MaltaBusiness and self-employment

Malta business visa (Schengen type C)

Schengen visa (type C) for business

In short

Meetings, negotiations, contract signing, trade fairs and conferences in Malta of up to 90 days need a Schengen C business visa if your nationality is visa-required. Apart from the usual Schengen papers you submit an invitation from the Maltese organisation and your company documents. The visa does not allow you to carry out paid work in Malta.

checked 24 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Validity
As set on the visa; frequent travellers may receive multiple-entry visas
Fee
€90€90 from age 12, €45 for children aged 6 to under 12, free under 6; family members of EU citizens exercising free movement pay nothing. A visa application centre adds its own service fee; fees are not refunded after a refusal.
Processing time
Normally within 15 calendar days; up to 45 days in individual cases
Work
No: business visits only, such as meetings and contract signing
Where to apply
The Maltese embassy or consulate responsible for your place of legal residence, or the visa application centre it uses

What counts as a business trip

The business category covers visits for work reasons, such as signing a contract or attending meetings, without carrying out the professional activity itself. Installing equipment, working on a construction site, serving clients in Malta or taking up a job needs a work permit and, for nationals who need visas, a D visa. Scientific, cultural and sports events have their own category with an acceptance letter from the Maltese institution.

Invitation and company papers

The invitation letter from the organisation in Malta should describe the event or business relationship and its dates, include a copy of the ID of the person signing it and, where there is a registration fee, confirm that it has been paid. From your side, employees bring a signed employer letter and recent payslips; company owners and partners bring proof of the company’s registration and activity.

For long-stay business purposes, the Central Visa Unit additionally lists the host company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, proof of business between the two companies and proof of your own business activity.

Required documents

Identity

  • Original passport valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area, with two blank pages, plus a copy of the data page and all used pages
  • Fully completed and signed application form with e-mail, mobile and work phone numbers
  • One colour biometric photo, 3.5 x 4.5 cm, taken within the last 6 months, white or light background
  • Copy of your national ID card; if you apply outside your country of nationality, proof of legal residence there

Travel

  • Round-trip flight reservation
  • Hotel reservation with your name and the hotel’s address and phone number

Money

  • Recent bank statements showing sufficient means for the stay

Work

  • Employees: signed employer letter on letterhead (position, start date, leave dates) and recent payslips
  • Invitation letter from the Maltese organisation with details and dates of the meeting or event, copy of the signatory’s ID and proof that any registration fee is paid

Insurance

  • Travel medical insurance covering at least €30,000 for the whole stay in the Schengen area (life insurance is not accepted)

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Money

  • Applicants without income: signed undertaking from a sponsor with travel dates, the sponsor’s ID copy and proof of their income

Work

  • Business owners and self-employed: proof of company registration and activity; students: certificate of enrolment

Family

  • Minors: consent from both parents if they are not applying, with ID copies or a birth certificate

Other

  • Signed and dated cover letter in English explaining anything particular about your trip

Fees

The Schengen fee is €90, plus any service fee of the visa application centre. The fee is not refunded after a refusal.

Timing and multiple-entry visas

Apply at least 15 days and at most six months before travel. The standard decision period is 15 days, extendable to 45. Under the Schengen rules, regular travellers with a good visa history can be issued multiple-entry visas with longer validity; mention earlier Schengen visas in your cover letter and include copies.

Refusal

Common weak points are an invitation that does not explain the purpose, unclear company documents or a bank history that does not match the stated costs. The refusal letter states the grounds and the remedy; you can also reapply with a corrected file.

How to apply, step by step

  1. Obtain a detailed invitation from the company or organiser in Malta.
  2. Collect the business checklist documents, including company and employment papers.
  3. Book an appointment with the Maltese mission responsible for your place of residence or its visa application centre.
  4. Lodge the file in person, give biometrics and pay the €90 visa fee plus any service fee.
  5. Collect your passport and keep the invitation with you when travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Can I install machinery for a Maltese client on a business visa?

No. The business category is limited to visits that do not involve carrying out the professional activity; hands-on work needs a work permit.

Is a conference a business or an event visa?

Business conferences fit the business category; scientific, cultural and sports events use the sports and cultural category with an acceptance letter from the Maltese body.

What does a company owner submit instead of an employer letter?

Proof of the company’s registration and activity, together with the usual bank statements and the invitation from Malta.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Malta

Visits and short stays

Business and self-employment

Study and training

  • Student visa Maximum stay: D visa: up to 365 days from first entry into Schengen; higher-education students then hold a residence permit for the course

Work

  • Work visa Maximum stay: Temporary permit for a defined period of over 6 months; generally renewed every year
  • Skilled worker visa Maximum stay: First permit 1 year; renewals for up to 3 years
  • EU Blue Card Maximum stay: First card 2 years (or contract plus 3 months if shorter); renewals up to 3 years
  • Digital nomad visa Maximum stay: 1 year, renewable three times for a maximum of 4 years

Family

Residence

Faster processing

Protection

Malta visa guide