What happened?
A practical guide to Malta’s long-stay D visa for stays of more than 90 days.
Why does it matter?
residency
Who is affected?
Non-EU nationals planning a stay in Malta longer than 90 days
What should you do?
Check the correct D-visa category and VFS location
A Malta National D visa is for a stay exceeding 90 consecutive days in Malta. A Schengen Type C visa is for short stays of no more than 90 days within the applicable Schengen rules.
Identità’s current FAQ states that Malta D visas are processed by the Central Visa Unit and applications are lodged through the Extended service using VFS Global in countries where that service is available.
Even a nationality that is visa-exempt for short Schengen visits may still require a Malta D visa when the intended stay exceeds 90 days. Employment, family, study and other purposes have separate checklists and documentary requirements.
Identità states that D-visa processing may take up to eight weeks from the VFS appointment. Applicants should use the current purpose-specific checklist and confirm the latest visa and VFS fees before booking.
Official visa FAQ: https://identita.gov.mt/frequently-asked-questions/visa/