The All Important E-Residence Card Malta
Foreign residents living in Malta and Gozo, may or may not have heard a very important announcement made earlier this year which directly concerns them. The announcement was linked to the European Union Act (Cap.460) which regards Identity Cards and other identification documents.
Non-Maltese residents
Non-Maltese people living on Malta need to have a regularly issued identification card (ID card) to accompany them during their stay on the islands. To be issued an ID card or when requiring the re-issue of such, they are now to refer to the Department for Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs rather than the Electoral Office which was responsible for this task up until the end of 2012. An ID card is re-issued after it is lost or stolen, which mishap needs to be reported to the police and a police report presented as proof of the loss or theft. An ID card must also be re-issued if one requires to include a change of surname and/or a change of address.
E-Residence Permit System
The new e-Residence Permit System is seeing the registration of identity as forming part of the entire procedure which foreigners must carry out in order to complete the application for residence on Malta and buy real estate in Malta. Thus the e-Residence Card as it is now known, will serve a dual purpose, namely as an Identity Card and also as a Residency permit. An e-Residence card clearly indicates that it is only valid for use in Malta (and Gozo) and that is it not valid for travel purposes, unlike the ID cards issued to Maltese residents who are allowed to travel within the Schengen region with just their ID cards.
EU or EEA or Swiss nationals
EU/EEA/Swiss nationals may download their application forms from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website and send it in, duly filled, by post and accompanied by all the required documents in attachment. However non-EU nationals need to visit the Department in person since biometrics will need to be taken in the form of photographic image, fingerprints and signature.
Whilst at face value, it all seems pretty straightforward, as things actually stand, the procedure can be pretty lengthy and may take up to several months to complete. Due to the high number of applications, notification of application usually takes three months to be received by the applicant, and the documents are processed thereafter. However the application is a necessary first step towards Maltese citizenship and in order to reside on Malta or Gozo (buy or rent Malta property) and live here correctly.
E-residence card procedure
To facilitate things and avoid time-consuming repeat trips to the same offices, foreign applicants who have experienced the entire e-residence card procedure recommend the following:
- There are two forms to be filled up, and it is important to also take along the form with which one must attach the required number of passport pictures that are to be counter-signed by a professional authority (doctor, lawyer, etc).
- With the two forms one should prepare also take along originals and the photocopies of all required documents (photocopies will not be made by the office personnel), as well as originals and photocopies of any local and foreign identification documents, any private health insurance documents and any other related documents.
- If the applicant is the parent of a Maltese-born child, the Maltese birth certificate of the child must also be presented.
This article was written by Marika Azzopardi, a freelance writer and journalist. A frequent contributor to national English language papers and magazines, she writes about a bevy of topics including art, people and life in general. She is also the author of children’s books and short stories, delving into adult fiction from time to time. Read more about what to expect when living on the islands of Malta and Gozo