Philippines Visa RequirementsFor Malta passport holders
Malta passport holders receive 30 days visa-free in the Philippines. For stays up to 59 days, apply for a tourist visa (approximately $40) in advance.
Malta passport holders require a visa to enter Philippines.
Malta passport holders receive 30 days visa-free on arrival. For stays up to 59 days, apply for a multiple-entry tourist visa from the Philippine Embassy or Consulate. Cost approximately USD 40. Documents: passport, photo, bank statement, return ticket, hotel booking. Processing 3-5 business days.
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
Valid Malta Passport
Minimum 6 months validity.
Completed Philippine Visa Application Form
From the Philippine Embassy in Rome (accredited for Malta).
2 Passport-sized Photographs
Recent color photographs.
Bank Statement
Recent bank statement showing sufficient funds.
Return Flight Booking
Proof of departure from the Philippines.
Visa Fee: approx USD 40
For single-entry tourist visa.
Hotel Booking Confirmation Recommended
Accommodation reservations.
Required at Entry
Valid Malta Passport with Philippine Visa
Present at immigration.
Return or Onward Ticket
Confirm departure date at immigration.
Current Travel Situation
Malta to Philippines: What You Need to Know
The Philippines is a Southeast Asian archipelago of 7,641 islands with 113 million people. Malta and the Philippines share deep Catholic connections: both are among the world's most intensely Catholic nations (the Philippines has the world's third-largest Catholic population), with Portuguese and Spanish missionary activity shaping the Philippines' Catholic character in a way parallel to Malta's Medieval and Norman Catholic heritage. English is an official language of the Philippines alongside Filipino, making it an accessible destination for Maltese travelers. The Philippnes offers extraordinary natural beauty: the Palawan island chain is consistently voted among the world's best islands.
How to Get There
Manila (MNL) and Cebu (CEB) connect from Malta via Singapore, Dubai, or Hong Kong. Total journey approximately 14-17 hours. Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and connecting carriers serve these routes.
Money & Banking
Philippines uses the peso (PHP). The Philippines is affordable: local turo-turo cafeteria meal PHP 80-150 (EUR 1.30-2.50), resort island accommodation USD 35-120/night, tricycle short ride PHP 10-25. Philippine Airlines has improved greatly in recent years and offers reasonable domestic connectivity.
Practical Tips
Palawan: El Nido (island hopping tours A through D reveal secret lagoons, white beaches, and dramatic karst cliffs), Coron (WWII Japanese shipwreck diving at Barracuda Lake and Skeleton Wreck), and Puerto Princesa Underground River (UNESCO, boat tours through the 24km subterranean river). Siargao: the teardrop-shaped surf island with Cloud 9 wave (the Philippines' premier break), the Magpupungko rock pools, and the Sugba Lagoon. Cebu: Magellan's Cross (where Magellan planted Christianity in 1521), Oslob whale shark watching, Kawasan Falls canyoneering, and the Chocolate Hills of nearby Bohol.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Malta citizens need a visa for Philippines?
Malta passport holders receive 30 days visa-free on arrival. For stays up to 59 days, apply for a tourist visa in advance from a Philippine Embassy (approximately USD 40).
What language do Filipinos speak?
Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English are both official languages of the Philippines. English is used in business, education, media, and tourism throughout the country. Most Filipinos are functional or fluent in English, making the Philippines one of Asia's most linguistically accessible destinations for European travelers.
What is the significance of the Catholic Church in the Philippines?
The Philippines has the world's third-largest Catholic population (approximately 85-90 million Catholics). Spanish colonization (1565-1898) introduced Catholicism, and it remains deeply integrated into Filipino identity, culture, and traditions. Religious fiestas (every barangay has a patron saint's feast), processions, and the Quiapo Black Nazarene procession (January 9, millions of devotees) are central to Filipino life.
What is the best underwater experience in the Philippines?
Tubbataha Reef (UNESCO, in the Sulu Sea, accessible March-June from Puerto Princesa) is the Philippines' premier dive site, rated among the world's top ten. Barracuda Lake in Coron (warm and cold thermocline layers, with prehistoric crocodile Lake Barracuda) is unique. El Nido's Secret Lagoon and Small Lagoon offer outstanding snorkeling. The whale sharks of Oslob (Cebu) are controversial due to feeding practices.
Is the Philippines good for island hopping?
It is one of the world's best destinations for island hopping: 7,641 islands offer extraordinary variety. Palawan (El Nido, Coron), the Visayas (Cebu, Bohol, Siargao, Negros), and the Camiguin mushroom island in Mindanao all offer outstanding inter-island exploration by bangka (outrigger boat). Domestic flights connect the main islands cheaply.
What is Filipino cuisine like?
Filipino cuisine reflects Spanish, Chinese, American, and Malay influences: adobo (meat braised in vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic, the unofficial national dish), sinigang (tamarind-sour soup with pork, shrimp, or fish), lechon (whole roast pig, a centerpiece of celebrations), pancit (stir-fried noodles), and halo-halo (shaved ice dessert with beans, jelly, ube purple yam ice cream, and condensed milk). Filipino food is less spicy than many Southeast Asian cuisines.