Guidelines - Visa Extended Service

Accepted students are allowed to submit their Visa applications only up to 6 months before the commencement date of the programme, hence for courses commencing in October 2026, Visa applications can only start being submitted as from April 2026.

However, we have been informed by the Central Visa Unit in Malta that some parts of the Visa application process and requirements will change in the forthcoming 2-3 months.

Hence, whilst we still suggest that students read through the information below to start familiarising themselves with the process, we recommend that they refer again to this page for possible updates around May 2026 and confirm with the International Office by sending an email on visas@um.edu.mt in this regard, before proceeding with their Visa application process.

The updated information and instructions on how to proceed with the Visa application submission process will also be communicated to all accepted students by email by our Office once these changes are implemented in due course.

To start off the Extended Service Visa application procedure, the accepted applicant must be in possession of the following documentation:

An unconditional letter of acceptance issued by the University of Mata (UM).
Proof of payment of Course Assurance fees indicated on the letter of acceptance (if payment was affected by a bank transfer)
A recently issued visa support letter issued by the International Office.

As a prospective student and a visa seeker, you will receive ALL guidelines and instructions via email once you contact the International Office.

As an upcoming student, you have been given direct access to the electronic Extended Service Portal below through which you will be able to schedule your own visa appointment with the respective VFS Centre and pay your visa application fee directly.

How to schedule a visa appointment booking:

1. Click on this link
2. Select the ‘Country’** where you will be submitting your Visa application

3. Click on ‘Application Form’
4. Click on ‘Book Now’ to proceed with booking your appointment
5. Follow the instructions to create an account, activate it and proceed to book an appointment.

6. Please ensure that when you access the Extended Service Portal, you select ‘Long Term Extended Service’ and ‘Student Visa’ from the list of categories provided.

** In case your country of residence does not come up in the list of countries available on the above link, this means that you would need to submit your Visa application in the nearest country with operational VACs which accept Visa application submissions for Malta.

Please note that on your appointment date you are required to submit all the documentation (see the Visa checklist below) to the Visa Application Centre (VAC), including your actual passport for necessary processing. This visa application process takes a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks to be completed. In cases where students submit documents which are incorrect, do not show proper information as a guarantee of sufficient funds and missing documents, the process is delayed even further. You will then be informed by the VAC directly when your passport is ready for collection.

Note: It is extremely important for you to also note that you will be required to temporarily surrender your actual passport. This may create a great deal of inconvenience by being compelled to wait in the relative country for the whole period of time (6- 8 weeks) during which your application is being processed. You will finally be notified directly by the VAC once your passport is ready for collection.

Please take note that once you schedule your appointment, you are to immediately send the below details to - visas@um.edu.mt - This is due to the fact that the International Office needs to notify the Central Visa Unit about your scheduled appointment prior to submitting your visa application.

Please forward the following details once you schedule your appointment:

Full Name and Surname (as shown on your passport)
Passport Number
Nationality
Country (where you will be submitting your Visa application)
Booking Reference Number
Booking Date and Time
Location of VAC (where you will be submitting your Visa Application)

Please access the Visa Checklist for your visa application and the Application Form you need to complete and submit when applying for your study visa.

Please proceed also with completing this Visa Support Letter Form so we may issue your letter accordingly.

Note: Considering the lengthy application process, we strongly recommend that you do your utmost to follow all the instructions provided to collate all required documentation and to schedule your appointment by not later than 31^st July (if you are applying for the October intake) or by not later than 31^st October (if you are applying for the February intake).

Visa Application Booking Fee

You are required to pay an appointment booking fee via a credit card (Eur 150) when booking your appointment online. You will then have to settle a further Eur 150 (or equivalent) when you visit the VAC office for your appointment.

Please keep in mind that if you miss your VAC appointment, you will forfeit your money and therefore you will have to restart your application and pay the application fee again.

Proof of Sufficient Funds

Internationals students are expected to have financial back-up that meets the Living Costs in Malta as are indicated here.

Additionally for Visa application purposes, as per the Visa Checklist provided by the CVU, in terms of 'Proof of Sufficient Funds', students must provide a bank statement which includes transactions for at least the last 3 months, attached with a recent bank certificate, as well as a copy of an International Bank card (front & back, covering the CVV) directly related to the bank account from which the statement is issued.

The Bank Card must be an International card (i.e. Visa or Mastercard) to show proof that they would be able to access their funds when in Malta.

The bank statement must show a minimum balance of at least 75% of the national minimum wage for every month of study or Eur 18 for each day of their stay in Malta, if accommodation is paid, or at least Eur 26 per day if their accommodation payment is not settled at that stage. This total balance should exclude any tuition fees.

If accommodation is provided through an online platform for the first 14 nights, the daily rate needs to be calculated at €26.

In case they are being sponsored by a relative/acquaintance, students still need to provide their sponsor's bank statement which should also include transactions for at least the last 3 months, indicating the above amounts, together with a copy of the International Bank card (front & back, covering the CVV) they, as students, would be using to access these funds, when in Malta.

Students who are being sponsored need also to submit a Signed Declaration Letter by their sponsor together with a copy of their sponsor's identification document (front/back, such as passport).

Meanwhile subject that the Long-term Study Visa is issued, on arrival in Malta and once fully enrolled on the course and having paid the applicable tuition fees, students would then need to apply for an e-Residence Permit for the duration of your stay in Malta, whereby they would also be required to submit another recent bank statement showing transactions for the last three months, from the date of the e-Residence permit application submission, with a total balance of a minimum of Eur 950 for each month of their stay in Malta, or its equivalent in foreign currency, excluding any tuition fees.

In this regard, we recommend that students make sure to have such funds available at their disposal in their or their sponsors' bank account at the time of the Visa application submission.

NB: Nevertheless students need to keep in mind that these minimum financial requirements stipulated for both the Visa and the e-Residence Permit applications are not enough to cover the accommodation and living expenses in Malta and hence they MUST ensure to equip themselves with enough funding to cover living expenses as indicated in the link above.

Additionally requirements and conditions stipulated by Identita' are subject to change and hence students are informed to verify details on our website before submitting applications.