Italy Visa RequirementsFor Malta passport holders
Italy and Malta are both EU and Schengen members. Malta passport holders travel freely to Italy. The two countries share deep historical, cultural, and geographic ties.
Great news! Malta passport holders can enter Italy without a visa for tourism or business purposes.
No visa required. Malta national ID card sufficient. No Schengen border checks. EU freedom of movement applies. Italy uses the euro.
Italy is part of the Schengen Area. Your stay counts toward the 90-day limit within any 180-day period for the entire Schengen zone. Learn more about Schengen rules →
Entry Requirements
Passport Validity
3 months beyond departure from Schengen
Blank Pages
2 blank pages required
Multiple Entry
Single entry only
Work Permitted
No - requires work visa
Required Documents
Valid Malta Passport or National ID
National ID card accepted within the EU.
Current Travel Situation
Malta to Italy: What You Need to Know
Italy and Malta have one of the most historically intertwined relationships in the Mediterranean. Sicily (Italy's largest island) is only 90km north of Malta, and the Maltese language itself derives largely from Sicilian Arabic (Arabic with Sicilian Romance influence). The Norman kings of Sicily ruled Malta from 1090 to 1530. Italian cultural and linguistic influence is profound in Malta: many Maltese speak Italian, Italian TV channels are widely watched, and significant Maltese diaspora communities exist in Sicily and mainland Italy. Italy is one of the world's top travel destinations with the greatest concentration of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
How to Get There
Sicily (Catania or Palermo) is under 1.5 hours by direct flight from Malta. It can also be reached by overnight ferry from Valletta. Rome, Milan, and Venice are all served by direct flights from Malta. Valletta to Rome is about 2 hours by air.
Money & Banking
Italy uses the euro (EUR). Italy is moderately priced: espresso at a bar EUR 1.20-1.50, trattoria lunch EUR 12-20, hotel rooms EUR 90-180/night in cities. Sicily and southern Italy are noticeably cheaper than Rome, Florence, or Venice. Italian food culture rewards eating where locals eat: the tourist levy is real at restaurants near monuments.
Practical Tips
Sicily (closest Italian region to Malta, 90 minutes by flight): the Valley of the Temples at Agrigento (among the world's best-preserved Greek temples), the Baroque towns of Noto, Modica, and Ragusa (UNESCO), Mount Etna (Europe's highest active volcano, accessible by cable car and jeep), Palermo's Ballar and Capo markets, and Taormina (hilltop Greek theatre with Etna backdrop). Rome: the Colosseum, Forum Romanum, Vatican City (Sistine Chapel), and the Borghese Gallery. Florence: the Uffizi, Accademia (Michelangelo's David), and the Duomo. Venice: the Piazza San Marco and Doge's Palace, Murano glass, and gondola rides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Malta citizens need a visa for Italy?
No. Italy and Malta are both EU and Schengen members. No visa required.
What is the historical connection between Malta and Italy?
Italy and Malta share a profound historical relationship: Sicily is only 90km from Malta and the Maltese language derives largely from Sicilian Arabic. Norman Sicily ruled Malta from 1090-1530. The Knights of St. John (who ruled Malta 1530-1798) were multinational but with strong Italian and Spanish presence. Caravaggio, Italy's most famous Baroque painter, spent time in Malta in 1607-1608 and painted his largest work (The Beheading of St. John the Baptist) for St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta.
What is the closest Italian destination to Malta?
Sicily: the island of Sicily (Catania or Palermo airports) is under 90 minutes by direct flight from Malta and can also be reached by overnight ferry from Valletta to Catania or Pozzallo. Sicily shares cultural DNA with Malta: Baroque architecture, Arab-Norman heritage, fresh seafood, and caponata.
Is the Vatican a separate country?
Yes. Vatican City is the world's smallest independent state (44 hectares, 800 residents), the headquarters of the Catholic Church and residence of the Pope. It has its own postal system, radio station, and passport. Entry to St. Peter's Square and Basilica is free (no ticket required). The Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel access) require advance booking.
What is the Uffizi Gallery?
The Uffizi Gallery (Galleria degli Uffizi) in Florence is one of the world's oldest and most important art museums, housing the finest collection of Italian Renaissance art. Key works: Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Primavera (both extraordinary in person), Raphael's portraits of Leo X, Michelangelo's Holy Family tondo, and works by Leonardo, Caravaggio, Titan, and Giotto. Book skip-the-line tickets at uffizi.it.
What is authentic Italian pizza?
Naples is the birthplace of pizza (the Margherita was created here for Queen Margherita of Savoy in 1889). Neapolitan pizza has a soft, chewy, charred crust (cooked in a wood-fired oven at 485 degrees C for 90 seconds), simple tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella (fior di latte or buffalo), and basil. It is fundamentally different from the Roman thin-crust and cannot be eaten without folding it in half (a libretto). In Naples, pizza costs EUR 5-10 at a traditional pizzeria.