Malta Passport Application Guide
A Maltese passport is issued by Identità through the Passport Office, and applications are made in person with live biometrics captured. This guide sets out the five age bands, the documents, the photos and the fees. Verified against identita.gov.mt, October 2026.
The 15-second answer
Submit Form A in person with your Maltese ID card and a recommender. In normal circumstances the passport is ready after 4 working days; an urgent service takes 4 working hours.
Who issues it
Identità (Malta's agency for identity documents) issues Maltese passports through the Passport Office. The first Maltese biometric passport was issued on 30 September 2008, bringing Malta into line with EU legislation and the US Visa Waiver Program.
Documents by age band
Applications are made in person and live biometrics (facial image, fingerprints, signature) are captured at the office.
| Band | Form A sections | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| 18+ / first-time | 1, 2, 7, 9 | Original valid Maltese ID card + copy; section 7 by the recommender; if citizenship was acquired, the original citizenship certificate / dual letter. |
| 16–17 | 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9 (4 & 8 optional) | Attend in person; fingerprints and signature captured; one parent present; minor's valid ID card (16+); both parents' ID/passport + copies. |
| 14–15 | 1, 2, 6, 7, 9 | Attend in person; fingerprints and signature; minor's ID card (14+); both parents' ID + copies. |
| 12–13 | 1, 2, 6, 7 | Attend in person; fingerprints captured from this age; 2 photos (white background); both parents' ID + copies. |
| 6–9 | 1, 2, 6, 7 | Attend in person (live facial biometrics); 1 photo (white background) endorsed by the recommender; both parents' ID + copies. |
| 0–5 | 1, 2, 6, 7 | Not required to attend (no live biometrics); a parent attends; 2 photos, one endorsed; both parents' ID + copies. |
On every band, section 6 is signed by both parents and the recommender, and section 7 is filled, signed and stamped by the same recommender. The recommender must be a Maltese, EU or Commonwealth national resident in Malta holding a university degree, who has known the applicant at least 2 years. All signatures must be original wet signatures — electronic or scanned signatures are not accepted.
If a previous passport was lost and is still valid, an original police report must be presented (an additional €15 fee applies to such cases).
The photo
Where a photo is required, it must be printed on good quality photo paper at high resolution, on a white background, with the minor looking forward, eyes open and lips closed, and no headwear (face clearly showing). The photo must be endorsed by the same recommender with the wording “This is a true image of (name and surname of the minor)”. For the specifications, see the Malta passport photo page and test your photo with the free passport photo checker.
Fees and timing
- 18+ and 16–17: €70 (September–March) or €80 (April–August); urgent €160.
- 14–15 and 12–13: €40; urgent €80.
- 6–9 and 0–5: €16; urgent €60.
- Standard: ready after 4 working days. Urgent: ready in 4 working hours.
- Lost and still valid: an additional €15.
Validity
- 10 years — adults and 16–17 year-olds (the adults and 16–17 pages state 10 years).
- 5 years — the 10–15 range (the 14–15 and 12–13 pages state 5 years).
- 2 years — children under 10 (the 6–9 and 0–5 pages state 2 years).
One of the parents collects the passport in person with their own original valid ID card; minors may also need to be present for collection, as fingerprints may be confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues a Maltese passport?
Identità, Malta's agency for identity documents, through the Passport Office.
What do adults need for a first Maltese passport?
Form A with sections 1, 2, 7 and 9 filled in, an original valid Maltese ID card and a copy, a recommender for section 7, and — if citizenship was acquired — the original citizenship certificate.
How much does a Maltese passport cost?
Adults and 16-17 year-olds: €70 (September to March) or €80 (April to August); 14-15 and 12-13: €40; 6-9 and 0-5: €16. An urgent service is also available (ready in 4 working hours) at a higher fee.
How long does it take?
In normal circumstances the passport is ready for collection after 4 working days. An urgent service readies it in 4 working hours.
Do children need their own Maltese passport?
Yes. Each child has their own passport; children are not listed on their parents' passports.
What is the validity of a Maltese passport?
10 years for adults and 16-17 year-olds, 5 years for the 10-15 range (the 14-15 and 12-13 pages state 5 years), and 2 years for children under 10 (the 6-9 and 0-5 pages state 2 years).
Malta photo requirements → Photo size chart →
Browse all passport guides or the photo size chart.
Source note: the issuing agency, the age-band document matrices (Form A section numbers, the ID-card and parent-document rules), the recommender requirements and wet-signature rule, the photo rules (white background, forward gaze, lips closed, no headwear, recommender endorsement) and the fees/validity (4 working days; urgent 4 working hours; €70/€80, €40, €16; 10/5/2-year validity) are from the Identità Passport Office pages at identita.gov.mt/passport-office-* and the passport FAQ identita.gov.mt/frequently-asked-questions/passport/, checked October 2026.