Living in Malta

Coronavirus

You should follow the advice of the Maltese Government and your local authority. You can also read our Malta travel advice for our latest guidance.

Stay up to date

You should:

• sign up for email alerts to get the latest information.
• follow the British High Commission Malta on Facebook and Twitter

Attend a citizen outreach meeting

The British High Commission regularly hold events across Malta for UK nationals. Attend one of our citizen outreach meetings to keep up to date on working and living in Malta.

You can also:

• call the Maltese government helpline on Freephone 153
• read updates on the Identity Malta Facebook page

The Withdrawal Agreement

The Withdrawal Agreement sets out the terms of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and provides for a deal on citizens’ rights. It sets out a transition period which lasts until 31 December 2020. During this time you can continue to live, work and study in the EU broadly as you did before 31 January 2020.

If you are resident in Malta at the end of the transition period, you will be covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, and your rights will be protected for as long as you remain resident in Malta.

Any rights that are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement will be the subject of future negotiations. Read this guidance page for more information.

In the meantime, make sure you are registered as a resident in Malta. We will update this guidance as soon as more information becomes available.

You should also read our guidance on living in Europe.

Visas and residency

Check the entry requirements for Malta.

Residency

If you are resident in Malta on or before 31 December 2020, you will be able to stay.

All UK nationals resident in Malta for at least 3 months will need to obtain a new residency card in line with the Withdrawal Agreement.

Due to the impact of coronavirus, Identity Malta has paused some parts of this service:

• If you have already received a letter to obtain your new card, you should still attend your appointment

• If you have already registered but have not yet received a letter, Identity Malta will send one to you when full service resumes.

If you have been living in Malta for three months or more and have not yet registered your residence or your residence document has expired, you should contact Identity Malta by emailing eu.ima@gov.mt.

Read the Maltese government’s guidance on the changes to the residency registration process

If you have already registered for residency, you will receive a letter from Identity Malta by 31 December 2020 about your new card. The letter will tell you when and where to go to apply for it, as well as what documents you will need to take with you.

If you have not previously registered as a resident, you should contact Identity Malta to book an appointment to obtain your card.

For more information, read the Maltese government’s guidance on residency on the Identity Malta Facebook page.

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

Passports and travel

The rules on travel will stay the same until the transition period ends on 31 December 2020. During this time you can continue to travel to countries in the Schengen area or elsewhere in the EU with your UK passport.

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

Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay.

You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on it.

We will update these pages with details of any changes to the rules as soon as information is available. You should sign up for updates to this guidance.

Driving in Malta

Driving licence rules will stay the same until 31 December 2020.

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.

Healthcare

If you are living in Malta or move there permanently before 31 December 2020, you’ll have life-long healthcare rights in Malta as you do now, provided you remain resident.

If you are legally resident in Malta and paying into the Maltese Social Security System, you will be entitled to full access to healthcare and you will be able to apply for a Maltese EHIC.

If you don’t qualify for healthcare cover through your national security contributions, you should check if you are eligible to apply for the Maltese RHA Entitlement Card.

Your RHA Entitlement Card allows you to register at your nearest health centre on the Maltese government website and make GP appointments. You will need to bring an identity card or passport.

RHA Entitlement Card holders are not entitled to long-term care and treatment outside Malta and are not eligible for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from Malta.

Read our guidance on who can access healthcare in Malta and how to register

State healthcare: S1

If you live in Malta and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit, you may currently be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate.

You can apply for an S1 certificate through the Business Services Authority.

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.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are resident in Malta, you must not use an EHIC from the UK to access healthcare in Malta.

When you travel from Malta for a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, you can use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare in that country. During that short stay:

• the EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home

• an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance

• for more information read our travel advice pages and advice on foreign travel insurance

There will be no changes to your healthcare access before 31 December 2020. You can also continue to use your EHIC, as you did before, during this time.

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 and studying 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 an 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

If you are resident in Malta on or before 31 December 2020, your right to work or study will not change, as long as you remain resident in Malta.

Eligibility for financial support requires a minimum of 5 years residency in Malta.

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 ask the relevant tax authority about double taxation relief.

Existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Malta have not changed following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

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.

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 31 January 2020

There will be no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming the UK State Pension in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

You can continue to receive your UK State Pension if you live in the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you can still claim your UK State Pension.

If you are living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 you will get your UK State Pension uprated every year for as long as you continue to live there. This will happen even if you start claiming your pension on or after 1 January 2021, as long as you meet the qualifying conditions explained in the new State Pension guidance.

If you are living in Malta by 31 December 2020, you will be able to count future social security contributions towards meeting the qualifying conditions for your UK State Pension.

If 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 31 December 2020.

Read our guidance on benefits and pensions in the EU.

Benefits

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

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 31 January 2020

There will be no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming UK benefits in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

If you are living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020, you will continue to receive any UK benefits you already receive. This will continue for as long as you live there and meet all other eligibility requirements.

If you work and pay social security contributions in Malta, your previous 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 31 December 2020.

Read our guidance on benefits and pensions in the EU.

Voting

You can vote in local municipal elections. You cannot vote in general elections in Malta or European Parliament 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

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.

You may need to meet certain eligibility requirements when purchasing property in Malta, including applying 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

Current pet travel rules will stay the same until 31 December 2020.

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

Read guidance on bringing your pet to the UK.

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

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.

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax, access to services and bringing family members.

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.