Malta tourist visa
Required documents, fees and processing time for a Malta tourist Schengen visa when you apply from United States.
SCHENGEN · VISA C✈ DOCUMENTS
🇲🇹 Malta·····✈·····🇺🇸 from United States
To
Malta
Type
C · TOURISM
Apply at
USA
Centre
VAC
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Action neededTourism — short stay (Type C) · applying from United States.
Documents ready00 / 11
Competent authority
Embassy of Malta in Washington D.C. and Consulate General of Malta in New York (by consular jurisdiction). Italy represents Malta for applicants residing in the Chicago, Houston and San Francisco Italian consular districts.
Application centre
VFS Global (Malta Visa Application Centres in Washington DC, New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco) for intake/biometrics; decision by the Embassy of Malta / Consulate General (or by Italy in its represented districts)
Recommended — commonly expected even when not on the official list
Cover letterA letter of introduction stating who you are and why you are travelling.
Travel itineraryA day-by-day plan of your trip to attach to the application.
Fees
Consular (Type C)
€90
Service fee
$0
Est. total (adult)
$100
Long stay (Type D)
—
The short-stay (Type C) consular fee is harmonised at €90 for adults across all Schengen states; collected in USD · centre: direct_consulate.
Fee notes
Direct at Embassy of Malta DC by appointment. No VFS/BLS VAC. D not confirmed.
Timeline
medium confidenceProcessing
15–45 days
End-to-end
3–8 weeks
Centre
VAC
Appointment wait
Roughly 1-3 weeks in normal periods; longer in peak summer (Jun-Aug).
Application centre
VFS Global (US); no US consulate network of its own. Centres in NY, SF, LA, Houston, Chicago, Boston, Washington DC, Miami; forwarded to Maltese consular authorities. Jurisdiction by nearest VFS centre.
Timeline notes
Harmonised baseline applies. VFS service fee ~$105 plus Schengen visa fee.
Funds to show
high confidenceThe amount you must be able to prove, per the Schengen Borders Code reference amount. It depends only on the destination — not on your nationality or where you apply.
Per day
€48
Minimum
—
In EUR ≈
as shown
Notes
Practice is to ensure persons entering Malta have a minimum of EUR 48 per day for the duration of their visit.
Consulates apply discretion and may expect a buffer above this figure — treat it as a floor, not a guarantee.
Funds source ↗⚠ Special cases & caveats
- US citizens and other Schengen visa-exempt nationalsNo short-stay visa required for stays up to 90/180 days; this set applies to visa-required third-country nationals resident in the USA.
- Residents of the Chicago, Houston or San Francisco consular districtsMalta is represented by Italy for short-stay visas in those districts per Malta's official representation-agreements list; the application is lodged with the Italian consulate/its service provider.
- Returning non-immigrant residentsUS residence permit/visa (Green Card, visa+I-94, EAD) must be valid at least 3 months beyond the last day of intended Schengen stay to allow re-entry to the US.
- MinorsNotarised parental/guardian consent, copy of parents' passports and the minor's birth certificate.