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EU and Schengen membership

Malta's membership of the European Union, the euro area and the Schengen area: dates, what it means for EU and non-EU residents, travel, work, healthcare and consumer rights.

Written by Malta MPRP Guide Editorial TeamReviewed by Compliance ReviewerPublished 1 October 2026Updated 1 October 2026Last verified: 1 October 2026

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Membership

Malta joined the European Union on 1 May 2004 under the European Union Act, adopted the euro on 1 January 2008 and joined the Schengen area on 21 December 2007.

Key figures

EU member state since

1 May 2004

2004

Government of Malta — Laws of Malta · verified 01 Oct 2026

Currency

Euro (€)

since 1 January 2008

European Union (european-union.europa.eu) · verified 01 Oct 2026

Schengen area

Member

since 21 December 2007

European Union (european-union.europa.eu) · verified 01 Oct 2026

Every figure shows the reference period and the publishing authority. Statistics are refreshed when the source publishes a new release; see the source register for document details.

Government: verified figures
Indicator	Value	Period	Source
Capital city	Valletta	Constitution, art. 5A	Government of Malta — Laws of Malta · Article 5A · verified 01 Oct 2026
Official languages	Maltese and English	Constitution, art. 5	Government of Malta — Laws of Malta · Article 5(1)–(2): Maltese is the national language; Maltese and English are official languages · verified 01 Oct 2026
Form of state	Democratic republic (neutral state)	Constitution, art. 1	Government of Malta — Laws of Malta · Article 1(1) and 1(3) · verified 01 Oct 2026
Independence	21 September 1964	1964	Government of Malta — Laws of Malta · Date of the Maltese Citizenship Act and of independence · verified 01 Oct 2026
Republic declared	13 December 1974	1974	Government of Malta — Laws of Malta · Act LVIII of 1974 amending the Constitution · verified 01 Oct 2026
EU member state since	1 May 2004	2004	Government of Malta — Laws of Malta · European Union Act, in force 1 May 2004; confirmed by the EU country profile · verified 01 Oct 2026
Currency	Euro (€)	since 1 January 2008	European Union (european-union.europa.eu) · EU country profile: euro area member · verified 01 Oct 2026
Schengen area	Member	since 21 December 2007	European Union (european-union.europa.eu) · EU country profile: Schengen area member · verified 01 Oct 2026
Religion named in the Constitution	Roman Catholic Apostolic Religion (freedom of conscience and worship guaranteed, art. 40)	Constitution, art. 2	Government of Malta — Laws of Malta · verified 01 Oct 2026

What it means for EU/EEA citizens

Freedom of movement: EU citizens may live and work in Malta, registering with Identità for a residence document after three months; they vote in local and European elections, access state healthcare on the same basis as nationals once contributing, and pay the same university fees as Maltese students at the University of Malta.

What it means for non-EU citizens

Malta applies the EU's common visa policy and the Schengen rules on short stays (90 days in any 180-day period). Longer stays require a national residence permit: a single permit for employment, a study permit, family reunification, or a residence programme such as the Malta Permanent Residence Programme. MPRP residence cards allow visa-free travel within the Schengen area for short stays but do not grant the right to work in other member states.

Travel

There are no systematic border checks on flights and ferries between Malta and other Schengen states; checks apply on arrival from outside the area. Malta International Airport is the only airport; ferries connect to Sicily.

Consumer and other rights

EU rules on roaming, air-passenger rights, product safety and data protection (GDPR) apply. The euro removes exchange risk for residents paid or receiving pensions in euro.

Sources & Verification

Verified 1 October 2026 against the sources below

European Union Act (Cap. 460)
Government of Malta — Laws of Malta
Legislation
Chapter 460 — Act V of 2003 providing for Malta's accession to the European Union (in force 1 May 2004)
Published
16 Jul 2003
Effective
01 May 2004
Last checked
01 Oct 2026
Status
Active
Reference: CAP-460Official requirement
European Union — Malta country profile
European Union (european-union.europa.eu)
EU Institution
Malta: EU member state since 1 May 2004; euro area; Schengen area; official EU languages Maltese and English; capital Valletta
Published
—
Effective
—
Last checked
01 Oct 2026
Status
Active
Reference: EUROPA-MTOfficial requirement
Malta Permanent Residence Programme Regulations (S.L. 217.26), consolidated
Government of Malta — Subsidiary Legislation under the Immigration Act (Cap. 217)
Legislation
Subsidiary Legislation 217.26 — Malta Permanent Residence Programme Regulations, L.N. 121 of 2021 as amended by L.N. 57 and 310 of 2024 and L.N. 146 of 2025
Published
29 Mar 2021
Effective
22 Jul 2025
Last checked
30 Sept 2026
Status
Active
Reference: SL-217-26Official requirement
Identità — Identity, residence and passports agency
Identità (Government of Malta)
Official Authority
Identity Cards Unit; Expatriates Unit (residence documents for EU nationals and residence permits for third-country nationals); Passport Office
Published
—
Effective
—
Last checked
01 Oct 2026
Status
Active
Reference: IDENTITAOfficial requirement

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Written by

Malta MPRP Guide Editorial Team

Research & editorial

The editorial team researches the Malta Permanent Residence Programme directly from the consolidated regulations (S.L. 217.26), the Legal Notices that amend them and the Residency Malta Agency's published material. Ever…

Reviewed by

Compliance Reviewer

Fact-check & source review

Responsible for reviewing published pages against the current text of S.L. 217.26 and the Agency's official pages, recording the verification date and flagging any page that needs an update after a legislative change. R…