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An independent guide written by Darya Melnik, consultant at BRIDGES. Not a government website.

The Maltese Passport in 2026: Visa-Free Countries and EU Rights

By Darya Melnik · Updated · Facts checked against the sources listed below

The limestone Dingli Cliffs dropping into the Mediterranean on the west coast of Malta

A Maltese passport is an EU passport. Inside the Union it means freedom of movement, not just visa-free entry. Outside it, the data below come from the BRIDGES Passport Index as of 4 October 2026.

The numbers

Entry typeDestinations
Visa-free144
Electronic authorisation (ETA)17
Visa on arrival23
e-Visa30
Visa required12

That gives 184 destinations without a prior visa and rank 7 of 199. On its citizenship page BRIDGES shows another count, 173 of 223 territories, because it uses different categories. I take both as estimates and check the specific country before a trip.

Key destinations

  • United Kingdom: ETA, up to 180 days.
  • United States: ESTA, 90 days.
  • Canada: eTA.
  • Japan, Singapore, UAE, Türkiye, Brazil: visa-free, usually 90 days.
  • China: visa-free, 30 days.

Where a visa is needed

India, Vietnam, Cuba and Azerbaijan issue e-visas. Algeria requires a visa in advance.

Old rock-cut salt pans on the coast of Gozo with the turquoise sea behind

EU rights

As an EU citizen you can live, work and study in any member state, and get consular help from any EU country’s embassy where Malta has none.

How to get it today

Not by investment. The routes that remain are described in the citizenship guide. Dual citizenship is allowed, so you do not have to give up your current passport under Maltese law.

Questions and answers

How many countries can Maltese citizens visit without a visa?

184 destinations without a prior visa in the BRIDGES Passport Index of 4 October 2026, rank 7 of 199. Other indexes give different numbers.

Do Maltese citizens need a visa for the USA?

No visa, but an electronic authorisation (ESTA) is required.

Where is a visa needed?

For example India and Vietnam (e-visa) and Algeria (visa in advance).

Can I get this passport by investment?

No. The investment route closed on 24 July 2025.

Sources

Checked on 31 October 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm them with the official sources before you file anything.