Living in Malta

This page tells you what to do ahead of Brexit. It will be updated if anything changes, including if a deal is agreed.

You can also:

• essentialread informationLiving forin UKthe nationalsEU: livingprepare infor Brexit
• read the EUMaltese no-deal legislation (open in Google Chrome)
• read the factsheet on Malta Government’s plans in case of a no-deal Brexit
• attend one of our outreach meetings for UK nationals living in Malta and Gozo
• call the Maltese government helpline on Freephone 153

Visas and residency

Check the entry requirements for Malta.

If you plan to remain in Malta for more than 3 months, you must contact the Department of Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs to apply for residency. The Malta government will issue an identity card once you are registered.

For information on visas and residency you can:

• read information about visas and residency in Malta on the Maltese government website
• read our guidance on moving or retiring abroad

Visas and residency after Brexit

You must register as a resident in Malta before the UK leaves the EU.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, your rights will be recognised if you are legally resident in Malta before the end of the implementation period on 31 December 2020.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you will need to get a new non-EU residence permit within 2 years of the UK leaving the EU. This will protect your rights, including access to healthcare, rights to work and access to social benefits. Your current EU residency document will remain valid in the meantime. The new residency document will be:

• free
• valid for 10 years
• renewable when it expires

If you arrive after Brexit, you will be eligible for the 10-year residency permit as long as you satisfy the criteria. You will have to pay the same fee as third country nationals.

We will update this guidance when we know how and when the application process for the new residency permits will take place.

Passports and travel

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Malta.

Passports and travel after Brexit

After Brexit, the rules on travel will change. Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

If there is a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. In this time you can continue to travel freely in the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will form the next part of negotiations.

If there’s no deal you should have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.

If there’s no deal, UK nationals will not need visas for short stays elsewhere in the EU. You will be able to stay up to 90 days in another EU, EEA or EFTA country, within a 180 day period. You should retain evidence of travel (such as train and plane tickets), in case these are requested by national authorities. If you hold a residence permit from an EU, EEA or EFTA country, you will be able to transit through other EU, EEA or EFTA countries to reach your country of residence.

If you are legally resident in Malta, you should carry your residency permit with you when exiting or entering Malta after Brexit.

Healthcare

Read travel advice for Malta.

Read the NHS guidance about healthcare for UK nationals living in and visiting Malta.

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Applying for healthcare as a UK state pensioner or if you receive a long-term sickness benefit

If you receive a UK State Pension, you must request an S1 certificate (previously E121) from the Overseas Healthcare Service on +44 191 218 1999. If you receive an exportable DWP benefit, you can request an S1 form from the office which pays your exportable benefit.

Visiting the UK as an S1 holder

If you visit the UK whilst residing abroad and require medical treatment you must provide a copy of your S1 certificate. In some EU member states the S1 certificate is requested and retained in order for you to receive healthcare. If you do not have a copy or need to get a new certificate, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Service on +44 191 218 1999.

Healthcare after Brexit

If there is a deal, your current rights on access to healthcare in Malta will remain the same until the end of the implementation period, as long as you remain a resident in Malta.

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If you currently have your healthcare costs paid for by the UK government, we can help if you are asked to pay for treatment during the first 6 months after Brexit. To organise a payment, you must give your healthcare provider’s details to the NHS Business Services Authority’s Overseas Healthcare Services.

In an emergency, go directly to Mater Dei Hospital or Gozo General Hospital.

You can find English-speaking doctors in Malta.

You must check your prescriptions are legal in Malta.

Working in Malta

If you are registered as a resident in Malta, you have the right to work in Malta. You can read our guidance on working in another EU country.

When looking for work, you may need to:

• apply for a UK criminal records certificate
• visit the Maltese government website to check if your qualifications are recognised in Malta
• provide a Maltese conduct certificate

Working in Malta after Brexit

If there is a deal, your right to work will stay the same until the end of the implementation period.

If there’s no deal, if you have the new non-EU residency document, you will be able to work in Malta and will not need a work visa or employment licence. Read the guidance on providing services after Brexit if you’re planning to start a business, provide a service, or do a job in a regulated profession after the UK leaves the EU.

Money and tax

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Malta to ensure people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

You can read guidance about:

• tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
• tax on your UK income if you live abroad
• tax in Malta on the Maltese Inland Revenue Department website

For advice on paying tax in Malta, you can find an English-speaking lawyer.

National Insurance

Find out if you can pay National Insurance while abroad in order to protect your UK State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.

If you are employed or self-employed in the EU and you have a UK-issued A1/E101 form, you will remain subject to UK legislation until the end date on the form.

If the end date on your form is after 31 October 2019, you should contact the relevant EU, EEA or Swiss authority to confirm whether you need to start paying social security contributions in that country after 31 October, as well as UK National Insurance contributions.

Find out more about social security contributions after a no-deal Brexit.

Money and tax after Brexit

Brexit will not change existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Malta. You should send your taxpayer questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.

If there’s no deal, it may become more expensive to use your UK bank card in Malta. Read our guidance on using a bank card, insurance or other financial services.

Pensions

You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

If you retire in Malta, you can claim:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pensions Centre to claim

• your Maltese and UK State Pension from Malta’s Department of Social Security and the International Relations Unit

• pensions from working abroad, if you have worked in other EU countries

Life certificates for UK State Pensions

If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you don’t.

Pensions after Brexit

The UK government will continue to pay a State Pension to those eligible in the EU after Brexit. Your UK State Pension will be uprated in April 2020, 2021 and 2022 if you live in the EU, EEA or Switzerland.

If there is a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Malta, you will still be able to add your previous UK social security contributions towards your Maltese pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after the end of the implementation period.

If there’s no deal, the Maltese government will recognise pension contributions that were made in the UK before Brexit. Read the Maltese government factsheet on pensions.

Also read our guidance on pensions in a no-deal Brexit.

Benefits

You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Malta. You should:

• read our guidance on which benefits you can claim if you live abroad
• use our tool to check which benefits you can claim while you’re abroad

If you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks, many income-related benefits such as pension credit and housing benefit cannot be paid to you.

You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.

Maltese benefits

You may be eligible to claim some Maltese social security benefits. You should:

• read the EU’s guidance on claiming benefits in Malta
• contact Malta’s Department of Social Security, and the International Relations Unit

Benefits after Brexit

The UK government will continue to pay child benefits, and disability benefits to those eligible in the EU after Brexit.

If there is a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Malta, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for Maltese contributions-based benefits. This will happen even if you claim contributions-based benefits after the end of the implementation period.

If there’s no deal, the Maltese government have confirmed that they will continue to take periods of work in the UK before Brexit into account when claiming Maltese contributions-based benefits. We will continue to update our guidance on this.

Read our guidance on pensions if there’s no deal.

Driving in Malta

If you are resident in Malta, you should exchange your UK licence for a Maltese one by completing Transport Malta’s DRV30 Form.

If you are resident in Malta, you will not be able to renew a lost, stolen or expired licence with the UK Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). You should therefore exchange your licence for a Maltese one before your UK licence expires.

For information on driving in Malta, you can read our guidance on:

• what you need to drive abroad
• driving rules in Malta

You can also read the EU’s guidance on exchanging or renewing your driving licence.

Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Malta

Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.

Once you’re resident in Malta, your imported car must have Maltese number plates.

Read the European Union’s guidance on car registration and taxes in Malta. You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so you will need certificates of exemption.

Driving in Malta after Brexit

If there is a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same during the implementation period.

If there’s no deal, your UK driving licence will be valid for up to a year after you register as a resident in Malta. A UK driving licence can be exchanged for a local Maltese one without having to retake your test.

We will update this guide when more information becomes available.

Read our guidance on driving in the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

Voting

If you’re resident in Malta you can vote in local municipal and European Parliamentary elections.

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

• check if you are able to vote

• register as an overseas voter

Voting after Brexit

If you are resident in Malta, you can continue to vote in local municipal elections after Brexit.

You will no longer be eligible to vote in European Parliament elections after Brexit.

Births, deaths and getting married

If your child is born in Malta, would will need to register a birth abroad.

If someone dies in Malta, you can:

• read our guidance on what to do after someone dies abroad
• read guidance for UK nationals on bereavement information in Malta
• find a list of English-speaking funeral directors in Malta

Find out how you can get married abroad.

Accommodation and buying property

Read our guidance on renting and buying property in Malta.

Accommodation and buying property after Brexit

There will be minimum value limits when purchasing property in Malta as a third country national. You will need to apply for an Acquisition of Immovable Property [AIP] Permit.

Read the Maltese government’s guidance on buying property for more information. You may also wish to seek legal advice.

Pets

While the UK is still an EU Member State you’ll be able to travel with your pet to the EU under the current pet travel rules using your current EU pet passport.

You will still be able to travel to and from the UK with a cat, dog or ferret after Brexit, but the rules will change. Read guidance on pet travel to Europe after Brexit.

While the UK is still an EU Member State you’ll be able to travel with your pet to the EU under the current pet travel rules using your current EU pet passport.

If you’re travelling with your pet for the first time, you must visit your vet to get a pet passport.

Read guidance on returning your cat, dog or ferret to the UK. For moving pet horses and other equines read guidance on export horses and ponies: special rules.

Emergencies

The emergency number in Malta is 112.

If you need urgent help, are the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis in Malta, contact the British High Commission Malta.

Returning to the UK

Essential actions to take before leaving Malta:

• contact the Identity Management Office to cancel your residency permit
• contact the Social Security Department to end any benefits
• contact the Malta Inland Revenue to complete any tax-related formalities
• contact the Automated Revenue Management Services (ARMS) to cancel utilities
• contact Transport Malta to organise vehicle export
• inform your child’s school you’re leaving well in advance, so they can organise any documents the new school needs

Read our guidance on:

• access to benefits and services in the UK in a no deal
• bringing your family to the UK
• access to higher education, 19+ further education and apprenticeship funding
• importing vehicles back to the UK
• bringing your pet back to the UK
• checking your tax status after returning to the UK

To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.

If you receive healthcare in Malta through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 191 218 1999 to make sure your S1 is cancelled at the right time.

Disclaimer

This information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Maltese authorities. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.