an Australian Permanent Resident Visa or Resident Return Visa may be granted a New Zealand Resid |
| Palau | Visa-free | 90 days | 90 days within any 180 day period |
| Papua New Guinea | eVisa | 60 days | |
| Samoa | Visa-free | 90 days | 90 days within any 180 day period |
| Solomon Islands | Visa-free | 90 days | 90 days within any 180 day period |
| Tonga | Visa-free | 90 days | 90 days within any 180 day period |
| Tuvalu | Visa-free | 90 days | 90 days within any 180 day period |
| Vanuatu | Visa-free | 90 days | 90 days within any 180 day period |
193 destinations, countries and territories, sorted by region. S marks the Schengen Area, where one entry rule covers all members. Compiled on 21 September 2026 from the published entry requirements of each destination, as collated in Wikipedia's visa requirements table, each row of which cites its source. Rules change without notice: confirm with the destination's consulate before you book.
What changed, and what is under review
Citizenship by investment ended on 29 April 2025
Until 2025 Malta was the only EU state that granted citizenship for a direct investment. On 29 April 2025 the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled in Commission v Malta (C-181/23) that granting nationality in exchange for a predetermined payment breaches EU law, and Malta repealed the investment provisions of its Citizenship Act. What remains is a discretionary citizenship-by-merit provision for exceptional service to Malta or to humanity, with no investment amount, no threshold and no application window, which the Community Malta Agency does not allow to be marketed. Our Malta citizenship page sets out what happened and what is left.
The United Kingdom: an ETA since April 2025
Maltese citizens, like all EU nationals, have needed a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation for short visits since 2 April 2025, applied for online and valid for two years. Maltese citizens with UK settled status or a visa are exempt. A Maltese ID card is no longer accepted at the UK border; use the passport.
The United States: ESTA
Malta joined the US Visa Waiver Program in 2008. A Maltese passport holder applies for an ESTA online, valid for two years, for visits of up to 90 days. ESTA is also needed for transit.
How it ranks against the alternatives
Malta sits in the top tier of passports worldwide, alongside the other EU states, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. Against the passports that can still be acquired by investment the comparison is not close: no Caribbean or Pacific programme reaches the United States, Canada or Australia without a visa, and none carries the right to live and work across the European Union.
| Passport | Destinations | United States | Schengen | Live & work in the EU | Acquirable by investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malta | 184 | ESTA | Citizen | Yes | No, since April 2025 |
| St Kitts & Nevis | 157 | Visa required | Visa-free, under review | No | Yes, from USD 250,000 |
| Grenada | 147 | Visa required (E-2 treaty) | Visa-free, under review | No | Yes, from USD 235,000 |
| Vanuatu | 88 | Visa required | Visa required | No | Yes, from US$130,000 |
Destination counts follow the Henley Passport Index and vary by index and month.
If an EU passport is the objective, the route in 2026 is residency by investment followed by naturalisation over time: see our Europe golden visa comparison. If mobility alone is the objective, the Caribbean programmes deliver most of the Western blocs except North America, in months rather than years.
How the passport is obtained
A Maltese passport is issued to Maltese citizens, and since April 2025 there are only the ordinary routes to citizenship. None of them can be bought, and none is quick.
- By descent. Children and, under the 2007 amendments, grandchildren and later generations of Maltese-born citizens can register, provided the line is unbroken and documented. Anyone with a Maltese parent or grandparent should check this first.
- By marriage. After five years of marriage to a Maltese citizen and living together.
- By naturalisation after residence. At the Minister's discretion, after a period of residence that in practice means several years as a resident, with genuine ties to Malta, good character and knowledge of Maltese or English. Long-term residence through the Malta Permanent Residence Programme, the Global Residence Programme or the Retirement Programme can be the starting point, but none of them promises citizenship at the end.
- By merit. A discretionary grant for exceptional service to Malta or to humanity. It is not a programme, has no thresholds and cannot be applied for through an adviser.
Lincoln Global Partners advises on the residence programmes, which are open and unaffected by the ruling. We do not sell Maltese citizenship, because nobody can.
Who this passport is actually for
Anyone with a Maltese parent or grandparent, who may already be entitled to it; anyone prepared to make Malta their home for years through one of the residence programmes; anyone weighing what an EU passport is actually worth before paying for a lesser one.
Anyone looking to buy a passport in months. That route closed in April 2025, and any adviser still offering Maltese citizenship for a contribution is describing a programme that no longer exists.
The questions we get every week
How many countries can I visit visa-free with a Malta passport?
Around 184 destinations visa-free or visa on arrival according to the Henley Passport Index, ranked 5th in the world, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China and Brazil. As an EU citizen a Maltese passport holder can also live and work in any of the other 26 member states.
Can I still buy Maltese citizenship?
No. The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled on 29 April 2025 that Malta's investor citizenship scheme breached EU law, and Malta repealed it. The only routes left are descent, marriage, naturalisation after years of residence, and a discretionary merit provision that cannot be marketed or applied for through an adviser.
Do Maltese citizens need a visa for the United States?
No visa, but an ESTA, applied for online before travelling and valid for two years, for visits of up to 90 days under the Visa Waiver Program.
Do Maltese citizens need anything to enter the UK?
Since 2 April 2025, an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), applied for online and valid for two years, unless they hold UK settled status or a visa. A Maltese ID card is no longer accepted at the border.
What is the fastest way to a Maltese passport now?
There is no fast way. Descent is immediate if you qualify. Otherwise it is marriage to a Maltese citizen or years of residence followed by a discretionary naturalisation application. The Malta Permanent Residence Programme grants residence in months, but residence is not citizenship.
Is a Caribbean passport a substitute for a Maltese one?
For Schengen short stays, the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong, largely yes. For the United States, Canada, Australia and the right to live and work in the EU, no. That difference is why the Maltese passport ranked 5th in the world and the Caribbean five rank in the twenties.
Last reviewed 21 September 2026.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Programme terms are set by the relevant government and can change; confirm any figure with the authority, or with us, before acting on it.
