All about the working holiday in Malta
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005 (medical expenses, hospitalisation, repatriation…).
Between 18 and 30 years old
Must be valid for at least two years
At least AU$4,500 or NZ$4,860
This must be your first participation
Must cover medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation
Apply before the annual quota is reached
01. What is the Working Holiday Visa?
WHVs are bilateral accords signed between governments to promote youth mobility and cultural exchange. Participating countries allow young adults to spend a set period of time (usually one year) living and working abroad. Most of the accords are signed between countries in Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and East Asia. A WHV encourages cultural exchange alongside the chance to gain valuable work experience.
02. Which nationalities are eligible?
Young adults from Australia and New Zealand are eligible to apply for the Working Holiday Visa to Malta.
03. What documents are required for the application?
Items for the visa application include:
- Passport
- 2 ID photos
- Police criminal record report
- Proof of sufficient funds
- Airline booking
- Accommodation for the first month
- Paid application fee
Once you arrive in Malta with your WHV, you will then need to apply for a temporary residence permit. See details.
04. How long is the visa good for?
The WHV allows holders to stay up to one year in Malta. It can be renewed for a second year.
05. Do I need to buy health insurance?
Australians: Malta and Australia have an arrangement that will cover your health care for the first 6 months of your stay. Beyond that, you must purchase private health insurance.
New Zealanders: Your insurance must be valid for the full duration of your working holiday.
06. What is pvtistes.net and how can it help me?
We are a team of current and former working holiday makers dedicated to providing free information and resources about the working holiday in Malta and other destinations. Read our helpful articles, leave comments if you have questions, and check out our special deals.
We don’t ask for any money, and neither should anyone else in your application process (besides the embassy/consulate and their official partners). Be very careful of online scams where someone might ask you for an exorbitant amount to help you get your visa. Working Holiday Visas are designed to be relatively easy to obtain yourself, so there is absolutely no need to pay any professional service to do it on your behalf.
07. How do I apply?
WHV applications for both Australians and New Zealanders are to be submitted to and processed by the Malta High Commission in Canberra. See details. If successful, you will receive an acceptance letter from the High Commission. Once you enter Malta, you have 90 days to find a job, upon which you mus then apply for a 1-year residency permit via identità-Expatriates Unit using the acceptance letter you had received.
As mentioned earlier, proof of medical insurance is required of Australians who are staying longer than 6 months (see the arrangement), and all New Zealanders. Source
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005. They have covered thousands of working holiday makers over the years.
- Chapter 5: Getting WHV health insurance
- What to know about travel insurance for your working holiday abroad
- What to have in your Working Holiday adventure first-aid kit
Malta’s currency is the euro (€). There are two main ways to open a foreign-currency account: via 1) a traditional bank or 2) an online neo-bank. Traditional banks usually require you to already be in the country. You would have to make and attend an appointment where a representative would ask you for some documents.
If you want to have a euro debit card in hand before even arriving in Malta, you may want to consider the second option, an online neo-bank like Wise. It is an app that offers multi-currency financial services. Customers receive a physical debit card that can be used to withdraw cash at local ATMs. Your euro account would also have its own routing and account numbers, so you can set up autopay, direct deposits, or transfer money to recipients in Malta. These capabilities could be useful in exchanges with your employer or landlord. You can register from your home country or once you arrive in Malta. Learn more about Wise.
There are advantages to both options. Wise registration is simple and quick, but traditional banks offer the possibility of issuing and depositing cheques, if that is something you need. So you could make a Wise account first and then a traditional account once you arrive in Malta.
Once your application is approved, you’ll need to think about where to live, especially in the first few days and weeks. If you are planning on renting long term housing, we recommend you wait until you arrive in Malta before paying a deposit or signing anything. Never send money to anyone without seeing the place in person.
For your first couple of weeks, you could consider Airbnb or hotels. But the most affordable option is going to be youth hostels. You can find some great ones on Hostelworld.
- Chapter 6: Booking housing for your arrival
- 7 Tips for finding housing during your working holiday abroad
After you get your visa, you will have plenty of things to take care of. Some of them are more urgent than others, so this list breaks down your to-dos, starting with the most urgent to the least. It may seem like a lot, but don’t worry, one step at a time!
As you prepare for your working holiday in Malta, check out our library of free articles and guides. Everyone on the pvtistes.net team has done (or is currently on) a working holiday, and so everything we write is from personal experience.
This is also the perfect chance to learn or brush up on a foreign language. Babbel is partnering with pvtistes.net to offer 20% off on language courses (learn more). Also check out our other deals for working holiday makers.
You must be between 18 and 30 years old at the time of application.
Your passport must be valid for at least 12 months at the time of application.
As a part of the application, you must prove that you have sufficient savings (at least AU$4,500 or NZ$4,860) to support yourself for at least the beginning of your stay. Source
This must be your first participation. If you have already been granted a WHV to Malta before, then you cannot apply again.
Australians: Malta and Australia have an arrangement that will cover your health care for the first 6 months of your stay. Beyond that, you must purchase private health insurance.
New Zealanders: Your insurance must be valid for the full duration of your stay.
Australians do not have a quota, but New Zealanders have an annual quota of 50 spots.