Applikazzjoni tal-Viża
Il-Kodiċi dwar il-Viżi stabbilixxa l-proċeduri u l-kundizzjonijiet għall-ħruġ ta’ viżi għal soġġorni qosra (massimu ta’ tliet xhur matul perijodu ta’ sitt xhur) u t-tranżitu mill-Istati Membri tal-Unjoni Ewropea (UE) u l-Istati assoċjati li japplikaw l-acquis ta’ Schengen b’mod sħiħ. Għaldaqstant, kwalunkwe applikazzjonijiet għal viża għal dħul f’Malta għal waqfa qasira, trid tkun konformi mal-proċeduri kollha stabbiliti mill-Kodiċi tal-Viża.
Applikazzjoni tal-Viża
Applikazzjonijiet tal-viża jridu jsiru bil-miktub, fejn jingħataw id-dettalji kollha meħtieġa fuq il-Formola tal-Applikazzjoni tal-Viża (li tista’ titniżżel minn fuq is-sit tal-internet u tinġieb minn xi Ambaxxata jew Konsolat) u jridu jiġu sottomessi fl-Ambaxxata jew Konsolat tal-pajjiż tad-destinazzjoni tas-safra.
Formola tal-applikazzjoni trid timtela b’mod leġibbli, tkun iffirmata mill-applikant u magħha jridu jiġu ppreżentati dawn:
- Dokument tal-ivvjaġġar validu (passaport) li jrid ikollu data tal-iskadenza mhux inqas minn tliet xhur;
- Ritratt daqs tal-passaport, bil-kulur u meħud quddiem background abjad, bil-wiċċ jidher sewwa.
Limitu ta’ żmien għall-ipproċessar tal-applikazzjonijiet għall-viża
L-applikazzjonijiet fil-biċċa l-kbira jkunu riveduti u evalwati fi żmien bejn sebat (7) ijiem u 15-il ġurnata. F’ċertu każijiet individwali, il-perijodu ta’ reviżjoni jista’ jiġi estiż sa 30 jum u f’każijiet eċċezzjonali sa 60 jum.
Huwa rakkomandat li l-applikazzjoni għal viża ma tiġix ippreżentata aktar tard minn 15-il jum qabel il-vjaġġ ippjanat, peress li ma jistax jiġi garantit li din se tiġi riveduta fil-ħin. Id-detenturi ta’ viżi għal soġġorn qasir f’aktar minn pajjiż wieħed taż-żona Schengen, jistgħu jissottomettu applikazzjoni oħra qabel ma din il-viża tiskadi, jekk kemm-il darba din kienet valida għal mill-inqas sitt xhur. L-applikazzjonijiet għall-viża ta’ membri tal-familja ta’ ċittadini tal-UE jkunu skrutinizzati fl-iqsar żmien possibbli.
Dokumenti Meħtieġa
ID-DOKUMENTI MEĦTIEĠA JIDDEPENDU SKONT GĦAL-LIEMA VIŻA SSIR L-APPLIKAZZJONI JEW F’LIEMA AMBAXXATA JEW RAPPREŻENTANZA L-INDIVIDWU SE JAPPLIKA.
- L-iskop tal-vjaġġ;
- Mezz ta’ transport anke dak tar-ritorn;
- Mezz ta’ sostenn matul il-vjaġġ u sakemm l-individwu jkun fil-pajjjiż;
- Akkomodazzjoni
DOKUMENTI MEĦTIEĠA RIGWARD L-ISKOP TAL-VJAĠĠ HUMA:
- Ittra ta’ stedina;
- Taħrika;
- Ċertifikat ta’ reġistrazzjoni;
- L-organizzazzjoni taż-żjara.
DOKUMENTI MEĦTIEĠA B’RABTA MAL-MEZZI TA’ TRANSPORT U R-RITORN GĦANDHOM IKUNU:
- Biljett tar-ritorn validu; jew
- Ċertifikat li jindika l-booking u l-ħlas ta’ vjaġġ.
DOKUMENTI MEĦTIEĠA RIGWARD MEZZ TA’ SOSTENN JINKLUDU:
- Flus kontanti;
- Traveller’s cheques;
- Ktieb taċ-ċekkijiet għal munita barranija;
- Karti ta’ kreditu;
- Kwalunkwe mezz ieħor li jiggarantixxi fondi.
Il-livell ta’ manteniment għandu jkun wieħed proporzjonat skont it-tul u l-għan ta’ din il-vista.
DOKUMENTI MEĦTIEĠA RIGWARD AKKOMODAZZJONI JINKLUDU:
- Booking ta’ akkomodazzjoni f’lukanda jew stabbiliment simili;
- Dokumenti li jipprovaw l-eżistenza ta’ kirja jew Att ta’ titlu, f’isem l-applikant, għal proprjetà li tinsab fil-pajjiż li se jżur;
- Fejn ċittadin ta’ pajjiż terz jiddikjara li hu/hi għandu joqgħod f’dar ta’ persuna jew f’istituzzjoni, l-applikant irid jippreżenta dikjarazzjoni bil-miktub (Declaration of Proof) minn min ikun se jospita li turi li huwa lest li jakkomoda lill-applikant. L-Ambaxxati jew Konsolati jivverifikaw tali dikjarazzjonijiet, fejn isiru checks neċessarji;
- Jista’ jintalab ukoll li jkun ippreżentat ċertifikat mimlija mill-ospitant/istituzzjoni li jindika b’mod ċar li huma kommessi li jakkomodaw lill-applikant, u dawn iridu jkunu ttimbrati minn awtorità kompetenti f’Malta, skont id-dispożizzjonijiet stabbiliti fil-liġi.
ASSIKURAZZJONI MEDIKA
Barra minn hekk, biex tkun issostanzjata applikazzjoni għal ħruġ ta’ viża għal żmien qasir jew għall-ivvjaġġar, l-applikanti għandhom juru li huma fil-pussess ta’ assigurazzjoni medika adegwata u valida li tkopri kull spiża li tista’ tinqala’ in konnessjoni ma’ ripatrijazzjoni minħabba raġunijiet mediċi, attenzjoni medika urġenti u/jew kura ta’ emerġenza fi sptar. L-assigurazzjoni għandha tkun valida fl-Istati Membri kollha ta’ Schengen u tkopri l-perijodu kollu taż-żjara tal-persuna. Il-kopertura minima hija ta’ €30,000.
DIKJARAZZJONI TAL-PROVI (DECLARATION OF PROOF)
Skont ir-Regolament (KE) Nru 810/2009, l-applikanti li jkunu mistiedna minn persuna f’Malta għandhom jippreżentaw id-dikjarazzjoni ta’ prova (Declaration of Proof), li biha l-ospitant Malti jiddikjara li huwa kapaċi jakkomoda lill-applikant u/jew li jkun jista’ jġorr l-ispejjeż u r-ripatrijazzjoni tal-applikant.
Id-dikjarazzjoni tal-provi jrid ikun fiha informazzjoni li tistabbilixxi l-għan tal-applikazzjoni u tindika, b’mod partikolari dan li ġej:
- Jekk l-iskop tad-dikjarazzjoni hija prova ta’ akkomodazzjoni jew sponsorship;
- Jekk l-ospitant hux individwu, organizzazzjoni jew kumpanija;
- L-identità tal-ospitanti u d-dettalji ta’ kuntatt;
- Min huwa l-applikant li huwa mistieden;
- L-indirizz tal-akkomodazzjoni;
- Tul u skop taż-żjara
- Relazzjoni li jista’ jkun hemm bejn l-ospitant u l-applikant.
Għalhekk jinħtieġ li jkun fiha informazzjoni kompleta u rilevanti dwar il-persuna ospitanti li tagħmel l-istedina, l-applikant (bħala l-persuna mistiedna) u r-relazzjoni tagħhom ma ‘ xulxin (inkluż informazzjoni dwar kwalunkwe relazzjoni familjari), flimkien mal-fini taż-żjara li trid tiġi koperta bil-viża. L-istedina għandha tiddikjara wkoll jekk il-persuna ospitanti li testendi l-istedina hux se tkun ukoll garanti mill-aspett finanzjarju għall-applikant.
Permezz tal-mili u l-iffirmar tad-dikjarazzjoni ta’ prova, il-persuna ospitanti tiggarantixxi li se tkun responsabbli biex finanzjarjament tkopri spejjeż b’konnessjoni maż-żjara tal-applikant f’Malta u r-ripatrijazzjoni jekk l-applikant jonqos milli jirritorna lura lejn pajjiżu qabel ma tiskadilu l-viża.
Id-dikjarazzjoni ta’ prova għandha tkun iċċertifikata, attestata u ttimbrata minn rappreżentant legali. Jekk kwalunkwe informazzjoni pprovduta tinstab li hija falza jew skorretta, il-persuna ospitanti, kemm bħala individwu, bħala kumpanija jew bħala organizzazzjoni, tkun suġġetta għal passi kriminali skont il-liġijiet ta’ dak l-Istat Membru partikolari. F’Malta, dawn huma l-Artikoli 188 u 189 tal-Kodiċi kriminali (Kapitolu 9 tal-liġijiet ta’ Malta) u l-Artikolu 32 tal-Att dwar l-Immigrazzjoni (Kapitolu 217 tal-liġijiet ta’ Malta) kif ukoll kwalunkwe liġi jew regolament ieħor li jista’ jkun fis-seħħ fiż-żmien tad-dikjarazzjoni illegali.
Courses not exceeding 90 calendar days
Third-country nationals attending courses of a duration that does not exceed 90 days are to be issued with a Schengen Short-Stay Visa (C-Visa).
The applicant is to present his/her application at one of the submission points indicated below where the applicant resides or is legally present together with supporting documents:
- Directly at one of Malta’s missions or consular posts;
- At the premises of another Member State representing Malta, or;
- At the premises of an authorised External Service Provider.
Together with his/her application, the applicant is required to submit their biometric data.
If approved, the visa shall be granted on the basis of a multiple entry visa for the duration of the entire course, plus a 7-day grace period, provided that the total amount does not exceed 90 days.
In normal circumstances, the processing time, from the date of submission of the application to the final decision on the application, shall not exceed the period of 15 working days.
The above procedure is not applicable for students who are listed as visa-exempt nationals.
Courses exceeding 90 calendar days
Applicants (including those TCNs who are visa exempt for 90 days) who apply for courses which exceed 90 calendar days are to be issued with a National Long Stay Visa (D-Visa).
Applicants must present their application at one of the submission points indicated below:
- Directly at one of Malta’s missions or consular posts, or;
- At the premises of an authorised External Service Provider, or;
- In exceptional cases, where it is physically impossible for the prospective applicant to submit his/her application in one of the submission points mentioned in (a) and (b) above, the prospective applicant may submit his/her application via courier/postal service subject to prior authorisation by the CVU. Such procedure is subject to the condition that no restrictions exist on the passport to travel via courier. The following procedure refers:
The prospective applicant will be initially requested to send a scanned copy of his/her application duly completed in English, together with all supporting documentation, a soft copy of a passport-sized photo of the applicant, and the respective visa application fee.
Once the Consular post is satisfied with the documents in hand and is able to issue a provisional approval, the applicant will be requested to submit all original documents as indicated above via courier or postal services. Furthermore, the applicant is to forward to the consulate the receipt issued by the school, showing that she/he has duly paid the course fees (more details are available in point 15 of Section 5). The Consulate is to confirm the authenticity of these receipts directly with the schools. The provisional approval is without prejudice to further verification carried out once the original documentation and the passport are received at the Consular Post.
If the application at the first instance merits a refusal, the consulate will inform the applicant of the said refusal via email with the refusal letter attached.
The applicant will be requested to make his/her own arrangements for the delivery of documentation to the Consular Post.
Applicants do not need to provide their biometric data. If approved, the applicant will be provided with a multiple entry D-Visa for a period that does not exceed 180 days, or the duration of the entire course plus a grace period of 7 days, if the course does not exceed 180 days.
If the course is longer than 180 days, the provisions on the extensions of stay will be provided through the CVU or DCEA as explained below.
It is important to note that extensions of stay are only granted subject to good performance and satisfactory attendance of students.
Extension of Stay
- In all cases where the course exceeds 90 days, except for higher-education courses recognised by MQRIC at Malta Qualifications Framework Level 5 or higher, the further authorisation to stay in Malta shall be extended by a national D-visa for a maximum period of 365 days counting from the initial date of entry into the Schengen area.
- Students who would require a further authorisation to stay in Malta are required to contact the CVU not before 30 days, and by not later than 21 days, before the expiry of their visa, and present all the required documents including proof of satisfactory performance and attendance.
- If the duration of the course exceeds 365 days and the student would have already exhausted the validity of the national visa, or his/her stay in the Schengen area already exceeded 365 days, the student must apply for a residence permit in order to extend his/ her stay in Malta. Applicants will be required to contact the DCEA not before 30 days and by not later than 21 days before the expiry of his/her visa and present all the required documents including proof of satisfactory performance and attendance.
- Students (as defined in Subsidiary Legislation 217.22) following a higher-education course which exceeds 90 days must apply for a residence permit before the expiry of their initial authorisation to stay.
Relevant documents in support of a visa application
- Completed and signed visa application form duly filled in English, together with one recent passport-sized photo;
- Valid passport, showing at least three blank pages, with a validity period beyond the duration of the entire course plus three months;
- Proof of sufficient financial means which are equivalent to 75% of the national minimum wage for every month of study;
- Air ticket/s to the final destination with the return trip, where applicable;
- Host/hotel confirmation for the duration of the course;
- Letter of sponsorship, including a copy of the identification document and contact details of sponsor/s, if the applicant is sponsored by a third party;
- Proof of scholarship, if applicable;
- Students who are not pursuing a higher-education qualification must provide an enrolment/ acceptance letter from a local education institution licensed by the national regulator. For courses below MQF level 5, the documentation must include a confirmation that the student will be covering a minimum of 15 contact hours per week, a copy of the time table and a schedule of lessons per every month of study.
- Students who are pursuing a higher-education qualification must provide an enrolment / acceptance letter from a local education institution licensed by the national regulator. The document must include a confirmation that 60 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) are obtained within a maximum period of one year. The same proportion will be applied for other credit systems. These students also have to present evidence of the times table and a schedule of lessons per every month of study.
- Proof of sufficient language proficiency to be eligible to apply for the selected course of study;
- Travel medical insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000;
- Full-refund medical health insurance from a recognised provider covering the entire duration of the course. The policy must cover the entire duration of the course and not the duration of the visa originally issued to the applicant;
- Birth certificate/family book, in case of minors;
- Authorisation of the two parents or legal guardians, in case of minors. The authorisation document has to be duly authenticated. In case of any doubts the Consul may always request further information or documents;
- Passport data page of both parents or legal guardians, in case of minors;
- Proof of payment received by the education institution related to the applicant’s course:
- For courses of a value of up to €1,000, the receipt covering full payment shall be requested;
- For courses of a value of more than €1,000 but less than €2,500, the receipt covering up to 75% of the course shall be requested;
- For courses of a value that is equal to or higher than €2,500, the receipt covering up to 50% of the course shall be requested;
- Any additional documents that may be deemed necessary by the Consular Post.
General Rules & Obligations
- Representatives of educational establishments will be requested to submit a list of accepted students to the CVU prior to the commencement of the visa process. Following preliminary checks, CVU will communicate the approved list of students to the respective Consular post or Member State (in case of representation). CVU shall inform the respective educational establishment of the list of students that may submit their application and the relevant submission point. CVU clearance does not equate to an approval of the visa application.
- Normal visa procedures, including interviews with the applicants and additional due diligence procedures, are to be followed at the discretion of the CVU and the Consular Post.
- Consular offices will process student visa applications as provided for by CVU in line with IMA policies.
- Consular offices will keep CVU updated on the outcome of the visa process. They must return the list of applicants together with information about the outcome of their applications.
- CVU shall inform the relevant educational establishment, MEDE and DCEA of the list of students who have been granted a visa to pursue a study course in Malta.
- Education establishments are obliged to inform MEDE and CVU immediately regarding:
- Non arrivals of student/s in Malta who have therefore not reported to the school;
- Any changes in accommodation arrangements or course of study of the students;
- Unjustified students’ absence from the school, or;
- Any other relevant matters which may lead the authorities to revoke an issued visa or residence permit.
- Schools may be obliged to forward to IMA monthly attendance records of each student issued with a visa or residence permit. IMA may also request a progress report on individual students.
- IMA and the Police Immigration Office may carry out physical inspections at the school and monitor attendance of the students concerned. Any information concerning irregularities of shortcomings by the schools with respect to immigration matters will be passed on to the relevant national regulators for any action which may be deemed appropriate.
Employment
Students who do not qualify under the provisions of Subsidiary Legislation 217.22, and are following courses which exceed 90 days, may take up employment in Malta. Access to employment may be granted subject to conditions imposed by Jobsplus, including those sectors where these students would be allowed to work. Students will only be allowed to work a maximum of 20 hours per week after their first three months of study in Malta. These provisions are subject to change from time to time according to the discretion of the Ministry responsible for Jobsplus.
TCNs pursuing a full-time course leading to a higher education qualification recognised by MQRIC may take up employment for a maximum period of 20 hours per week, starting from their first year of study. In such instances, the student may apply for a work permit upon the issuance a residence permit, which will include specific reference to S.L. 217.22. It must also be noted that an application for a work permit will be considered more favourable if the employment offer is related to the student’s chosen area of studies.