Reviewed by Yasir Khan, Founder, LAMTANS Group of Companies, and British Council registered consultant
To study in Malta from Pakistan you need a long-stay national D visa if your course lasts 105 days or more, applied for before you travel. Funds are set per day, EUR 26 or EUR 18 depending on your accommodation. This guide covers the steps, costs and work rules.
Malta student visa process from Pakistan
- Get a letter of acceptance showing the course, its duration, fees and proof of payment.
- Book a VFS Global appointment. The guidelines say to book from the Identità page, create an account and attend with your appointment letter, passport and documents. The interview is at VFS or by Microsoft Teams, and you can book up to 6 months before your course starts.
- Pay the visa fee.
- After arrival, your D visa can be extended up to 365 days from your first Schengen entry. Students on MQF Level 5 or higher courses then apply for a study residence permit from the Identità Expatriates Unit.
Stays of 105 days or more have needed a D visa since 1 March 2024. The VFS Malta page says the institution must book the student visa appointment. Its header says UAE, and we could not confirm where Pakistani applicants lodge, so we confirm the route at your consultation.
The visa fee is EUR 100 with the standard service, where an appointment comes within about three weeks, or EUR 150 for the extended service. A VFS administration fee is extra, and the visa fee is not refundable. The guidelines give 4 to 8 weeks for processing, and VFS says at least 6 to 8 weeks. For MQF Level 5 or higher courses over six months, you can apply for the study permit on arrival. For MQF Level 4 and below, you first hold one year of consecutive visas. The study permit is applied for online through the Expatriates Portal, submitted in person in Malta, and costs EUR 50. Your passport needs at least six months of validity.
Documents for a Maltese student visa
- Signed application form, and a passport valid 3 months beyond your stay, issued within 10 years.
- ICAO photos: the guidelines ask for two, 240 x 320 pixels and no larger than 120 KB.
- Original letter of acceptance showing course, duration, fees and proof of payment.
- Travel medical insurance valid in Malta for the whole visa.
- Proof of accommodation for the first month, proof of funds and a provisionally booked flight. A return ticket is not required for courses longer than 180 days.
Proof of funds for Malta
| Situation | Funds required |
|---|---|
| Accommodation not fully paid for the whole course (for example a monthly lease) | EUR 26 per day |
| Accommodation fully paid for the whole course (for example school accommodation) | EUR 18 per day |
| First 14 nights booked through an online platform | Count at EUR 26 per day |
By our own arithmetic, not an official total, 12 months at EUR 26 a day is EUR 9,490 and at EUR 18 a day is EUR 6,570. The Identità long-stay page itself sets no minimum and says only “sufficient financial means”, so we confirm the figure for your course. We could not find the University of Malta’s non-EU tuition on the pages we read. Students at the University of Malta, MCAST and ITS are exempt from the health-insurance requirement at the permit stage.
Working in Malta as a student
Students may work up to 20 hours a week, only after Jobsplus issues the employment licence. A job offer in your first four weeks does not by itself let you work, the work must fall outside study hours, and unauthorised work can lead to your visa being revoked.
After you complete your course you can apply to Identità for authorisation to stay up to nine months. It is a maximum, not a minimum, and cannot be renewed. It lets you look for work or set up a business related to your Maltese course. We could not confirm how to apply, the documents needed or the hours allowed under it. We found no official rule on dependants for students.
English requirements and entry with the HSSC
The University of Malta accepts IELTS Academic results from the last two years. Foundation and Junior College need 5.5 overall, with 5.0 in writing and reading. Undergraduate courses need 6.0 overall, with 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in reading, listening and speaking. Postgraduate and doctoral courses need 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each skill. For TOEFL iBT it asks for 80 for undergraduates and 95 for postgraduates on the earlier scale, and 4 and 5 on the scale used from January 2026.
With the Intermediate or Higher Secondary Certificate, the University of Malta offers pathway programmes, and entry is at the sole discretion of its International School for Foundation Studies. Master’s entry needs an undergraduate degree at a level that varies by course, assessed case by case. A valid English test is required at both levels.
Dates, scholarships and how we help
The University of Malta year starts in October, with applications opening the previous November and a smaller February intake. The deadline for October 2026 applicants who need a visa was 1 July 2026, and it has closed. 2027/28 dates were not published on the pages we read. The University of Malta scholarships we found are for Tunisian and Palestinian nationals and its Islands and Small States Institute, and none is shown as open to Pakistanis.
We help with course choice, applications, funds evidence and your visa file. We cannot promise a visa. Compare other countries on our student visa from Pakistan guide or see all study abroad destinations, including Italy, Germany and Ireland.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need to study in Malta?
The guidelines set EUR 26 a day, or EUR 18 a day if your accommodation is fully paid for the whole course.
Do I need a visa to study in Malta from Pakistan?
Yes. A course of 105 days or more needs a long-stay national D visa before you travel.
Can I work while studying in Malta?
Yes, up to 20 hours a week, but only once Jobsplus has issued your employment licence.
How long can I stay in Malta after my studies?
Identità allows authorisation to stay up to nine months. It is a maximum and cannot be renewed.
How much does the Malta study permit cost?
The study residence permit costs EUR 50. The D visa costs EUR 100 or EUR 150, plus a VFS fee.
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Official sources: Student guidelines (5 March 2025) · Identità: long-stay visa · Identità: study permit · Identità: rights and obligations · University of Malta: English · University of Malta: Pakistan. Figures checked on 11 October 2026. Some Maltese pages are undated, so we confirm each figure before you apply. Reviewed by Yasir Khan, British Council registered consultant, LAMTANS Consultants. Last updated 11 October 2026. Rules change, so we confirm the latest position at your consultation.