Australia Visa RequirementsFor Malta passport holders
Malta passport holders obtain an Australian ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) before travel. The ETA allows 90-day stays and is free (AUD 20 service fee via some platforms), valid for 12 months.
Malta passport holders must apply for an electronic visa (eVisa) online before traveling to Australia.
ETA (subclass 601) required before travel. Apply online at eta.homeaffairs.gov.au or via the Australian ETA app. No government charge (third-party apps charge AUD 20). ETA allows multiple entries, each stay up to 90 days, within a 12-month validity. For longer stays, apply for a Visitor Visa (subclass 600). Passport must be valid for the full intended stay.
Entry Requirements
Passport Validity
6 months beyond date of entry
Blank Pages
2 blank pages required
Multiple Entry
Single entry only
Work Permitted
No - requires work visa
Required Documents
For Your Visa Application
Australian ETA (Electronic Travel Authority)
Apply at eta.homeaffairs.gov.au or via the Australian ETA app.
Valid Malta Passport
Passport must be valid for the entire duration of stay.
Required at Entry
Return or Onward Ticket
Proof of departure from Australia.
Proof of Sufficient Funds Recommended
Credit cards or bank statement.
Travel Health Insurance Recommended
Not required but strongly recommended.
Current Travel Situation
Malta to Australia: What You Need to Know
Australia and Malta share an extraordinary historical connection. The Maltese diaspora in Australia is one of the largest Maltese communities anywhere in the world: an estimated 175,000 people of Maltese descent live in Australia, predominantly in Victoria (Melbourne) and Western Australia. Maltese-Australians are among the most cohesive and culturally active diaspora communities, maintaining Maltese language, cuisine, and cultural traditions. Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world (7.7 million km2), offering the Great Barrier Reef, the Red Centre, world-class cities, and unique wildlife found nowhere else on Earth.
How to Get There
Melbourne (MEL) and Sydney (SYD) are the most practical gateways for Maltese visitors given the large diaspora communities. Flights connect via Singapore, Dubai, or Hong Kong from Malta. Total journey approximately 20-24 hours.
Money & Banking
Australia uses the Australian dollar (AUD). Australia is moderately expensive: flat white coffee AUD 4-5 (EUR 2.50-3), pub meal AUD 20-30, hotel rooms AUD 150-300/night. Melbourne is notably less expensive than Sydney for accommodation. Domestic flights are the best way to cover Australia's distances.
Practical Tips
Melbourne: the best place to experience Maltese-Australian culture (events in Coburg, Preston, and Box Hill), the National Gallery of Victoria, the Queen Victoria Market, the Yarra Valley wineries, and the Great Ocean Road (12 Apostles limestone stacks). Sydney: the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, the Blue Mountains. Perth: Kings Park (larger than Central Park), Rottnest Island (quokkas), and the Margaret River wine region. Cairns: gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. Uluru: the sacred red monolith, compelling at sunrise and sunset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Malta citizens need a visa for Australia?
Malta citizens need an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority, subclass 601) before traveling. Apply at eta.homeaffairs.gov.au or via the Australian ETA app. Free from the government (apps may charge AUD 20).
Is there a significant Maltese community in Australia?
Yes, Australia has the world's largest Maltese diaspora: approximately 175,000 people of Maltese descent, mainly in Melbourne (Victoria) and Western Australia (Perth). The Maltese community in Melbourne is particularly well-established with cultural associations, the Maltese community newspaper, and annual Malta Day events. This makes Australia one of the most personally significant destinations for many Maltese passport holders.
What is Melbourne known for?
Melbourne is Australia's cultural capital: a world-class coffee scene (Melbourne claims to have invented the flat white), an outstanding restaurant and laneway cafe culture, the National Gallery of Victoria (largest art museum in Australia), the Australian Open tennis Grand Slam (January), the Melbourne Cup horse race (first Tuesday of November, a public holiday in Victoria), and the largest Maltese diaspora community outside Malta.
What is a walkabout?
Walkabout is a term from Aboriginal Australian tradition referring to a rite of passage where young men walk through the wilderness for up to 6 months. It has been colloquially adopted into Australian English to mean going on a journey or disappearing. The actual Aboriginal practice of walkabout is a sacred spiritual journey following songlines (ancient routes across the landscape). The sacred Uluru (Ayers Rock) at the center of Australia has deep significance to the Anangu Aboriginal people.
What wildlife might I encounter in Australia?
Kangaroos (most common in rural areas, parks near cities at dawn and dusk), wallabies (smaller relatives), koalas (in eucalyptus forests, not always active), wombats (nocturnal), platypus (in mountain streams, dawn and dusk), echidnas, possum, and quokkas (Rottnest Island near Perth, extremely photogenic). Dangerous wildlife: eastern brown snake and taipan (most venomous land snakes), funnel-web spider, box jellyfish (tropical north), and saltwater crocodiles (tropical north waterways).
Is Melbourne or Sydney better for a first visit?
Sydney offers the more iconic visual experiences: the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach. Melbourne offers better food, coffee, arts, and cultural experiences. Many Maltese choose Melbourne for the diaspora connection. If time allows, doing both (45-minute flight between them) is ideal for a first trip.