Start your journey to reunite with your loved ones. Complete our eligibility questionnaire to receive professional guidance.
This questionnaire helps us assess whether you may be eligible for family reunification under Maltese immigration rules.
Completion of this form does not guarantee approval.
Insights and assistance
Frequently Asked Questions About Family Reunification
Find answers to common queries and gain valuable insights into insurance decision-making.Find clear answers to common questions about family reunification, family-member permits,
and Type C and Type D visas in Malta.
Family Reunification under S.L. 217.06 normally applies when the sponsor has legally
resided in Malta for at least two years and meets the applicable gross-income,
accommodation and other requirements.
The Family Members Policy generally becomes available after at least 12 months of legal
residence. It is a discretionary route for sponsors who do not qualify under formal Family
Reunification. Different income calculations, application forms and employment rights apply
to each route.
Applications generally cover:
● A legally married spouse aged 21 or over;
● An unmarried biological child under 18;
● An unmarried legally adopted child under 18; or
● A minor child from a previous relationship, subject to custody and parental-consent
requirements.
Parents, unmarried partners and adult children do not ordinarily qualify, although exceptional
dependency cases may sometimes be considered under specific policies.
Generally, no. A family member must normally be physically outside Malta when the family
application is submitted. But family member can be qualified in other categories.
A Type C visa is intended for short visits of no more than 90 days within a 180-day period.
Entering Malta on a Type C visa does not normally allow the person to remain in Malta while waiting for family reunification. An application may be considered inadmissible if the family
member is already in Malta, except in limited cases such as a child born in Malta.
A Type C visa is a short-stay Schengen visa allowing visits of up to 90 days within a
180-day period. It is generally used for tourism, family visits and short business trips.
A Type D visa is a Maltese national long-stay visa for a stay exceeding 90 days. After family
reunification or a family-member application is approved, a visa-required family member will
normally use the approval letter to apply for a Type D visa before travelling to Malta.
Yes. For family reunification purposes, the family application must generally be approved by
Identità first. After approval, the family member receives an approval letter or family
reunification certificate, which is then used to apply for the appropriate Type D visa.
The approval letter does not automatically guarantee that the visa will be issued. The family
member must still submit a complete visa application and satisfy all requirements of the
Central Visa Unit.
Processing time depends on the application route, document completeness, background
checks, visa requirements and the applicant’s country of residence.
Identità generally aims to decide Family Members Policy applications within approximately
60 days. Formal Family Reunification applications may take longer, and the law allows up to
nine months in certain circumstances. After approval, a separate Type D visa and
residence-card process may also be required.