Malta is planing to reopen commercial travel to the country for several EU nationals on July 1, despite the European Union recommendation to lift internal border restrictions by June 15.

Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli said that Malta will restore commercial flights as scheduled on July 1, while the country had been negotiating about travel restrictions with Brussels, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

“We were also part of these discussions and were in constant dialogue with the EU about travel restrictions and, together with the health authorities, have been observing how the situation has unfolded internationally,” Minister Portelli pointed out.

She stressed that “At the end of the day we didn’t wait for the EU to tell us to close our ports, so when we made that decision there wasn’t that sort of input on a European level.”

“But it’s an interesting and important ongoing discussion because we can see that many countries are tackling COVID-19 very well as figures continue to drop,” Portelli said.

According to the Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson, the Commission was recommending Schengen Zone countries and affiliated countries lift internal border restrictions by June 15.

“We are coming very close to a situation where we should lift all the internal border restrictions and border checks,” Johansson pointed out during a videoconference of European interior ministers.

Earlier this month, Malta revealed the list of countries (which you can find below)that will be eligible to travel to from the beginning of July:

• Germany
• Austria
• Italy (except for Emilia Romagna, Lombardy and Piemonte)
• France (except for Ile de France)
• Spain (except for Madrid, Catalonia, Castilla -La Mancha, Castile and Leon)
• Poland (except for Katowice airport)
• Cyprus
• Switzerland
• Iceland
• Slovakia
• Norway
• Denmark
• Hungary
• Finland
• Ireland
• Lithuania
• Latvia
• Estonia
• Luxembourg
• Czech Republic
• Greece
• Croatia

The list of destinations will be monitored regularly and reviewed if necessary. Restrictions on all other flight destinations will be lifted on July 15.

Anyway, on Thursday, Malta International Airport stressed that airlines were currently offering flights to just nine countries from next month.

Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli noted that its strategy for reopening borders was always planned in batches and would not be indefinitely limited to the 19 countries already announced.

She also stressed that negotiations were underway with a cluster of other countries and would be announced in the coming days.

Long-term residents in Malta may soon be able to work in the country, without obtaining an ‘employment license’ if Maltese authorities decide to take seriously a warning of the EU Commission to remove the requirement.

In its regular package of infringement decisions, the European Commission has decided to start an infringement procedure against Malta, as the latter has failed to fulfil its obligations under the Long-Term Residence Directive (2003/109/EC).

The Commission has sent a letter of formal notice to the Maltese authorities detailing the case, pointing out the aforementioned Directive establishes, in Article 11(1), its long-term residents are entitled to enjoy equal treatment regarding access to employment, including conditions of employment and working conditions. Which the letter of formal notice states, Malta does not comply with.  

“Maltese legislation requires non-EU nationals who are long-term residents in Malta to have an ‘employment license’, which is obtained following an application by the employer addressed to the Employment Licenses Unit and has a validity of one year (renewable). Without this license, long-term residents cannot be employed,” reads a report on the key reports of the EU Commission’s July infringements package.

The report further notes that since Maltese citizenship holders do not need to apply and obtain for such licenses in order to get employed in Malta, it is unequal to ask non-EU long-term residents to obtain such licenses.

The Commission thus rules, that Malta’s requirement towards these residents to obtain ‘employment licenses’ constitutes an infringement of Article 11(1)(a) of the Directive

The Commission has set a time frame of three months for Malta to be able to respond to the letter of formal notice.

The infringement package also includes procedures toward ten EU Member States for violating EU law on passenger rights by offering airline vouchers instead of refunds during the COVID-19 pandemic, including Italy.

Malta has expanded the list of world citizens eligible to enter the island country as of July 15, adding to its list new third countries, completely out of line with the EU Commission’s and Council’s recommendation.

In a recent move, Malta has opened borders to 28 new countries, which it has called ‘safe corridor countries’, upon an evaluation which found that these countries are epidemiologically safe, and arrivals from their territories pose low risks for further COVID-19 spread in Malta.

Since Wednesday, July 15, residents of the following countries are now eligible to enter Malta, for non-essential purposes.

• Andorra
• Australia
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• China
• Indonesia
• Japan
• Jordan
• Lebanon
• Monaco
• Morocco
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Portugal
• Romania
• Rwanda
• San Marino
• Slovenia
• South Korea
• Thailand
• Tunisia
• Turkey
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• Uruguay
• Vatican City

The previous list that came into effect on July 1 consisted of the following countries only: Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, the  Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland.

“Air and sea travel between Malta and specific safe ‘corridor countries’, based on epidemiological criteria, has resumed as of July 1, 2020. Such travel is allowed only for persons who have been living for at least two weeks in corridor countries (including Malta),” the Maltese authorities explain.

Malta’s decisions are out of line with EU Commission’s recommendation to reopen borders to all EU countries starting from June 15, and another recommendation of the Council to reopen borders to 15 third-countries on July 1.

Furthermore, Malta has added to its list of ‘safe corridor countries’, countries that the EU Council has not listed as epidemiologically safe, as Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

Quarantine and negative test results for COVID-19 are not required for entry. Yet, those who show symptoms at the port of entry will be requested to have a PCR swab test.

Upon arrival, all travellers will have to complete two forms: the Public Health Travel Declaration Form and the Passenger Locator Form, which should then be handed to the Aircraft Crew.

They may also be dropped within the deposit boxes available on exit from the Terminal Temperature Screening Points upon arrival at Malta International Airport.

All persons interested in the current Malta Programme must book an appointment before July 31, according to the  Dubai-based RIF Trust, a chief residency and citizenship by investment advisory.

The call came after the company’s claims that the new citizenship programme is expected to be €150,000 more expensive, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

According to the company’s statement, the move will save €150,000 as its quota is now almost full.

Authorities in Malta permitted for a concession of 1,800 families to obtain a limited number of passports, in 2013. The programme is also popular in Saudi Arabia.

“Our clients in Saudi Arabia are high net-worth individuals who are looking for greater access to Europe and the USA for themselves and their families. With a Malta passport, they can genuinely access any part of the world,” CEO of RIF Trust, Mimoun Assraoui pointed out.

Assraoui stressed that those who cannot afford the €1 million capital outlay or are seeking permanent residency instead of citizenship, we have many Saudi Arabian clients choosing Malta’s Residency and Visa Programme for €190,000.

“This programme gives the main applicant and their family permanent residency immediately and visa-free access to the EU’s 26 Schengen countries,” he said.

Due to the Coronavirus situation, Malta decided to impose entry bans and travel restrictions, as an effort to stop the spread of the virus.

On July 15, the country announced that it had expanded the list of world citizens eligible to enter the island country, as the Coronavirus situation allowed it to gradually lift some of its imposed restrictions, adding to its list new third countries, entirely out of line with the EU Commission’s and Council’s recommendation.

Malta reopened commercial travel to the country for several EU nationals, since July 1.

Earlier this month, Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli announced that Malta would restore commercial flights as scheduled on July 1, while the country had been negotiating about travel restrictions with Brussels.

All persons arriving in Lithuania from France and Malta are required to undergo two-weeks of mandatory quarantine, from Monday, as both countries have been added to the “blacklist” due to a surge in the number of Coronavirus cases, Lithuania’s Ministry of Health announced.

Internationals from France are still permitted to enter Lithuania but must follow the quarantine rule. In contrast, internationals coming from Malta will be banned to enter the country, apart from some exceptions, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

At present, besides France and Malta citizens of the following countries are also prohibited from entering Lithuania, due to their Coronavirus epidemiological situation: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Romania, the Czech Republic and  Luxembourg.

Lithuania’s “blacklist” includes those countries which record 16 Coronavirus cases per population of 100,000 over the past two weeks.

“The Department of Health (SAM) recalls that this procedure applies to foreigners from European Economic Area (EEA) countries, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Northern Ireland,” the Health Ministry’s statement reads.

According to the Health Ministry, the incidence of coronavirus infection has risen from 3.7 to 5.7 per week, in Lithuania, but it is still part of the list of reliable countries.

Last month, authorities in Lithuania published a list of countries, the citizens of which are required to go through a two weeks quarantine, upon their arrival in Lithuania. The countries include Croatia, India, Andorra, Namibia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The country also announced that from the compulsory quarantine are exempted citizens coming from Ukraine as well as citizens coming from Mauritania, the Virgin Islands and Guam.

Lithuania last month also removed five European Union countries from its list of epidemiologically “safe” countries, due to an increase in the number of Coronavirus pandemic cases.

According to Lithuania’s announcement, citizens and foreign residents of Romania, Bulgaria,  Luxembourg, Sweden and Portugal were banned from entering the territory of Lithuania.

Italy’s government ordered passengers arriving from Malta, Greece, Croatia and Spain to be tested for COVID-19 on Wednesday, while on its list of countries banned to enter, added Colombia, after an increase in the number of Coronavirus infections.

Italy recorded 481 new cases and 10 deaths, on Wednesday obliging the country to tighten its precautionary measures in an effort to stop the further spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, AtoZSerwisPlus.Mt reports.

All arrivals from any of the above-mentioned countries will be required to undergo PCR testing, according to a signed order by Italy’s Health Minister Roberto Speranza, on Wednesday.

The minister also stressed that there would be a ban on arrivals and transit travellers from Colombia.

“We must continue on a path of caution to defend the results we have obtained over the past months through sacrifices by everyone,” Speranza pointed out.

Due to Italy’s increasing number of infections, earlier this week, the United States Embassy in Italy advised passengers to avoid non-essential travel. Still, Italian authorities reopened several visa application centres abroad, following the example of other European Union Member States.

As part of its continuous efforts to stop the further spread of the deadly virus, last month Italy demanded new precautionary measures for non-EU travellers entering the bloc.

“I would consider it appropriate to outline together new rigorous precautionary measures for arrivals from non-Schengen and non-EU areas,” Health Minister Roberto Speranza stressed in a letter addressed to EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides and German Health Minister Jens Spahn.

Italy’s Ministry of Health also decided to reopen its borders to the residents of 14 third-countries, after the COVID-19 situation in these countries was considered safe by the European Union Council. Besides Italy, a large share of European countries followed the EU Council’s recommendation.

Sweden’s government has lifted the advice against unnecessary travel to Slovenia and Malta, after estimating that the Coronavirus situation in both countries has ameliorated recently, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.

 The decision took effect yesterday, October 8, AtoZSerwisPlus.Mt reports.

“Swedish citizens or people with a residence permit in Sweden are no longer affected by Slovenia’s requirement of a ten-day quarantine if they travel there from Sweden. Malta has announced that it has removed the ban on the entry that previously applied to travellers from Sweden, and travellers from Sweden are no longer affected by quarantine requirements,” ministry’s statement reads.

Up to this point, Sweden has registered 98,451 COVID cases. A total of 5,894 persons have died from the deadly virus, so far.

According to Sweden’s Health Ministry, Stockholm, Västra Götaland and Skåne during last week registered the highest number COVID-19 cases, 923, 493 and 262 specifically.

In this regard, Sweden’s Public Health Agency director-general Johan Carlson emphasized that Sweden’s preventive measures imposed to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2 could remain in place for at least another year, with the possibility of additional local restrictions.

“We can expect that measures against the spread of corona will remain for some time, we’re talking about at least another year. The measures that are being taken in Europe are not sustainable, we’re trying to find a level that is steady, and that keeps the spread down. We can’t get rid of it, but we can keep it down at a reasonable level,” he pointed out, earlier this week.

However, last month, Sweden’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it lifted the advice against non-essential travel to Slovakia and Finland.

Since mid-September, Sweden’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also lifted the advice against non-essential travel to the United Kingdom. The decision came after estimating that COVID-19 new cases in Britain marked a decrease.

Since September 10, 2020, Sweden’s authorities no longer advise their citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Cyprus.

On the recommendation of the Robert Koch Institute, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs had updated its list of high-risk regions adding to its regions from 15 EU and Schengen Area Member States, including the entire territory of Malta, the Netherlands and continental France.

 The RKI, which is the German federal government agency and research institute responsible for disease control and prevention, and updates the list on a weekly basis, has recommended to the Federal MFA to categorize the following as high-risk areas.

• the region of Ostrobothnia in Finland
• all of continental France as well as the French Martinique overseas territory
• the Mid-West, South-West, Mid-East, West and Midlands regions of Ireland
• the regions of Campania and Liguria in Italy
• Grad (city) Zagreb and Me?imurska counties in Croatia
• the entire country of Malta
• the entire country of the Netherlands
• the regions of Kujawsko-pomorskie, Ma?opolskie, Podlaski, Pomorskie and ?wi?tokrzyskie in Poland
• the Norte region in Portugal
• the provinces of Jämtland, Örebro, Stockholm and Uppsala in Sweden
• the cantons of Friborg, Jura, Neuchâtel, Nidwalden, Schwyz, Uri, Zurich and Zug in Switzerland
• the entire country of Slovakia
• the regions Jugovzhodna Slovenija, Pomurska and Podravska in Slovenia
• the region/county Veszprém in Hungary
• the East Midlands and West Midlands regions of the UK

According to the RKI, the classification as a risk area is based on joint analysis and decision by the Federal Ministry of Health, the Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Home Affairs.

“For people entering the Federal Republic of Germany who has been in a risk area at any time within the last 14 days prior to entry, there may be an obligation to quarantine them in accordance with the respective quarantine regulations of the responsible federal states,” the RKI notes in a press release.

The agency also points out that the assessment is mainly based on the number of infections and the type of outbreak, test capacities and tests carried out per inhabitant as well as measures taken in the states to contain the infection rate in each region.

• Germany high-risk areas update of October 7
• Germany high-risk areas update of September 30

The European Union Commission has finally launched legal action against two of its Member States – Cyprus and Malta – for ‘selling’ European citizenship through their so-called ‘golden visa’ schemes, after warning them for months to reviews the schemes or abolish them at all.

The ‘golden visa schemes’ are officially known as investor citizenship schemes and are run by several EU members, including the two island countries which will now face legal action due to the way they have operated the schemes.  The schemes permit non-EU citizens to obtain the nationality of the country in which they decide to make an investment of a set amount of money, or pay that money to the government.

On October 20, the Commission launched infringement procedures against both Malta and Cyprus, by sending to the government of each a letter of formal notice, pointing out that granting citizenship in exchange for a payment or investment, is against the EU laws.

“Due to the nature of EU citizenship, such schemes have implications for the Union as a whole. When a Member State awards nationality, the person concerned automatically becomes an EU citizen and enjoys all rights linked to this status, such as the right to move, reside and work freely within the EU, or the right to vote in municipal elections as well as elections to the European Parliament,” the Commission notes in a press release issued on the same day the proceedings were launched.

The press release further explains that the investor citizenship schemes, as a consequence of the above, affect not only the Member State that grants the ‘golden visa’ but the whole EU block.

For over a year now, the EU Commission has continuously raised the issue of investor citizenship schemes, pointing out the risks that arise from them. A report published in January 2019, highlighted that the main risks related to the schemes include money laundering, tax evasion and corruption.

Whereas in April, the Commission criticized Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Malta for their investor citizenship scheme, during a video-hearing of the LIBE Committee, calling on these countries to end the schemes and to stop exploiting the pandemic to run them.

SchengenVisaInfo.com has previously reported that the EU could launch legal action against Cyprus’ government regarding the claims that it sold citizenship to 1,400 internationals together with their 1,100 family members, who were involved in corruption affairs, money laundering and criminal activities.

Later on, in October, Cyprus’ announced it would put to an end the scheme on November 1.

Upon receiving the letters of formal notice, the governments of Cyprus and Malta will now have a total of two months to reply to the Commission. In case they do not, or that their replies are not satisfactory, then the Commission may issue a Reasoned Opinion in this matter.

Lithuania’s government has added Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia to its COVID-19 high-risk countries list, and has removed Wales from the same list, after evaluating the current Coronavirus situation, Lithuania’s Ministry of Health has announced through a statement.

 According to the Ministry’s report, the decision will take effect from today, November 30, AtoZSerwisPlus.Mt reports.

Following the example of a large number of European countries, Lithuania has also divided countries into categories. The states are listed in green, yellow, red and grey, depending on the COVID-19 situation.

“When Lithuania enters the red zone, only the countries and regions in the grey zone are considered to be affected countries: Northern Ireland, Scotland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland, as well as all third countries,” the Ministry’s report reads.

Internationals wishing to enter Lithuania from countries that are considered profoundly affected by the virus will be required to follow quarantine rules or test for the Coronavirus, upon their arrival to the country.

Lithuania’s grey list includes countries that have 300 or fewer tests per 100,000 patients, during the seven days or countries that do not provide data to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

“However, even with a negative test result, it is recommended to limit the number of contacts and not to visit gathering places for ten days after returning or arriving in Lithuania,” the statement reveals.

Persons who arrive or transit through any of these countries must stay self-isolated for ten days, as they are considered to have been in contact.

The Coronavirus test can be performed upon arrival in Lithuania; however, persons will be required to follow the quarantine process until they obtain the negative results of the COVID-19 test.

Earlier this month, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control marked the whole Lithuania in red, considering it as a high-risk country.

Up to this point, Lithuania has registered over 61,300 cases of COVID-19 infection, while 506 have died. The country is facing 46,608 active cases of the Coronavirus disease while 14,211 have been recovered, as yet.

VALLETTA, Malta –  Lawmakers from France and Italy are worried about possible security risks following allegations that hundreds of Libyans obtained Maltese residency permits with bribes and that Malta’s consulate in Algeria doled out thousands of visas to Algerians apparently intent of using the documents to gain a foothold on the European continent.

Members of the European Parliament are pressing the European Commission to determine whether practices by Maltese authorities might be jeopardizing the security of other European Union nations since anyone with a visa or document to reside in Malta can travel unfettered through Europe. The latest concern was raised by a French EU parliamentarian on Tuesday, before an EU migration summit hosted by Malta that ended Thursday.

A Maltese man is on trial for allegedly falsifying documents for Libyans seeking documents.

Source: Associated Press

The government of Malta has reacted to the report on Golden visas published recently by Transparency International and Global Witness.

Through a press statement, the Government of Malta has responded to the report called “European Getaway – Inside the Murky World of Golden Visas,” claiming it contains elements “which do not seem to be accurate or adequately researched.”

“In the report, there are elements with which Government, through the Malta Individual Investor Programme Agency (MIIPA), agrees and support, and others which do not seem to be accurate or adequately researched,” the press release reads, further listing and arguing these elements.

In the statement, Malta Individual Investor Programme Agency, responsible for the Golden Visa Investment Scheme in Malta, agree with some of the points in the report, however objecting others, while claiming that the authors of the report have not taken into consideration their feedback.

“The report contradicts itself when it states that there is a lack of transparency and accountability in the IIP, as itself mentions the review and recommendations by a Regulator. The level of statistical information that is produced on a yearly basis in the Regulator’s report also seems to have gone unnoticed in this report. On the other hand, there are some claims in the report which could have easily been clarified should the authors have taken into consideration our feedback,” the statement points out.

The statement also points out that Malta has the highest rejection rate of all programmes, at around 25% compared to only 10% of other jurisdictions, claiming such fact has gone unnoticed by the writers of the report.

It also brings up the issue of the physical presence requirement to get a Golden Visa, claiming the report is wrong “as Malta never clarified that no physical presence is required.”

The statement goes on to explain the allocation of the income generated from the Golden Visa scheme, which is the first four years of the program was around €700 million.

“Very recently, the Prime Minister also announced plans regarding a €50 million investment for the building of around 500 social housing units, over and above the current 680-apartment social housing project already started on a number of different sites for a total investment of €108 million,” it explains among others.

“Most of the recommendations are already in place for the Malta programme”

The Maltese Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms, Citizenship and Simplification of Administrative Processes Julia Farrugia Portelli has also reacted to the report, through a tweet, claiming Malta is already implementing most of the recommendations.

“Whilst agreeing with TI’s call for more standardization & information sharing on rejected RCBI (Resident/Citizen by Investment) applicants, Malta notes that it is already implementing most of the recommendations included in the report,” she wrote on the social network.

The statement issued by the Government of Malta, also insists that Malta is already implementing most of the recommendations. Moreover, it claims that “these suggestions seem to have been taken from the IIP and recommendations that Malta has been making in dedicated for a”. According to the government, some of the suggestions that are already being implemented, are as following:

• All applicants and their family members are subject to enhanced due diligence
• All documents are checked by the Malta Government Agency
• Checks on wealth are carried by the government
• Pending court cases are also taken into consideration
• Criminal charges lead to the rejection of the application
• An independent regulator oversees the running of the programme and receives complaints
• Malta also has the necessary mechanism to revoke citizenship gained through the investment program

Last week anti-corruption organizations Transparency International and Global Witness published a report called “European Getaway: Inside the Murky World of Golden Visas” which highlights the risks arising from insufficient diligence, conflicts of interest, and wide discretionary powers in the citizenship- and residency-by-investment schemes. The report focuses on the programs offered by Cyprus, Malta and Portugal in particular.

The report also warns the EU on visa-free regime with Caribbean countries offering passports for sale, in the light of the risks coming from admitting the corrupt and the criminal into Europe.

After being criticized for its Golden Visa Scheme as a gateway to Europe for the corrupt and criminals, Malta has found itself come under fire once again. This time, for issuing visas to a number of Algerians, 75% of which were never registered to leave the Schengen Area.

A press release on a report by the Maltese National Audit Office highlights its concerns regarding visas issued to Algerians by the Maltese Consulate in Algiers between March 2014 and September 2015. The NAO points out that during this period, 14,640 applications were received by the consulate, 46.3% of which were issued a visa. 99.5% of applications were decided within the 15-days stipulated in the Visa Code.

“Notwithstanding this, there was no visibility over the process beyond the point when the Consul decides to issue or refuse a visa, at which stage third parties are involved. This heightened the risk of wrongdoing, precluding the NAO from establishing whether the issuance of visas was intentionally prolonged to elicit payments for hastening thereof,” is said in the press release.

The National Audit Office has analyzed the number of arrivals from and departures to Algeria during the period reviewed, which amounted to 5,083 and 2,664, respectively.  The NAO established that three in four persons never departed to Algeria, which means at least 2,846 of the 3,696 arrivals did not have a corresponding departure.

“Of the 882 departures, in 32 instances, no corresponding arrival was identified within the audit period. These discrepancies must be considered in terms of the regulatory framework that allows for free, unrecorded movement within Schengen,” the press release reads.

The Maltese Nationalist Party reacted to the report, demanding political responsibility “because the findings of the report were worrying.”

The nationalist Member of the European Parliament David Casa expressed his concerns in Brussels regarding the report asking the European Commission to indicate whether Malta been properly ‘ensuring accountability, transparency and seriousness’ of Schengen area regulations.

“I have been highlighting, in my interventions on this matter for the last 3 years, that the issuing of visas and residence permits by the Maltese authorities in Algeria raises serious questions that could have an impact on the security of Maltese citizens and the other Schengen Member States. Being part of the Schengen area carries with it enormous responsibility towards the other EU Member States party,” Casa said.

The Maltese consulate was opened in Algiers 27 days after the Maltese government requested permission from the Algerian authorities to open a consulate there, on October 2013. The Consulate was located in a property belonging to VFS Global, and Robert Falzon was appointed as a consul-general despite not having any diplomatic experience.

The Schengen consulates abroad rejected 9.6% of the total number of short-stay visa applications in 2018. Statistics show that the rate of turned down applications by the Schengen consulates has continuously increased in the last four years, as follows:

• In 2015, the rejection rate for Schengen visa applications was 6.2%.
• In 2016, the denial rate increased to 6.9%,
• 2% of the overall number of Schengen applications were turned down in 2017.
• The rejection reached 9.6% of the applications in 2018.

Despite being one of the countries with the lowest number of Schengen visa applications received, Malta is once again the country with the highest rejection rate amongst all.

Maltese authorities in charge of processing visa applications turned down 20.4% of the 32,331 applications received. In addition, only 30.5% of the approved applications were granted with a multiple-entry visa. Yet, this is the lowest rejection rate for Malta in the last years. In 2015, Malta rejected 25.2%of the applications, 21.1% in 2016, and 25.2% in 2017.

In 2018, listed second and third in Belgium with a rejection rate of 16.8% and Portugal with 16.6% of the applications denied.

Former Soviet countries part of Schengen had the lowest rejection rates with Lithuania leading the table in this regard. Only 1.3% of the applications for a Schengen visa to Lithuania and 1.6% to Estonia were rejected. Finland and Iceland had both a low rejection rate of only 1.7%.

On the other hand, top countries with the highest rates in terms of rejected applications filed by their nationals and citizens are as follows:

• Nigeria – 49.8%
• Iraq – 47.8%
• Guinea – 46.8%
• Democratic Republic of Congo – 46%
• Algeria  – 45.5%

More statistics:

• Russia Remains the Top Source Country for Schengen Visa Applications also in 2018
• Schengen Consulates Received Over 16 Million Applications in 2018
• Demand for Schengen Visas in China and India Steadily Increasing
• Busiest Schengen Consulates in 2018
• Top Schengen Countries that Received Most Short-stay Visa Applications in 2018
• Number of Schengen Visa Applications From Turkey Drops for the First Time in Years
• Slight Increase in Airport Transit Visa Applications in 2018

For country-specific data and more detailed information visit the new Schengen Visa Statistics Portal.

Nationals of several European Union and Schengen Area Members States, as well as Israelis, will be eligible to travel to Malta Starting from the very first day of July, as the country gradually eases entry restrictions placed back in March.

Residents of Italy two regions, Sicily and Sardinia, as well as the nationals of the following 17 countries, will be able to enter the territory of Malta next month: Germany, Austria, Cyprus, Switzerland, Iceland, Slovakia, Norway, Denmark, Hungary, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania, Israel, Latvia, Estonia, Luxembourg, and the Czech Republic.

“More destinations will be announced in due course, once clearance from the health authorities is received,” the Ministry for Tourism and Consumer Protection noted in a press release expressing their satisfaction for the reopening of the country.

On the same day, the Maltese airport will reopen, and commercial flights from Malta to the countries listed above will resume, AtoZSerwisPlus.Mt reports.

The Maltese Minister for Tourism and Consumer Protection Julia Farrugia Portelli welcomed the decision, believing that it reaffirms Malta is going to have a tourism summer season.

At the same time, the Chairman of the Malta Tourism Authority Gavin Gulia asserted that the past months have been a challenge for the travel and hospitality industry across the globe.

“Members of the travel trade, from airlines to tour operators and travel agents, as well as hoteliers and restauranteurs, and the many others who earn a living directly or indirectly from tourism, had to endure the impact of an international travel ban. Now that the situation is improving in many countries, and we can finally reopen our borders, we look forward with cautious optimism to the weeks and months ahead.,” he said.

He also urged the relevant authorities to take all necessary safety precautions, in order to proceed to the next phase of reopening with confidence.

Whereas the MTA Chief Executive Johann Buttigieg stated that the reopening of the Malta International Airport is of fundamental importance for the tourism sector, welcoming it with enthusiasm.

“The difficulties we have managed to overcome together in the past weeks are a testament to the resilience of the industry. New challenges lie ahead, but with them come new opportunities. MTA believes that Malta has all it takes to rebuild a profitable industry that provides a livelihood for thousands and is so important to the Maltese economy,” he said.

Malta is a famous tourism destination for both EU and non-EU citizens, especially during summer. It is estimated that the country hosts about 1.1 million tourists every year.

>> Timeline of EU Member States Reopening Their Borders

The Czech Republic has decided to adopt a recommendation of the EU Council, by adding the new dark red category that will include countries with a COVID-19 case notification rate of 500 or more per 100,000 people, to the EU maps of infections.

All persons coming from countries in the dark red category must complete a form and present a negative result of the PCR test upon their arrival in the Czech Republic, AtoZSerwisPlus.Mt reports.

The announcement published by the Czech Republic clarifies that the antigen test result should not be older than 24 hours, while the PCR test result should not be older than 72 hours.

Despite the requirement of a test, arrivals still must self-isolate, and then after five days, they can take a PCR test in the Czech Republic. If they result negative again, they may leave quarantine earlier.

“In connection with the incidence of new mutations of COVID-19 disease, the European Centre has recommended avoiding all non-essential travel. Another reason for the measure is the very high risk of community transmission within Europe,” Czechia’s Health Minister Jan Blatný pointed out.

Arrivals From Red Areas Also Obliged to Test & Self-Isolate

On the red list of countries considered profoundly affected by the spread of the pandemic are Bulgaria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Italy, France, Lichtenstein, Malta, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Romania, Switzerland, Sweden, the Azores, Madeira as well as the Canary Islands.

Arrivals from these countries are also obliged to complete a form and present negative results of the COVID-19 test. The antigen test result should not be older than 24 hours, while the PCR test should not be older than 72 hours.

Five days after arriving in Czechia, travellers from any country included on the COVID-19 red list must undertake a PCR test and stay self-isolated until they get the result.

No Quarantine for Arrivals From Orange Areas

Citizens of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Greece will have to complete an arrival form and present a negative result of the Coronavirus test when entering Czechia, as these countries are included on the orange COVID-19 list.

 “All persons who have returned from a country in the yellow, red or dark red category are ideally obliged to wear a respirator without an exhalation valve in at least class FFP2, KN95, N95, P2, DS or at least a disposable surgical mask anywhere outside their home for a period of 10 days after arrival,” the Chief Public Health Officer of Czechia,  Jarmila Rážová pointed out.

Last month, Czechia moved Austria and Hungary to the orange COVID-19 list, allowing these countries’ citizens to enter the Czech Republic without being subject to any restrictions.

Travellers from all European Union and the four Schengen Area associated countries in which the Coronavirus infection rate has surpassed more than 150 cases per 100,000 inhabitants during the past 14 days, will be subject to 10-day restrictions on freedom of movement, upon their arrival in Estonia, the country’s government has announced.

The decision, effective from February 8 will last until February 14 and will affect the following countries: Andorra, Belgium, Austria, Cyprus, Germany, France, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Italy, Malta, Poland, Monaco and Portugal, AtoZSerwisPlus.Mt reports.

Spain, Romania, Sweden, Spain, Sweden, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Slovakia, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and Hungary will also be included in the list of affected countries.

“The restriction on freedom of movement does not apply to those coming from countries with an infection rate of fewer than 150 people per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days: Bulgaria, Iceland, Greece, Norway, and Finland,” the statement clarifies.

Citizens of Lithuania and Latvia could be exempted from the restrictions in case that they arrive in Estonia directly from Lithuania and Latvia and present a negative result of the Coronavirus test, not older than 72 hours.

Lithuania’s and Latvia’s citizens could also be exempted from the decision if they need to enter Estonia for work, study, health care services, transit, and similar reasons (in these cases, they will not need to test for the Coronavirus upon their arrival in Estonia).

All persons arriving in the country from the United Kingdom will be required to present negative results of the Coronavirus test, not older than 72 hours. They will also be obliged to undergo a period of ten-days of mandatory quarantine.

Authorities in Estonia had imposed tighter entry restrictions on January 25, when the country’s government announced that all persons wishing to enter Estonia from the EU, EEA, or Schengen Area would be subject to 10-day restrictions on freedom of movement, upon their arrival, in case that the infection rate surpasses 150 people per 100,000 inhabitants during the past two weeks.

Such a decision was set to last until January 31; however, the government foresaw it necessary to further prolong the rule due to the rapid spread of Coronavirus disease and its new strains.

More than 47,928 persons have contracted the Coronavirus pandemic in Estonia, as yet, and 461 persons have died.

Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and the hospital districts of Åland and Kainuu in Finland have been exempted from Norway’s advice, which notes that unnecessary travel should be avoided; therefore.

At the same time, quarantine rules will also be removed for those reaching Norway from these territories, upon the recommendation of Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, starting from February 8, AtoZSerwisPlus.Mt reports.

Norway’s government advice against travel that is not strictly necessary will remain effective until March 1, with the possibility to be further extended if the Coronavirus pandemic situation worsens in other countries.

According to the announcement of Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the hospital districts of Central Ostrobothnia, Eastern Savolax, Lapland, and Satakunta in Finland, will go from yellow to the red list of COVID-19 infection zones, meaning that they are considered profoundly affected by the virus.

There will be no new changes for the rest of the Nordic region and EU, EEA, and Schengen countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges all its citizens to avoid travelling to the following countries, unless absolutely necessary; Andorra, Bulgaria, Belgium, Estonia, Greece, France,  Ireland, Croatia, Italy,  Cyprus, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Lithuania, and Malta.

Norwegians are also advised to avoid unnecessary travel to Monaco, Poland, the Netherlands,  Portugal, San Marino, Romania,  Slovakia, Spain, Slovenia,  Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Sweden,  Hungary, Austria, Vatican City State, and some regions of Denmark and Finland.

“Both the infection situation and local restrictions can change quickly. Everyone who is considering travelling abroad must consider the trip carefully and familiarize themselves with the situation in the country they are going to travel to,” the statement reads.

Earlier this month, authorities in Norway imposed new entry restrictions effective initially for 14 days as preventive measures to halt the spread of COVID-19.

Seasonal workers have also been affected by the country’s new entry restrictions, as they were not considered socially critical personnel. The winter fishing industry has also been affected by the restrictions. In this regard, the Minister of Fisheries and Seafood, Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen, said that it understands the difficulties that bring these measures, but something has to be done to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Over 64,650 persons have tested positive for the Coronavirus pandemic in Norway, up to this point, and 582 persons have died. More than 57,004 persons have been recovered from the COVID-19, while there are 7,067 active cases.

All persons interested in entering Estonia from the countries of the European Union, European Economic Area, as well as those in the Schengen Zone, in which the infection rate is higher than 150 people per 100,000 inhabitants, during the last 14 days, will be subject of 10-day restrictions on freedom of movement, upon their arrival.

Estonia’s government decision has been put in place on January 25 and will be effective until January 31, 2021, AtoZSerwisPlus.Mt reports.

In the recent decision imposed by authorities in Estonia will be included, Austria, Andorra, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, France, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Malta, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Germany, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Slovakia, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and Hungary.

“The restriction on freedom of movement does not apply to those coming from countries with an infection rate of fewer than 150 people per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days: Bulgaria, Iceland, Greece, Norway and Finland,” the statement reads.

Estonia’s government previously announced that since the beginning of this month (January 1) it would impose new rules for persons arriving from the United Kingdom.

The government stressed that anyone arriving from Britain in Estonia must present a negative result of the Coronavirus test not older than 72 hours, before entering the country, to stop the spread of new variants of the Coronavirus found in other countries. From the decision will be excluded children under the age of 12.

All persons arriving in Estonia from the United Kingdom must follow 10-days mandatory quarantine requirement. However, the self-isolation period can be shortened if persons undergo a second COVID-19 test on the seventh day of their arrival and the test result is negative.

Estonia has registered over 41,320 Coronavirus cases of infections while 392 persons have died, according to the Worldometers figures. More than 31,030 persons have recovered from the virus. Still, the country faces up to 9,890 active cases.

Earlier this month, authorities in Estonia announced that from January 15, all persons wishing to enter the country from Greece, Iceland and Finland, who haven’t been to any other country during the past 14 days would be able to enter Estonia without being subject to any restriction.

The Malta Visa Application Centres in India in Mumbai (every Friday 10 AM to 2 PM), Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi and Hyderabad (Monday to Friday 9 AM to 1 PM) and Kolkata (Monday and Wednesday 10 AM to 2 PM) have resumed accepting exceptional case applications only.
The Malta Visa Application Centres in Edinburgh, London and Manchester (UK), Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Shanghai (China) have resumed operations.

The centre in St. Petersburg (Russia) has resumed accepting limited short-stay category applications.

Source URL: https://www.vfsglobal.com/en/individuals/covid-19-customer-advisories.html

While some citizens spend time in front of visa consulates and other offices that offer such services to obtain a visa to move to another country, others who have higher monthly income can gain the right to reside or even citizenship in some of the most famous world countries by investing a considerable amount of money in specific programs, such as the Golden Visa schemes.

In Europe, Golden Visa Programs, known as Citizenship-by-Investment programs, which permit internationals to gain citizenship, is run by some of the most popular countries in Europe, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

Besides, by gaining citizenship in one of Europe’s Schengen Zone countries, the beneficiaries are able to travel to all 26 Schengen area countries without being obliged to obtain a visa.

Based on a recent report published by Henley & Partners, a global citizenship and residence advisory firm based in London, Malta, Austria, Portugal is World’s Best Investment migration program.

The sixth edition of the firm’s annual publication analyzes the world’s most notable investment migration programs.

A panel of experts has evaluated the 12 citizenship-by-investment programs and 24 residences-by investment programs, taking into account many factors.

“Investment Migration Programs 2021 is an invaluable tool for international investors and entrepreneurs looking to hedge volatility and create short-term value as well as long-term yield through enhanced global mobility. It is also highly relevant to policymakers and governments wishing to manage these programs to achieve greater fiscal autonomy and economic growth,” the international immigration and citizenship law expert and Chairman of Henley & Partners, Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, pointed out.

Regarding the issue, the CEO of Henley & Partners, Dr. Juerg Steffen, has stressed that “demand for RCBI programs is at an all-time high because of the undeniable advantages they provide, including giving families alternative relocation options in a time of crisis or global volatility.”

The Global Citizenship Programs Index (GCPI) has ranked Malta on top of the list, followed by Austria Private Residence Program and the Portugal Golden Residence Permit Program that share the top spot in the Global Residence Programs Index (GRPI). Such a conclusion has been based on Investment Migration Programs 2021, conducted by Henley & Partners.

Malta ranks as the world’s top country for offering citizenship and residence in exchange for investment. Austria’s Private Residence Program and Portugal’s Golden Residence Permit Program have scored 75 out of 100 as top Residence-by-Investment Programs.

Italy’s RBI program and Swiss Residence Program have been ranked in second place, followed by Greece, which has been listed in the third place for its Golden Visa Program, with a score of 72 out of 100.

Malta

This is the sixth consecutive year that Malta ranks as the world’s top country for offering citizenship and residence in exchange for investment, with its Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment process recording 80 out of 100.

All interested persons in gaining a Golden Visa must invest €738,000 (or €888,000 by exception) based on the residence status length (36 or 12 months, respectively).

Persons must obtain Maltese residence status for 36 months (or 12 months by exception) before filing an application for citizenship.

Even though it brings many financial benefits to the country, Malta’s Golden Visa Program and other countries’ similar schemes often are criticized for the way they work.

In a report published in 2018,  the German non-governmental organization by Transparency International and Global Witness on its report named “European Getaway – Inside the Murky World of Golden Visas” addressed Malta’s government’s accusations for several irregularities detected during the granting of Citizenships for internationals.

However, Malta authorities claimed that the report had elements “which do not seem to be accurate or adequately researched.”

Portugal

Portugal’s Golden Residence Permit Program has scored 75 out of 100 as top Residence-by-Investment Programs.

According to Portugal’s Golden Visa statistics, SEF (Foreigners and Borders Service) authorized 100 residence permits in February this year. While 89 authorized golden visas were granted for the real estate investment, 11 permits were issued for the capital transfer investment option.

Based on the same source, in February there have been granted 2021,46 permits to nationals of  China.

Under the current Portugal’s Golden Visa Program, investors must follow the below-mentioned investment requirements to obtain Portugal’s Golden Visa.

• At least € 250,000 investment in national arts, heritage, and culture
• At least € 280,000 investment for properties over 30 years old, planned for rehabilitation or in low-density zones
• At least €350,000 investment required in investment funds, research, existing businesses, or real estate
• At least € 400,000 investment in real estate in low-density zones
• At least €500,000 investment in new properties in urban zones
• € 1,000,000 capital transfer to Portugal in order to qualify for the Golden Visa program

In January this month, authorities in Portugal previously announced that they updated their residency-by-investment program to attract more international investors towards other residency areas.

In addition, Portugal’s authorities decided to prolong the deadline to exclude investments in Lisbon and Porto from the country’s Golden Visa Scheme until January 2022.

Austria

Austria has been considered among the most favorite countries in Europe for its Residence by Investment program, offering many possibilities to all persons who want to obtain a visa by making an investment in the country.

All persons who wish to invest in Austria’s Residence by Investment Program will be required to invest an amount of €40,000 and wait for one to three months to submit the application to approval.

The Golden visa program permits wealthy internationals to grant residency in some countries that run this scheme by investing a respective amount of money.

However, the program has been criticized many times by the European Union Commission and other organizations as, according to them, it is related to some criminal activities such as money laundering and other illegal activities.

Updated 6pm with MHRA statement

Tourists booking summer holidays to Malta directly through local hotels will receive a financial handout, Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo said on Friday.  

Addressing a press conference, Bartolo said the Malta Tourism Authority had been allocated €3.5million for the scheme that will impact some 35,000 tourists travelling to the island from June. 

Tourists booking accommodation at a five-star hotel directly through the hotel’s booking system will receive a €100 handout from the Malta Tourism Authority.  

Those opting for a four-star hotel will receive €75, while three-star hotel accommodation booked directly through the hotel will come with a €50 payment. 

Hotels that wish to participate in the scheme will first have to declare their interest with the Malta Tourism Authority.

The handout will then be matched by each hotel, which means tourists who stay at a five-star hotel will ultimately be entitled to €200, tourists who stay at a four-star hotel will receive up to €150, and tourists who stay at a three-star hotel will be entitled to €100.

The money will be handed out to tourists directly by the hotel. To be eligible for the scheme tourists must book a minimum of three days. 

Bartolo said that in a bid to encourage tourists to opt for Gozo, the payments for tourists booking their stay on the sister isle will be 10% higher. 

Hotels interested in participating in the scheme are to register with the MTA here. 

A separate scheme announced by Bartolo on Friday will see the MTA fork out some €3million to travel agencies that bring tourists to Malta and Gozo. 

The funds will go towards marketing and other incentives and Bartolo said talks are already being held with a number of major operators across Europe.  

He said the MTA has already signed around 75 agreements with operators, including Tui, VisitEurope, Sunspot, Chevron, and On The Beach.

Bartolo also referred to the recently announced €20million travel aid package, saying the government’s plan was to be prudent but cautious.  

The government has also announced a major tourism aid package.

MHRA welcomes schemes

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association welcomed the new schemes and said that it endorsed the decision to spread support across different categories of tourist accommodation, including boutique hotels. 
  
 “The tourism sector is gearing up to ensure that it overcomes the most difficult 12-month period since the early 60’s. The industry feels encouraged and satisfied that beyond rhetoric Government is providing support to reignite the much-needed tourism sector,” MHRA President Tony Zahra said.  

“Our objective is to re-establish the Maltese islands as a safe and quality destination in the shortest possible time.” Zahra added.

UK-Malta tourism talks 

Bartolo added that he was working to ensure British tourists made their way to the island over the summer. 

Malta is currently in talks with the European Commission in the hopes of allowing ‘green’ passports for those who are vaccinated, so that they can travel without any restrictions. 

However, industry operators are concerned about a potential drop in UK tourists, traditionally the island’s main market. 

Currently, the UK is on Malta's red list, which means travel from there is banned except for Maltese nationals and residents. 

Asked what was being done to address the matter, Bartolo said he had led talks with the British High Commission in Malta which had now progressed to top-level talks with his UK counterpart.  

He said he was confident that a way forward would be mapped out in the coming weeks.  

Malta’s Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo has unfolded his plans to offer international tourists a handout of €200 each for those who stay for a minimum of two nights in the country.

Such initiative has been taken in order to help the country’s tourism sector recover from the hard-hit that the industry has suffered since March last year due to the Coronavirus pandemic situation, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

Authorities in Malta previously announced that they plan to lift most of the imposed restrictions and other bans by June 1. Such a move would help the country to restore the tourism sector as well, among others.

According to Bartolo, a tourist who picks out a four-star hotel will receive 150 euros while those who choose a three-star hotel will receive 100 euros. If persons choose the island of Gozo in Malta, the grant grows by 10 per cent.

 “The scheme is aimed at putting Malta’s hotels in a very competitive position as international tourism restarts,” Bartolo pointed out.

Malta expects to attract about 35,000 visitors this year, as the tourism sector accounts for over 27 per cent of the country’s economy.

Even though the country welcomed over 2.7 million international visitors in 2019, the figures decreased by over 80 per cent since the beginning of the pandemic.

At present, about 42 per cent of adults have received the first dose of the vaccine against the virus in Malta, which is the highest rate in the European Union.

In addition, Malta International Airport has announced that British airline, Jet2 airline, is looking to resume flights to Malta this summer.

The airline is seeking to conduct flights to Malta from Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester,  Glasgow, and Leeds this summer; however, the plan would be revived only if the Coronavirus situation permits such a step to be taken.

“Jet2’s current plans for operations to the Maltese islands have always been made in parallel with announcements by the UK government in relation to restriction. Presently, we’re still awaiting the UK government’s announcement of its traffic lights system,” a spokesperson from Malta International Airport (MIA) has emphasized.

MIA’s spokesperson went on saying that “given that the UK is a very important source market for Malta, we hope to feature among the green-listed countries.”

Malta is the 115th most affected country by the virus. A total of 29,720 persons have tested positive up to this point, based on Worldometers’ figures. The same source reveals that 403 persons have died from the virus in Malta, while 28,756 have fully recovered.

The Minister warned that employers are applying for more employees than they need, AtoZSerwisPlus.Mt reports.

Taking into account the high number of applications that are being made for workers that are not needed, the Minister said that several businesses are dealing with a lack of personnel.

According to Lovin Malta, the Minister said that the misuse of visa applications needs to be addressed and, at the same time, confirmed once again the government’s plan to hire more staff at the India High Commission. The latter deals with visas from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.

“We could also note that some people were applying for more workers than they actually needed. This only helped aggravate the situation further by creating a more unnecessary backlog,” Camilleri said.

In addition, the Minister said that, among other reasons, this matter needs to be also addressed due to the Schengen obligations that Malta had.

He noted that while the economy of Malta must be helped as much as possible, the situation of visas must be addressed too.

Workers currently have to wait for months before they can apply for a visa despite having a work permit. The waiting times are long, even in the cases when workers pay an extra fee for their application process to be accelerated.

While some can not book an appointment since no slots are available, several others have been told that their work visa has been denied due to a lack of information related to the intention of their visit to Malta.

Citizens of other countries who wish to work in Malta or any other Schengen Area country need to have a National D-type visa.

Each member country of the Schengen Area has its own visa policies. Thus, employment visa criteria, requirements, and application processes depend a lot on the labour needs of each country.

In line with the standard rules for a European employment visa, applicants need to complete the application form, provide two identical photos, a valid passport, roundtrip flight reservation, travel medical insurance, proof of accommodation, employment contract, proof of academic qualifications, and proof of language knowledge.

This type of visa needs to be submitted to the body that represents the country where a person will be working, such as an embassy, consulate, or a visa application centre.

Such an announcement was made by the Maltese official travel portal, Visit Malta. The website noted that all individuals under 12 will now be permitted restriction-free entry, regardless of their country of origin, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

“Children under the age of 12 will no longer be required to present a negative PCR Test Result before travelling to Malta,” the statement of Visit Malta reads.

Apart from scrapping the testing requirement for minors, Malta has already relaxed some of its entry rules for the other travellers as well. Nonetheless, everyone over 12 still remains subject to the requirement to present one of the COVID passes.

Earlier in May, the Maltese authorities said that the country would no longer impose entry rules based on the country of origin a person is travelling from. Instead, entry to Malta now depends on the immunity status of a traveller.

This means that all travellers over the age of 12 need to present a vaccination, recovery, or test certificate upon their arrival in Malta in order to avoid additional restrictions.

“As from June 6 2022, persons aged 12 years and over are permitted to travel to Malta without undergoing quarantine in accordance with the Standards for the Validity of Vaccine Certificates, Recovery Certificates and Test Certificates for the purpose of Travel to Malta? and are subject to the provision of proof of either of the three following documents: proof of vaccination, proof of recovery, or test certificate,” the Maltese government notes.

The government explains that those who fail to present one of the required certificates will be subject to a ten-day quarantine requirement, which can be reduced to seven days if a negative test result is provided on this day.

The decision of the Maltese authorities to facilitate some of the entry rules follows the high vaccination rates. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control shows that Malta has administered a total of 1,211,066 COVID-19 vaccine doses as of June 2.

In addition, the same reveals that 93.8 per cent of the entire adult population in Malta has completed primary vaccination, and another 80.4 per cent of the population has already received a booster shot.

Previously, SchengenVisaInfo.com reported that Malta expects 1.8 million tourist arrivals this year. The Malta Tourism Authority said that the country aims to attract such a high number of tourists now that the COVID-19 restrictions have been relaxed in the country and further in the world.

Sanctions imposed on Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine have caused a lot of the Member States to be affected in several fields such as supply, rising energy and fuel costs, in addition to inflation, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

While Portugal and Malta remain the least affected, the Baltic countries and those in Central and Eastern Europe are greatly impacted economically by the war, especially due to the gas supply from Russia.

Cyprus, on the other hand, has been highly affected by the war in Ukraine as it served as a popular holiday destination for Russians, and since the invasion, it has seen tourism go down while its financial sector has been hit due to a high level of financial assets held by Russians that were linked to the island.

But not even Cyprus, whose tourism generates 14 per cent of the country’s economy, hasn’t been as affected as Poland, which comes out as the most vulnerable country due to economic shocks that the Russian market and the reliance on Russian energy to supply gas for electricity. Despite that, Poland has hosted the largest number of Ukrainian nationals – over six million of those.

However, Portugal has been the least affected mainly due to the fact that the Portuguese economy was mostly linked to the EU (5.8 per cent) so far this year, as the EU Commission’s forecasts reveal. In addition, Portugal is considered the country with the lowest inflation rate at the moment, with the rate standing at 4.4 per cent.

“In the light of Portugal’s low direct exposure to the region affected, risks are mostly indirect, with inflation affecting raw materials, fuel security, and uncertainty over world demand,” says the European Commission.

On the other hand, Malta has been operating a “golden visa scheme”, which allows non-residents and non-nationals to obtain nationality in return for pre-determined payments without having to necessarily link the applicant and Malta.

After several condemning cases by the European authorities, especially denouncing the scheme for exchanging European values for money, on March 2, Malta announced the program was suspended from nationals of Russia and Belarus until further notice.

Malta, just like Portugal, is mostly visited by British nationals, followed by Italians, Germans and Frenchmen.

The Maltese website for official news related to travel, Visit Malta made the announcement, indicating that the coastal country is gradually reopening to pre-pandemic levels, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

Last week, the Maltese authorities abolished the countries’ categorisation, which determined entry rules for travellers based on their country’s epidemiological situation. Instead, entry to Malta is granted only to those who can present a valid vaccination or negative test certificate.

“Test taken not more than 72 hours prior to arrival/Negative Rapid Test taken not more than 24 hours prior to arrival – will still be required for travel to Malta, with children aged six or younger being exempt from presenting any of the above-mentioned documents,” the authorities had previously pointed out.

Failing to present any of these documents, a ten-day quarantine awaits the traveller, reduced to seven days, provided a negative test result is provided on this day. Moreover, the requirement to present a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) has also been abolished.

Malta has registered a total of 93,682 infection cases with COVID-19 since the pandemic started, with 641 of those being reported in the last seven days. As the data from the World Health Organisation reveals, 714 deaths were recorded in Malta since March 2020 – one of those being recorded this week.

The majority of the Maltese population is vaccinated against the virus, as 86 per cent have received the primary course of vaccinations. In addition, 67.2 per cent of the population have been administered a booster shot, while 87.2 per cent have received only one shot of the vaccine against Coronavirus. The average uptake of the primary course in Malta is higher than the average of EU/EEA countries, which stands at 72.6 per cent.

However, the requirement to wear a face-covering during travel to Malta remains, although the European authorities have recommended lifting those.

“From next week, face masks will no longer need to be mandatory in air travel in all cases, broadly aligning with the changing requirements of national authorities across Europe for public transport,” Patrick Ky, the Executive Director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), has said regarding the mask requirement.

More specifically, travellers from Austria, Portugal, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Malta, Estonia, Luxembourg, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Italy, Latvia, and Spain, regardless of their vaccination status, have to wear a mask while flying to these destinations.

Malta’s neighbouring countries, like Italy, are still keeping entry rules in place, despite removing several restrictions. As the Italian Health Minister noted, all travellers to Italy have to present a valid test, vacation and recovery certificate in order to enter the country.

Such a statement from the Tourism Authority of Malta comes just as the country decided to relax its COVID-19 restrictions, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

According to the Times of Malta, the CEO of Malta International Airport, Alan Borg, said that the country’s tourism industry is expected to reach the levels registered in 2015. Nonetheless, it is still unclear whether Malta will be able to reach the 2019 levels as it currently stands 35 per cent below.

Borg explains that other European destinations, such as Portugal, Spain, Cyprus, and Croatia, have been registering more positive trends, thus suggesting that the country needs to attract more travellers.

Malta facilitated its COVID-19 entry rules for all travellers on May 2. Since then, all travellers have been able to enter Malta without having to complete the Passenger Locator Form.

In addition, the same dropped the face mask requirement. This means that travellers are no longer required to keep a face mask on when accessing different public places and events in Malta.

Apart from the above-mentioned, Malta has also decided to no longer classify other countries as red or dark red. Since there are no longer categorisations of countries, travellers do not need a pre-travel authorisation by the Superintendent of Public Health.

>> Malta Further Relaxes Its COVID-19 Travel Restrictions

The decision of Malta to relax its entry rules follows the infection and vaccination rates. The World Health Organization (WHO) shows that Malta has reported only 987 new COVID-19 infection cases in the last seven days.

Moreover, as for the vaccination rates, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) shows that Malta has administered a total of 1,208,355 vaccine doses ad of May 5. The same further reveals that 93.8 per cent of the entire adult population in Malta has completed primary vaccination, and another 79.9 per cent has received a booster shot.

Nonetheless, travellers should keep in mind that despite dropping some of its rules, Malta still requires travellers to present valid COVID-19 proof. All travellers reaching Malta are required to hold a vaccination, recovery, or test certificate in order to be permitted entry to the country without having to follow any additional measures.

Just like the other countries, Malta also applies a validity period on all COVID passes. The vaccination pass should be issued within the last nine months, whereas the recovery pass should be issued within the last six months. As for the negative tests, the PCR test must be taken 72 hours prior to arrival, and the rapid antigen test must be taken 24 prior to arrival in Malta.

ETC has revealed that Malta is only a little bit behind the pre-pandemic volumes, suggesting that the country might reach the levels registered in 2019 during the summer months as the number of travellers is expected to increase, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

Similarly, Italy, Greece, and Croatia also almost reached the pre-pandemic volumes in May. On the other hand, tourism hotspots such as Spain and Portugal bounced back to pre-pandemic levels.

Even though Malta was not able to reach pre-pandemic levels in May, the country is expected to register an increased number of tourist arrivals in August as the country has already announced that it plans to lift the COVID-19 entry restrictions.

The Maltese authorities announced earlier this week that the country would drop its COVID entry restrictions on July 25.

As soon as the restrictions get dropped, all travellers will be permitted entry to Malta even if they do not hold a vaccination, recovery, or test certificate.

ETC predicts that the willingness to travel this summer will prevail, suggesting that all countries will register an increase in the number of arrivals.

According to ETC, it is predicted that Europe will recover 70 per cent of pre-COVID travel demand this year.

“COVID-19 restrictions have been rolled back, and people are eager to make up for two years of lost travel opportunities. We are witnessing a much faster rebound than travel businesses in Europe had been expecting,” the President of ETC, Luís Araújo, said, following the publication of the quarterly report.

Nonetheless, it has been highlighted that staff shortages may prove to be an obstacle to a complete recovery. Araújo stressed that the top priority for European tourism recovery in the upcoming months is to bring back talents as well as make careers in the sector more enticing.

“It is also crucial that the EU continues to monitor the impact of inflation on the cost of living – Europe must do everything within its power to ensure that travel does not become inaccessible for the average European,” Araújo added.

So far this year, ETC explained that Bulgaria (-8 per cent), Serbia (-10 per cent), and Turkey (-14 per cent) had the strongest rebounds in tourist arrivals. On the other hand, Latvia has registered a slower tourism recovery from the pandemic (-63 per cent) due to its geographical proximity to Russia.

According to the official travel portal of Malta, Visit Malta, starting from July 25, all travellers will be permitted restriction-free entry. This means that Malta will no longer require travellers to present a vaccination, recovery, or test certificate upon arrival, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

“As from July 25, 2022, people travelling to Malta without a vaccine certificate or a recovery certificate do not need to present a negative PCR/Rapid Test before arriving in Malta,” the statement of Visit Malta reads.

Until July 25, when this decision officially starts being effective, all travellers visiting Malta must hold valid COVID-19 proof.

The Maltese government notes that all travellers, regardless of their country of origin, currently must present a vaccination, recovery, or test certificate. In addition, the same notes that the certificates must meet the validity rules.

The requirement to present one of the passes currently applies to all persons over 12.

Malta plans on dropping its entry rules despite the increasing COVID infection cases throughout the European continent.

The World Health Organization shows that Malta has recorded 3,769 new Coronavirus infection cases in the last seven days.

As for the vaccination rates, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) shows that Malta has administered 1,248,452 vaccine doses as of June 30. ECDC further explains that 93.9 per cent of the entire adult population in Malta has completed primary vaccination, and another 80.5 per cent of the population has received the first booster shot.

While Malta is expected to drop its entry rules after two weeks, the majority of the European Union/Schengen Area countries have already done so.

The list of the EU/Schengen Area countries that have dropped all of their COVID-related entry restrictions includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Portugal Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland.

All travellers, regardless of their country of origin, can enter the above-mentioned countries even if they do not hold a vaccination, recovery, or test certificate.

Previously, the EU approved a €12 million Maltese aid measure in favour of Malta International Airport. Announcing the approval of this measure, the Commission of the European Union said that the measure intends to compensate the operator for the damage suffered from March 21 to June 30 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions.

In a statement issued on June 28, the EU Commission stated that the measure was intended to compensate the airport operator for damage suffered during the period March 21 to June 30 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions imposed by Malta to stop the spread of the virus, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

“As a result, the Malta international airport operator experienced a steep decline in traffic and profitability over this period. The aid will take the form of a direct grant,” the statement reads.

The Commission approved this measure under Article 107 (2) (b) TFEU, which enables the Commission to adopt state aid measures granted by the Member States in order to compensate companies or specific sectors for damage caused during the Coronavirus pandemics.

In addition, the Commission also found that the measure is proportionate, as the compensation does not exceed what is necessary to remedy the damage. Thus, the Commission concluded that the measure of compensation is in line with EU rules on state aid.

On June 21, the Commission approved a Croatian scheme worth €85.3 million in support of large companies in the civil aviation sector affected by COVID-19.

Since Croatia, like other countries, was forced to impose measures of various kinds due to the Coronavirus pandemic to prevent the spread of the virus, companies active in the civil aviation sector suffered significant operating losses and a decline in traffic and profitability.

Another Italian scheme amounting to €56.25 million has been approved by the Commission to continue supporting travel agencies and tour operators in the context of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Such a decision has been confirmed by Malta’s ambassador to Libya, Charles Saliba while stressing that applications will be processed by VFS Global, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

In April, Saliba confirmed to Libya Herald that the Consulate of Malta started accepting Schengen tourist visa applications through VFS Global in Tripoli.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Malta also plans to open a visa office in Dhaka, Bangladesh, after suspending visa issuance to citizens of Malta for a period of three months, which led about 300 Bangladeshi workers to face delays when planning to travel to Malta, despite the fact they had job opportunities from their employers in Malta.

Regarding the issue, the Bangladesh Ambassador to Greece, who is currently in charge of Malta, Asud Ahmed, stressed that the embassy is attempting to clear this tangle of visas, adding that soon authorities in Malta will appoint their visa agents in Dhaka.

In addition, the President of Malta Awami League, Moshiar Rahman, added that “Many complications have arisen due to the non-issuance of visas by the Malta High Commission in India. As far as I know, the Malta visa issue will start from Bangladesh next month.”

Besides, authorities in Malta also announced that the country opened its consulate in Tripoli, accepting tourism applications, after remaining temporarily closed.

Authorities in Malta also confirmed that besides tourism visas, medical, business as well as education visas are also eligible.

Back then, ambassador Saliba also announced that soon visas would be issued from another city in Libya, Benghazi.

In addition, Saliba stressed that the country would support Libya even under the current circumstances.

“This was only possible by collective effort with the Consul of Malta, Mr Sandro Magro, and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs,” the ambassador stressed.

Besides, another European country, Italy, also started granting visas in June, as reported by Libya Herald.

Authorities in Italy confirmed that the Italian Consulate General in Benghazi also started granting visas to citizens of Libya who planned to enter Italy.

The Consulate in Benghazi opened its doors earlier this month, on July 5, headed by Carlo Batori.

Following the example of other European countries, authorities in Malta also temporarily suspended the issuance of visas due to the situation caused by the Coronavirus situation; however, the country has started to reopen them after confirming that the epidemiological situation permits such a decision to be taken.

The Maltese authorities just recently announced that all COVID-related restrictions would be lifted on July 25.

This means that as soon as the COVID entry rules get officially dropped, UK travellers will no longer be required to present a vaccination, recovery, or test certificate upon their entry to Malta, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

The Maltese authorities decided to lift their entry rules at the end of this month, despite the increasing number of infection cases across the country and further in the continent.

The World Health Organization (WHO) shows that Malta has reported 1,917 new COVID-19 infection cases in the last seven days. Nonetheless, since the vaccination rates remain high, the country plans to open for travellers during summer.

While Malta has yet to officially drop its rules, travellers from the UK can currently travel restriction-free to a total of 25 EU/Schengen Area countries.

The list of the EU/Schengen Area countries that have lifted tall of their COVID entry rules until now and permit restriction-free entry to all travellers includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Portugal Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Travellers from the UK as well as those from other countries can enter the above-mentioned destinations regardless of whether they hold a vaccination, recovery, or test certificate.

As soon as Malta drops its entry rules for all travellers, the country is expected to register a high number of arrivals in August.

Previously, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reported that Malta was among the European destinations that neared pre-pandemic volumes in May.

The European Travel Commission showed in its quarterly report that Malta is part of European tourism hotspots that registered a high number of holidaymakers in May 2022 and remained only slightly behind the pre-pandemic volumes registered in May 2019.

Despite not being able to reach the pre-pandemic levels in May, Malta is expected to record increased tourist volumes in August. It is predicted that a significantly higher number of holidaymakers will choose Malta as a summer destination as soon as the restrictions get lifted.

The same source says that authorities in Malta have stopped issuing visas to citizens of Bangladesh for a period of three months, which led nearly 300 Bangladeshi workers to face delays when planning to travel to Malta, despite having job opportunities from their respective employers in Malta,AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

In this regard, the Bangladesh Ambassador to Greece, who is currently in charge of Malta, Asud Ahmed, has said that the embassy is continuously attempting to clear this tangle of visas, stressing that soon authorities in Malta will appoint their visa agents in Dhaka.

At the same time, the president of Malta Awami League, Moshiar Rahman, has stressed that “Many complications have arisen due to the non-issuance of visas by the Malta High Commission in India. As far as I know, the Malta visa issue will start from Bangladesh next month.”

The general secretary of the Malta Awami League, Kausar Amin Howladar, wrote on Facebook that “Malta visa is going to be launched in Dhaka in the middle of July.” Still, such information has not been officially confirmed.

As for the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, AKM Abdul Momen, he stressed that a Portuguese consular team would go to Dhaka in the next two months. However, he did not give any specific date for Malta. The Minister of Foreign Affairs’ comments came on July 3, at the end of his European tour.

The spread of the Coronavirus and its new strains was another reason that led authorities in Malta to temporarily suspend visa issuance in order to prevent an increase in the number of infections.

However, up to this point, several consulates and embassies have resumed their work after confirming that the epidemiological situation permits such a decision to be taken.

Previously, authorities in Malta announced that their consulate located in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, started to accept tourism visa applications after remaining temporarily closed.

Besides, authorities in Malta also announced that tourism visas, education, medical, business, and reunion families’ visas are also eligible.

The decision was confirmed through a statement published by the Ambassador of Malta for Libya, Charles Saliba.

AtoZSerwisPlus.mt also reported that Malta’s Embassy in Tripoli also opened its doors to Libyan citizens, accepting tourism visa applications.

This means that all travellers can now enter Malta for all kinds of purposes even if they do not hold a vaccination, recovery, or test certificate, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

The announcement on the lifting of the entry rules was made by the official travel portal of Malta, Visit Malta, earlier this month. The portal said that travellers, regardless of their country of origin, will be permitted restriction-free entry as soon as the restrictions get dropped.

“As from July 25, 2022, people travelling to Malta without a vaccine certificate or a recovery certificate do not need to present a negative PCR/Rapid Test before arriving in Malta,” the portal’s statement reads.

Malta took the decision to lift the entry restrictions despite the high number of infection cases reported in the EU. According to the World Health Organization, Malta recorded 3,425 new Coronavirus infection cases in the last seven days.

As for the vaccination rates, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Controls shows that Malta has administered 1,248,452 vaccine doses as of June 30. The health agency further shows that 93.9 per cent of the entire adult population in Malta has completed primary vaccination, and another 80.5 per cent of the population has received the first booster shot.

Except for Malta, another 25 EU/Schengen Area countries have also already dropped all of their COVID entry rules.

The list of countries that have lifted their entry rules includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Portugal Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland.

All these countries permit restriction-free entry, meaning that travellers do not need to present a vaccination, recovery, or test certificate upon their arrival.

Now that Malta has dropped its entry rules, the country is expected to register a higher number of arrivals in August and exceed pre-pandemic levels.

Previously, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reported that Malta is among the European destinations that neared the pre-pandemic volumes in May.

The quarterly report by the European Travel Commission shows that Malta registered a high number of tourist arrivals in May and remained only a little bit behind the pre-pandemic volumes. Taking into account that most travellers hesitated to reach Malta until now due to its restrictions, now that the COVID entry rules have been dropped, a higher number of travellers may choose to visit Malta in August.

Such conclusions have been reached through the recent survey conducted by the Merchant Machine, which is a UK-based information and comparison website, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

The Merchant Machine survey analyzed metrics, including the level of protection against LGBTQI+ hate crimes as well as speech and gay marriage laws. Besides, the survey also looked at crime statistics generally, also taking into account robbery rates, crime indexes as well as the peacefulness of each territory according to the Global Peace Index, according to a report published by Lovin Malta.

Based on all the metrics mentioned above, Malta was considered the safest country for holidaymakers from the LGBTQI+ community, scoring a safety index of 369 and a robbery rate of 47, which is the second lowest of all counties participating in the survey.

In addition, the country’s travel security risk rating was 1, considered as low, on a scale ranging from zero to four. According to the survey, a country with a low-risk rating was deemed politically and socially stable, with few prominent security concerns as well as low levels of non-violent crime.

In contrast, the survey showed that Russia had been considered the most dangerous destination for LGBTQI+ travelers due to its anti-LGBTQI+ discrimination policy, the prevalence of LGBTQI+ hate crime and speech as well as lack of marriage equality.

Russia has been followed by Turkey, Mexico, as well as South Korea, in terms of the most dangerous destinations for LGBTQI+ community travellers.

In a survey conducted last May by the LGBT lobby group ILGA, Malta was ranked in the first position for LGBT community rights for the seventh consecutive year, with an overall score of 92 per cent across seven key zones.

Malta made significant progress in terms of LGBT community rights, including the introduction of civil unions, adoption as well as cohabitation rights for same-sex couples, inclusive education as well as some of the most advanced policies regarding gender expression in the world.

The survey of Merchant Machine based on a study on 38 countries by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) ranked every country across several categories, including community travel safety, hate crime and speech of laws, rights to marry, robbery, travel security risk, crime rates, as well as general peacefulness.

In addition, the entity is known to engage in a large number of campaigns, most notably on the Rise of Gen Z businesses.

The NSO also noted that 512,486 arrivals spent 2,261,411 nights in Malta during this time, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

According to statistics provided by the same source, a total of 46.5 per cent of them have stayed in four-star hotels.

Such data also shows that the average length of stay in accommodation facilities such as hotels, guesthouses, hostels and tourist villages increased to 4.4 nights from the average of 4.1 nights recorded during the same quarter in 2021.

Meanwhile, the net use of beds reached 58.4 per cent, thus increasing by 39.7 percentage points compared to the corresponding quarter of 2021.

During June, Malta had 249 active collective accommodation establishments with a net capacity of 18,890 bedrooms and 43,331 beds.

As for the regional level, the total number of guests in this country was 487,299, while the number of nights spent was 2,190,020. At the same time, total guests and nights in Gozo and Comino increased to 25,187 and 71,391, respectively, from 11,438 and 26,924 recorded in 2021.

Compared to the three months of the previous year in Malta, the average length of stay increased by 0.2 and one night to 4.5 nights. In addition, the average length of stay also increased in Gozo and Comino by 0.5 nights to 2.8 nights.

In this regard, the net occupancy rate in Malta increased by 40.7 percentage points, reaching 59.2 per cent, and that in Gozo and Comino increased by 17.8 percentage points to 40.5 per cent.

In the first half of 2022, the total number of foreign visitors arriving in Malta reached 766,214, an increase of 540,515 compared to the same period in 2021. As a result, the total number of overnight stays increased by 2,396,117, reaching 3,298,720 nights. In addition, the net utilization of beds increased by 29.9 percentage points to 44.5 per cent.

Previously, the authorities in Malta revealed that over 243,956 people visited Malta in June alone, spending almost 1.6 million nights in the European country.

The main EU nationalities visiting the Maltese coast were French, German and Italian nationals, representing a total of 36 per cent of all arrivals recorded within this timeframe.

Moreover, based on the country of origin, the number of tourists varies as follows:

• Italy (41,250)
• France (26,152)
• Germany (20,507)
• Spain (9,632)
• Poland (12,824)

In this regard, the General Director of the Ministry of Interior, Alan Borg, has said that regardless of the challenges the aviation industry faces, the company expects that it will be connected through 83 lines in the winter season, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

According to Borg, the company welcomed 2.3 million passengers in the first half of 2022. He also added that performance in the second quarter recovered well, balancing the slow start to the year.

“Malta International Airport expects to end the year with 5.4 million passengers, which is comparable to the traffic the airport had handled in 2016 and 2017,” Borg pointed out.

Borg also explains that preliminary work on the Apron X project will begin mid-August as the company continues its investment program. The project in question will develop approximately 100,000 m2 of land to accommodate new aircraft parking stands, a taxiway, an area for ground handling operations, and a reservoir.

In addition, during the winter season, the MIA expects to be connected through 83 lines, thus marking a recovery of about 80 per cent of the airport’s connections before the pandemic. However, these two lines will return this winter after they were interrupted for the season at the beginning of the pandemic, which are Skopje in North Macedonia and Cluj in Romania; at the same time, both will be operated by Wizz Air.

Commenting on the steady increase in connectivity post-pandemic, Malta Tourism Authority CEO Carlo Micallef said this has resulted in Malta being directly accessible by an increasing number of routes and with increasing frequency.

“This has had a direct impact on tourism numbers which are increasing in direct response to airline capacity being floated.  The MTA will continue working to attract increasing tourism numbers to achieve the recovery of the sector by tapping into new and emerging geographical markets and by targeting a wide range of motivational interests in line with the destination’s multifaceted attractions,” Micallef also noted.

Previously, the European Commission supported Malta International Airport by allocating an aid measure of 12 million in the context of COVID-19.

The EU Commission stated that the measure was aimed at compensating the airport operator for the damage suffered during the period from March 21 to June 30, 2021, due to the restrictions imposed by Malta for the spread of the virus.

In addition, the Minister added that the energy subsidies are making this country more attractive to international investors, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

“Even in challenging times, Malta must remain attractive, and these kinds of decisions do just that,” Camilleri pointed out during a discussion related to the energy subsidies on ONE TV’s Paperscan.

The Minister said which company, factor or employer would come to Malta if they know energy, as well as prices, are currently not stable and their electricity bill could shoot up the day after moving to Malta?

He mentioned the latest report managed by Residency Malta, which shows a record in the number of applications, as reported by Lovin Malta.

Camilleri didn’t offer any data regarding how many applications were filed or approved; however, he stressed that the number of applications had marked a notable increase.

“A record number of applicants means a record of direct investment in the economy through property purchases and rent, but also through money in the government’s consolidated fund that it can then use to subsidise energy, carry out infrastructural projects and increase pensions,” Camilleri said.

Malta Golden Visa Program permits wealthy internationals to live in this country in a lawful way, provided they have at least €500,000 in the capital when applying and purchase a property of at least €350,000 or rent one for €12,000 a year.

In addition, they are also obliged to pay the government an additional contribution worth a total of €28,000, or €58,000 and a €40,000 administrative fee as well as a €2,000 donation to an NGO.

Malta’s Residency by Investment Program has made an important contribution to the country’s economic sector, bringing significant incomes; however, the program has been criticised for permitting a large number of unlawful affairs to happen in this country.

Previously, the European Commission called on Maltese authorities to terminate such a scheme following reports that it is involved in several unlawful affairs, such as money laundering and corruption. Furthermore, the EU Commission warned Malta that if it did not abolish such a scheme risk going to the EU Court of Justice.

The Commission has considered that granting EU citizenship in return for pre-determined payments without a genuine link to EU Member State goes against EU laws, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

“The Commission considers that granting EU citizenship in return for pre-determined payments or investments without any genuine link to the Member State concerned is not compatible with the principle of sincere cooperation enshrined in Article 4(3) of the Treaty on European Union, and with the concept of Union citizenship, as provided for in Article 20 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,” the European Commission stressed.

The Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP), also known as the Golden Passport program, permits internationals to acquire citizenship in Malta provided they meet specific conditions and contribute financially to this country by investing about 1 million euros ($970,000).

However, the program has often been in the spotlight after it was included in illegal actions several times, as reported by authorities in Malta.

In this regard, the European Union Justice Affairs Commissioner Didier Reynders said that by offering citizenship in exchange for pre-determined payments or investments without a genuine link with the Member State concerned, Malta breaches EU law.

Malta is not the only European Union country that has been continuously urged to terminate its Golden Passport program; the Commission of the EU, as well as EU authorities, have continuously called all the European countries that run such programs to put them to an end as soon as possible after they have been considered an open the door to money laundering, corruption as well as other unlawful affairs.

However, Malta was called several times to end its Golden Passport Program. On October 20, 2020, the Commission addressed a formal notice to Malta, calling on its government to end such a program. Another letter was sent on June 9, 2021, while on April 6 this year, the Commission addressed a reasoned opinion to Malta.

Despite the fact that this European Union country suspended the Golden Passport program for Russian and Belarusian nationals following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Maltese authorities didn’t respond to the Commission’s calls.

As a result, the Commission decided to file a legal challenge against Malta for the Golden Passport scheme.

Previously the Commission started an infringement procedure against Cyprus’ Golden Passport scheme, following the investigative report of Al Jazeera called “the Cyprus Papers,” which brought to light proof that from this program also benefited criminals.

According to a press release issued by the European Commission, the authority has decided to send a letter to the Member States of concern, requesting to correctly apply the EU rules on the establishment of a European travel document for the return of third-country nationals living illegally in Italy and Malta, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

This Regulation aims to establish a standardised European travel document for return in terms of formatting, security and technical specifications.

The European travel document for return enables the process of returns in terms of readmission agreements or other arrangements to be smoother, as well as reduces the administrative overload on the Member States and third countries.

Italy and Malta have failed to establish and forward such a document. Therefore, the Commission has decided to officially warn Italy and Malta via a letter. The two countries have two months to respond and address the issue by introducing the necessary measures. If the two countries fail to fulfil the requirement, the Commission can issue a reasoned opinion on the matter.

The European Commission has also sent letters of formal notice to other countries such as Germany, Belgium, Greece and Spain, criticising them for failing to comply with EU’s guidelines regarding the returns of illegally staying nationals from countries outside the zone.

“The Directive establishes a common set of rules for the return of third-country nationals who do not fulfil the conditions for entry, stay or residence in a Member State while encouraging the voluntary return of illegal immigrants,” the authority explained.

The Return Directive is a necessary condition for the establishment of standardised EU system rules regarding the illegal stay of third-country nationals in the 27-nation-bloc.

The Directive also consists of the rules that explain the return of third-country nationals who do not meet the criteria to enter, stay or obtain a residence permit from the Member State while always promoting the voluntary return of illegal immigrants.

Furthermore, the Member States should make sure that the ending period of third-country nationals’ illegally staying in the zone has to be carried out in a fair and transparent procedure. In addition, decisions under this Directive must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and should be decided on objective criteria, and consideration should be more than one illegal stay.

Same as it goes for Malta and Italy, the EU Commission might issue a reasoned opinion to Germany, Belgium, Greece and Spain if the response to the raised arguments isn’t satisfactory.

In this regard, the Interior Minister of Malta expressed concerns that the number of migrants, as well as refugees reaching this country, could mark a notable increase in the near future, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

In addition, the government of Malta also said that it is worried that the new Italian government could lead to a sharp increase in the number of migrants and refugees in the Republic of Malta.

“Italy will probably start experimenting with a political change on this important issue from the beginning of the new legislature,” the Maltese Interior Minister Byron Camilleri told the Times of Malta regarding the issue following the results of the national election in Italy.

Minister Camilleri added that both countries experience the same challenges in the Central Mediterranean, stressing that it is impossible to deal with all these challenges if both countries’ authorities do not work together.

The Minister stressed that the common efforts must also be carried out as part of Malta’s adhesion to the EU, as well as in Malta’s relations with neighboring countries such as Libya and Tunisia.

Malta is already receiving a large number of migrants who attempt to remain in this country unlawfully.

A report by the Independent showed that over the past weeks alone, the Malta Police Force arrested more than 208 people who were illegally living in this country illegally.

Such numbers provided by the government revealed that of the total, 184 were deported from the country, while the government stressed that flights were coordinated in this regard.

The 208 people arrested by authorities in Malta came from various Asian, African, Eastern European, and South American countries, according to the government’s announcement.

The issue of migrants attempting to reach European countries in an illegal way is among the main problems of many European countries.

Recently, the figures provided by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, revealed that the number of irregular immigrants registered at the external borders of the EU from the beginning of 2022 until August was the highest ever since 2016.

“The Western Balkan route continues to be the most active migratory route into the EU with 15,900 detections in August, 141 per cent more than last year. The high number of illegal border crossings can be attributed to repeated crossing attempts by migrants already present in the Western Balkans,” a press release issued by Frontex pointed out.

However, authorities in EU countries are continuously working in order to find effective solutions in this regard.

In addition, the Commission of the EU welcomed the political agreement reached between the co-legislators on a Joint Roadmap on the Common European Asylum System as well as the New Pact on Migration and Asylum.

According to the recent report provided by Malta today, this emerges from estimates of the Malta Tourism Authority to national waste agency Wasteserv in the recent studies related to the development of a new facility to process organic waste, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

Such figures, according to the report, are based on an annual increase of 1.5 per cent between 2025 and 2029.

In addition, another study in this regard by Deloitte reveals that Malta would have to attract a total of 4.7 million travellers over the next six years in order to ensure that its current stock of existing and planned hotel beds can enjoy full occupancy.

However, based on an average stay of a total of seven nights, the impact of a total of 3 million tourists anticipated in the following years, more specifically in 2030, will be the equivalent of a total of 69,000 people who live in Malta on a permanent basis. In addition, it also marks a significant increase in Malta’s seasonal population, from 52,983 registered in 2019 before the spread of the Coronavirus and its new variants, after which the tourism industry diminished to 16,000 seasonal population.

This shows that by 2030, the seasonal population in Malta would be more than twice of St Paul’s Bay which currently has a population of a total of 32,000 and greater than that of the entire western area, which includes Attard, ?a?-?ebbu?, Rabat and Siggiewi.

Due to the difficulties caused by the spread of the Coronavirus and its new variants, Malta welcomed fewer visitors in the last two years due to the COVID-related restrictions; however, with the easing of the restrictions, authorities in Malta have registered a larger number of tourists, while the government is continuously working in order to bring to the country a larger number of visitors.

The figures provided previously by the National Statistics Office revealed that a total of 243,956 people visited Malta in June alone, spending nearly 1.6 million nights in this country.

According to the data provided by the Maltese National Statistics Office (NSO), half of the tourists who travelled to Malta for a period between April and June stayed in four-star hotels.

The same source reveals that back in 2015, the National Development and Social Fund was introduced in order to use a percentage of the funds from the selling of golden passports to wealthy foreigners for public interest as well as projects and other initiatives, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

“The fund’s internal policy dictates that it changes auditor every five years,” the statement reads.

However, a spokesperson for the entity said the report which is published yearly by the fund is in the final stages of completion while adding that it will be published next year.

According to the spokesperson, the delay in publishing the report was a result of the change in the fund’s auditor, stressing that the fund’s internal policy notes that it changes auditor every five years.

Through the Golden Passport scheme, foreigners are eligible to acquire citizenship in Malta provided they make a specific amount of money investment and meet several requirements.

The last statement published in 2020 noted that the National Development and Social Fund received a total of  €27.8 million in revenue from the Citizenship by Investment Program, known also as the Golden Passport scheme. Taking also into account the total amount of proceeds since its inception to about €600 million.

The same report noted that back in 2020, amid the spread of COVID-19 and its new variants, the funds generated by the golden passport scheme rose by 4.82 per cent, or up from  €570.58 million recorded in 2019 to a total of €598.10 million in 2020.

Despite the fact that Malta’s Golden Passport program contributes significantly to the country’s economic sector, reports revealed that it was often involved in many unlawful affairs, including money laundering and corruption.

In addition, back in September, the EC said that it would take Malta to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), following the Citizenship by Investment scheme involvement in illegal affairs.

According to the report provided by the Commission, granting EU citizenship in return for pre-determined payments without a specific link to EU countries is not in line with EU laws.

“The Commission considers that granting European Union citizenship in return for pre-determined payments or investments without any genuine link to the Member State concerned is not compatible with the principle of sincere cooperation enshrined in Article 4(3) of the Treaty on EU, and with the concept of Union citizenship, as provided for in Article 20 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,” the European Commission pointed out in this regard.

However, Malta is not the only country whose Golden Passport and Golden Visa schemes raise security concerns, other European countries, such as Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Latvia and Montenegro also are famous for these schemes despite their involvement in illicit acts. Still, the European Commission has urged all European countries that offer such opportunities to wealthy internationals to terminate them as soon as possible.

According to the same source, in the same month, 144,631 inbound tourists visited Malta for leisure purposes, and 23,615 tourists came for business purposes, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

The majority of incoming tourists, or 40.7 per cent of them, were aged 25-44, followed by the 45-64 age group, which represents 35.4 per cent of the total.

Italian, French, and United Kingdom citizens had a 42.4 per cent increase in total incoming tourists during November.

Total nights spent increased by 36.3 per cent last November compared to the first month of 2021, exceeding 1.2 million nights.

In this regard, the average length of stay of the total incoming tourists was 6.9 nights.

In addition, last November, the total tourist expenses exceeded €144.1 million, which means an increase of 55.8 per cent compared to the same period in 2021. However, the average expenditure per night was estimated at €119.7.

During the first eleven months of 2022, 2,150,174 incoming tourists were registered in Malta, while the total nights spent exceeded 15.6 million.

As for the total tourist expenses, they are estimated at €1.9 billion, while those per capita expenses have decreased to €889 from €914 in 2021.

In October 2022, authorities in Malta said they expect to reach a total of three million tourists by 2030, as it faces challenges in building more facilities to tackle growing waste struggles.

The Deloitte report also reveals that Malta will need to attract a total of 4.7 million travellers over the next six years in order to ensure that the current stock of existing and planned hotel beds can enjoy full utilisation.

Moreover, based on an average stay of seven nights, the impact of a total of three million tourists anticipated in the coming years will be equivalent to a total of 69,000 people living in Malta.

At the same time, it also marks a significant increase in Malta’s seasonal population, from 52,983 recorded in 2019 before the spread of COVID-19, after which the tourism industry was reduced to 16,000 seasonal population.

According to the data provided by the Parliament of Malta, of the total number of people who were granted Maltese citizenship in 2022, 284 of them were men and 55 of them were women, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

Even though the number of those who were granted citizenship through naturalisation last year may seem high considering the rules that Malta has, it still remains below the 2021 figures, when Malta granted citizenship to a total of 421 people.

Regarding the number of refusals, Malta Today explains that the Minister of Home Affairs, Byron Camilleri, said that the country denied citizenship through naturalisation to a total of 1,372 people, suggesting that the country received over 1,600 citizenship applications in 2022.

Commenting on the high number of refusals, Minister Camilleri said that those who had the right to remain in the country were not affected and this means that the majority who filed an application were not eligible as they did not meet certain rules.

As for the nationality of those who were granted Maltese citizenship, the authorities did not reveal any specific data. Nonetheless, they disclosed that Ukraine, Russia, Palestine, and Israel were part of the list of countries whose nationals were granted citizenship. In addition to the above-mentioned, Camilleri said that no one withdrew their citizenship in 2022.

Such data show that during this period, a total of 124,151 inbound tourists visited Malta for leisure purposes, and another 7,764 came for business purposes, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

A total of 41.1 per cent of incoming tourists were aged between 25 and 44, followed by the 45-64 age group with 31.2 per cent.

Meanwhile, as for the countries that made up the largest total number of inbound tourists were Italy, the United Kingdom, and Poland, with 42.2 per cent.

More Nights & More Money Spent by Tourists in Malta in January

Further statistics for tourism in Malta noted that in January of this year, the number of nights spent increased by 79.0 per cent compared to January of last year, thus exceeding one million nights. The majority of tourists, or 79.2 per cent spent their nights in rental accommodation establishments. Meanwhile, the average length of stay of the total inbound tourists was 7.6 nights.

According to the data from the same source, tourists spent almost €99.1 million during January 2023, which is an increase of €52.2 million compared to the same month of 2022. In addition, the average expenditure per night was estimated to be €96.1.

In January of last year, a total of 49,117 incoming tourists spent their nights in rental apartments in Malta, while during the same month of this year, the figure reached 117,775 nights.

Based on the data of the National Statistics Office of Malta, regarding accommodation without rent, tourists spent 10,616 nights in January 2022 compared to 18,392 nights registered in the first month of 2023.

French & German Account for Highest Number of Tourists to Malta

Moreover, Malta registered 46,478 tourists from the European Union in January last year, compared to 95,037 tourists who arrived this January.

Among the countries from which most tourists visited Malta in January 2023 are the following:

• France – 10,797
• Germany – 9,094
• Italy – 23,148

Last year, Malta welcomed 2.3 million visitors, representing 83 per cent of the pre-pandemic total. At the same time, the Polish, Austrian, Italian, and French markets also exceeded the levels of 2019 during 2022.

During this period, total tourism expenditure was estimated at two billion euros. However, there was a decrease in total expenses per capita to €880 from €899 in 2021.

According to the Maltese authorities, the total number of tourists who arrived in Malta during December was 136,423, while the entire nights spent reached 967,108.

Those affected have said that their residency application has been refused ‘on public grounds’, with the Maltese authorities saying that they have been unable to carry out checks on applicants due to the current situation in Iran, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

According to the Times of Malta, an Iranian national working as a software developer was among many people who got refused a residency permit, leaving his employer shocked about the decision too.

As soon as this Iranian national got his residency permit refused, he lodged an appeal requiring the authorities to provide a more in-depth explanation. However, the authorities did not make any further explanations or share what contributed to their decision.

While the employer was still waiting for an answer and expecting the Maltese authorities to review their decision, the Iranian national moved to Croatia. There, he got a residency as well as a work permit and has been paying taxes to Croatia instead, a thing which has been criticized by Maltese employers, and thus, they have asked the government to ease the rules for Iranians.

“I chose Malta because I love the country. I hope to return someday as I would like to be an asset there,” the Iranian national said, suggesting that he is willing to move to Malta if the authorities chose to review their decision and grant him a residence permit.

Times of Malta explains that there are dozens of other nationals of Iran who have reported of similar treatment from the Maltese authorities.

Data has shown that rejections for residency permits for Iranians started to significantly increase last year due to the tense situation in Iran. Due to such practices that Malta has been applying against nationals of Iran, some of them have already appealed the rejection and they have also filed a complaint with the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality.

According to a transcript that has been seen by Times of Malta, the lawyer of Identity Malta (responsible for issuing residency permits to foreigners) Chanel Bantick, said that the authorities have been unable to make sure that specific nationals of Iran do not pose a threat to the public security of Malta, and for his reason, they have refused their application.

Bantick further mentioned that due to the political situation in Iran, there are limitations to the data that can be shared between the two countries, suggesting that the Maltese authorities have refused applications due to a lack of information on applicants.

The Minister revealed that wealthy internationals from Asia, Europe, North and South America, the Oceana and the Caribbean as well as the Gulf States benefited the most from this scheme, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

A report provided by Times Malta noted that a total of €27.8 million in revenue from the Golden passport program were received by the National Development and Social Fund, thus taking the total amount of proceeds since its establishment to just under €600 million.

In 2020 amid the spread of the Coronavirus and its new variants, the total assets of the fund surged by a total of 4.82 per cent, up from €570.58 million registered in 2019 to €598.10 million in 2020. It has been emphasized that the total assets also included €364.96 million held in international and domestic financial investments, a total of €1.48 million in heritage assets as well as €227.19 million in cash and cash equivalents.

Malta’s Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP) offers wealthy foreign investors the opportunity to acquire citizenship if they meet specific conditions and make an investment of about 1 million euros ($970,000).

Still, even though the scheme made a significant contribution to the economic sector, it has often been in the spotlight for permitting many unlawful acts to happen.

In September last year, the European Commission announced that it would take Malta to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), after reports that it was linked to illegal affairs, including corruption, tax evasion and money laundering.

The Commission estimated that granting EU citizenship in return for pre-determined payments without a genuine link to European Union countries goes against the bloc’s laws.

“The Commission considers that granting EU citizenship in return for pre-determined payments or investments without any genuine link to the Member State concerned is not compatible with the principle of sincere cooperation enshrined in Article 4(3) of the Treaty on European Union, and with the concept of Union citizenship, as provided for in Article 20 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,” the Commission noted in a statement.

The European Commission called on Maltese authorities several times to abolish the Golden Passport Scheme. Besides, on October 20, it addressed a formal notice to Malta, urging the country’s authorities to terminate the program as soon as possible. Malta received another similar letter on June 9, 2021, while on April 6 last year, the Commission sent a reasoned opinion to Malta.

The absolute majority of stateless people were men – 104 compared to 67 women, all identified as stateless. In addition, 50 of them were of Caucasian background, another 24 were of Asian background, and 40 were stateless people of Arab racial origin, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

Neil Falzon, Director of Aditus Foundation, noted that the 2021 questionnaire for these people included questions if persons had Maltese or foreign citizenship but didn’t include statelessness among options.

He also noted that the National Statistics Office isn’t responsible for verifying a person’s claim that they do not have any citizenship while pointing out that determining if someone is stateless can be a complicated process that includes research over a person’s history and relationship with different countries, as well as a place of birth, residence and marriage.

“Countries that have committed to taking this matter seriously introduced formal procedures to identify statelessness, procedures leading to an official declaration of statelessness with consequential rights. We are waiting for Malta to live up to the commitment it expressed internationally in 2019. Until then, Malta’s stateless population will remain unidentified, invisible and ignored,” he said.

In 2021 Malta was urged to keep its promises to establish a formal procedure that differs when asylum seekers are “stateless”, indicating a person isn’t considered a national of any state under the law. In 2019, Malta complied with the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, but Malta hasn’t yet taken the required steps to fulfil the Convention’s obligations.

Thus, stateless persons in Malta cannot be identified and are vulnerable to violations of their rights. Those include the rights to employment, education, freedom from discrimination, family, housing and private life.

The Director and co-founder of the European Network on Statelessness, Chris Nash, revealed that there are more than one million people in Europe that are stateless, with some of those being stateless before reaching Europe and the rest becoming stateless during their migratory journey to Europe.

He pointed out that adults that come to Malta are more likely to become stateless before arriving in the country, while children couldn’t obtain citizenship due to safeguards in Maltese nationality law.

A stateless person is considered a person that isn’t a national of any state, as the United Nations refugee agency points out.

According to Eturbo News report, the new program grants a three-year residence permit to founders, as well as co-founders and core employees together with their immediate family members, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

The permit can then be renewed for a further five years by founders as well as co-founders and for further three years by all core employees, provided they meet the requirements and the business is still ongoing.

In order to benefit from this program, foreigners are required to make an investment of at least €25,000 (approximately $30,901) in a paid-up share capital or tangible investment. Those who plan to become part of this scheme will need to travel to Malta and also pay taxes locally. After completing five years in this country, third-country nationals will be eligible to file an application for long-term residency.

CEO of Malta Enterprise, the country’s economic development agency, Kurt Farrugia, while welcoming the new program, said that the government of Malta is putting innovative startups at the heart of the country’s economic vision.

“Malta Enterprise offers a dedicated package for startups, including grants, loans, and other non-dilutive assistance that can significantly boost startups seeking early-stage financing. The Maltese Islands host booming industries like financial services, fintech, digital games, i-gaming, life sciences, pharma, R&D, maritime, aviation, as well as other niche sectors such as medical cannabis, AI, Internet of Things, cyber security, and big data,” he said.

CEO of the agency which grants residency permits, “Residency Malta,” Charles Mizzi, has considered that the initiative offers founders, as well as co-founders and core employees of highly innovative startups, “the peace of mind that comes with a medium-term residency permit,” as it allows entrepreneurs to focus entirely on their business.

Companies where the business plans are not officially approved by Malta Enterprise and those where the business activity is not in line with the requirements of the local National FDI Screening office will not be eligible to benefit from this program.

At the same time, third-country nationals considered to meet all the requirements for this scheme will not be obliged to apply for a visa in advance following the issuance of the Letter of Approval in Principle.

In addition to the Startup Residence Scheme, Malta also offers Golden Visa Program, which allows wealthy foreign nationals to acquire residency in this country, and the Golden Passport scheme, permitting internationals to obtain citizenship in Malta, despite the fact that these programs have often been accused of being involved in illicit acts.

In a statement released on April 12, the airport revealed that of this figure, in March alone, 487,117 passenger movements were also registered, marking a two per cent increase compared to the figures before the pandemic, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

Data provided by the airport also show that this figure has increased due to the release of pent-up demand for air travel, which has also been reflected in high seat load factors (SLF) over the past few months. As a result, the SLF for the month of March was 83.5 per cent, thus gaining 2.2 per cent compared to the levels of 2019.

Among the most popular markets during March were countries such as Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Poland, which accounted for 63 per cent of this month’s traffic.

The UK and Germany were the markets which continued to perform below 2019 levels, while the other three recorded varying levels of growth.

However, despite passenger numbers to and from Germany remaining below pre-pandemic levels, an improved SLF of 90 per cent helped it overtake France to rank third.

Based on the data of the National Statistics Office of Malta, in January of this year, Malta registered a total of 136,167 tourists, with total nights spent reaching 1,031,718.

The same source said that during January 124,151 incoming tourists visited Malta for leisure purposes, while another 7,764 came for business purposes.

Regarding age, a percentage of 41.1 per cent of incoming tourists belonged to the 25-44 age group, followed by the 45-64 age group with 31.2 per cent.

Moreover, among the countries that made up the largest number of incoming tourists were Italy, the UK and Poland, with 42.2 per cent.

According to these statistics, during January 2023, the number of nights spent in Malta increased by 79.0 per cent compared to the same month of 2022, passing one million nights. Thus, a total of 79.2 per cent of tourists spent their nights in rental accommodation facilities with an average length of stay of 7.6 nights.

Last year, Malta again reached pre-pandemic levels by 83 per cent in terms of visitor numbers, with a total of 2.3 million.

During this period, the volumes of the Polish, Austrian, Italian and French markets also exceeded 2019 levels.

At the same time, international tourists spent €2 billion. However, in 2022 the total expenditure per capita decreased to €880 from €899 in 2021.

The decision comes after wealthy nationals from the countries mentioned above were subject to the European Union sanctions lists; thus, the golden passports, acquired through Cyprus and Malta’s Golden Passport scheme, no longer can be used, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

According to a TVR report, authorities in Cyprus stripped citizenships of nine investors from Russia as well as a total of 34 members of the families acquired through the Citizenship by Investment scheme, while Maltese authorities revoked the golden passports of two people.

The FDP MEP Mortiz Korner welcomed the decision taken by these two European countries while stressing that those who profit from the policies of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin must feel the consequences.

“Russians and Belarusians who end up on the EU sanctions list do not deserve EU citizenship,” Korner pointed out, according to Der Spiegel’s report.

The Golden Passport scheme introduced in many European countries gives non-EU citizens a path to citizenship if they contribute financially to the respective state and meet the required conditions.

However, the program has often been accused of being involved in illicit affairs such as corruption, tax evasion and money laundering, thus urged by EU authorities to terminate this scheme as soon as possible.

In addition, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU agreed to limit the granting of Golden Passports for Russians, especially for nationals of Russia and Belarus, subject to EU sanctions.

Commissioner for Justice and Consumers, Didier Reynders, in March last year said that the European values are not for sale while considering that the sale of citizenship through the Citizenship by Investment scheme is unlawful under the European Union law and it poses a significant security risk.

“All Member States concerned should end their investor citizenship schemes immediately. In addition, they should assess whether they should revoke any ‘golden passports’ already granted to sanctioned individuals and others significantly supporting Putin’s war,” Reynders pointed out.

The Golden Passport program conducted in Cyprus permitted wealthy foreigners to acquire citizenship in this country if they made a financial investment of at least €2.5 million. The scheme, which brought about €9.7 for a period from 2007 until 2020, was terminated following reports of its involvement in illegal acts.

According to the Probe report, from 2007 until 2020, a total of 6,779 Cypriot citizenships were granted through this program.

As for Malta, the European Commission last year confirmed that it would take the country to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) following its involvement in illegal affairs.

Besides, in March this year, it was reported that a fund that administers hundreds of millions of euros that were brought to the country from the Citizenship by Investment scheme still didn’t make its audited accounts for 2021 public.

According to a report issued by Vienna Airport, the number of passengers managed by the Flughafen Wien Group has risen by 0.8 per cent beyond the passenger volume recorded in July 2019, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

“Several major projects will be commencing soon, showcasing the dynamic further development of the Vienna Airport hub. Work will begin soon on the Southern Expansion of Terminal 3, the Helios Logistics Park and our third hotel. Vienna Airport is also taking off when it comes to climate protection,” Member of the Management Board of Flughafen Wien AG, Günther Ofner, pointed out.

These data also show that the total number of passengers at the Airport of Vienna reached 3,144,573, which represents a growth of 13.4 per cent compared to the same month of last year.

In addition, the total number of passengers handled in July 2023 was only 0.5 per cent below the level recorded in July 2019.

In July of this year, Vienna Airport saw a year-on-year rise in domestic passengers, reaching a total of 2,394,120, by 18.5 per cent. However, transfer passengers showed a slight decrease of 0.4 per cent, to a total of 741,754.

At the same time, the month also witnessed a positive trend in flight movements, with an increase to 21,779 flights in July 2023, a growth of 12.7 per cent compared to the same period in 2022.

The collective number of passengers departing Vienna Airport and heading to Western European destinations rose to 1,065,687 during July 2023, showing a rise of 9.5 per cent compared to the same period in July 2022.

Further data reveals that Eastern European traffic witnessed an increase, accommodating a total of 296,176 passengers and marking an increase of 14.0 per cent. Even passenger traffic to North America showed a positive recovery, with figures reaching 54,317 passengers, a notable increase of 7.9 per cent from last year.

Similarly, the number of passengers to African destinations experienced a growth of 30,234, showing an increase of 2.6 per cent. Middle East passenger volume also increased to 106,670 passengers, marking a 28.1 per cent surge. The number of passengers embarking on journeys to Far East destinations also increased to 47,036 or 139.2 per cent in July 2023.

Last month, another airport that saw a rise in passenger volume was Malta Airport, thus reaching 848,716 passengers and showing a growth of 23.2 per cent. This surge places the airport 6.3 per cent above the pre-crisis passenger level recorded in 2019.

Likewise, Kosice Airport experienced a more modest increase in passenger numbers, accommodating a total of 96,872 passengers and an increase of 1.1 per cent. This figure stands 0.7 per cent higher than the number recorded in 2019.

For the Employer

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

Step 1: Fill out the employer's questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you.  Fill in the form.

Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

For Job Seeker Registration

If you are looking for Truck Drivers, such as our guest today, we would like you to fill out the application form on our website. After reviewing the details of the completed offer, a representative of AtoZ Serwis Plus will contact you and tell you about all the details.  Fill in the form.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pl is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

According to Prosecutor Hubert Gerada, Desire Koiba, who is a 24-year-old Guinean national residing in Ghaxag, has been arrested after attempting to travel abroad with a false passport, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports

Joseph Brincat, his legal representative, said that the accused had shouldered responsibility, as the punishment for such cases can result in a six-month effective jail term. On the other hand, Prosecutor Gerada insisted on an effective prison sentence.

The court adjourned the case for judgment to October 25. Koiba will be remanded in custody till then.

This would not be the first time that foreign football players misused their function to try and reach other European countries as last month, the Belgian State Secretary for Asylum and Migration revealed that several Burundi athletes who went missing from Croatia in August had applied for asylum in the country.

According to Croatian authorities, ten young men had left their accommodation spot at a university residence in Rijeka, while a few days later, the authorities said that ten handball players that had come to the European country to participate in the Junior World Championship had gone missing.

However, Belgian authorities claimed that although the Burundian athletes were welcomed to apply for asylum in the country, they are Croatia’s responsibility, indicating that the foreign athletes have benefited from a short-stay visa for their tournament to obtain asylum from the other Schengen country.

Currently, Belgium is dealing with an accommodation crisis, pushing authorities to provide accommodation primarily to families with children. The European country has been calling for a better distribution of asylum seekers between member countries for months now.

In general, the top ten countries of origin for applicants for international protection in Belgium include Afghanistan, Syria, Palestine, and Burundi, while Guinea is positioned ninth on this list.

For the Employer

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

Step 1: Fill out the employer's questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you.  Fill in the form.

Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

For Job Seeker Registration

If you are looking for Truck Drivers, such as our guest today, we would like you to fill out the application form on our website. After reviewing the details of the completed offer, a representative of AtoZ Serwis Plus will contact you and tell you about all the details.  Fill in the form.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pl is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

Both EU destinations have seen a noteworthy increase in Chinese travellers, becoming two new popular destinations for upcoming trips between September and December 2023, in contrast to the same period in 2022, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

On the other hand, similar to the previous year, France remains the top choice for Chinese travellers, with 47 per cent of the 1,000 respondents including it in their autumn 2023 itineraries, according to the latest Long-Haul Travel Barometer survey by the European Travel Commission (ETC).

The ETC conducts 1,000 online interviews in each of the six key markets—Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, and the United States—with the aim of understanding the travel intentions of long-haul travellers.

Chinese travellers have also shown a growing interest in exploring less popular destinations, including Bulgaria, Iceland, Sweden, and Ireland. Notably, some of these destinations were not among the top choices back in the autumn of 2019.

Following France, other destinations favoured by Chinese travellers include Germany, chosen by 23 per cent, and Italy and Denmark, both tied for third place at 20 per cent.

Austria follows closely at 19 per cent, while Switzerland, Greece, and Finland share the fifth most preferred destination spot among Chinese respondents with 13 per cent each.

When travelling to Europe, Chinese travellers expressed their preference for gastronomy experiences, with 40 per cent of respondents favouring this choice.

Specifically, the younger Chinese respondents aged 18-34 and 35-49, planning to visit Europe between September and December 2023, have a strong focus on savouring local cuisine and participating in cooking classes.

City life activities, such as street art, culture, and history, closely followed at 32 per cent, while nature-based activities, such as tourism and hiking, also drew significant interest, chosen by 29 per cent of the respondents.

Luxury shopping held a lower level of appeal, as it was the preferred activity for only 17 per cent of the respondents, making it the least favoured choice among Chinese travellers considering a trip to Europe.

In terms of transportation, the majority of Chinese respondents, roughly 83 per cent, plan to travel between European countries using full-service flights. An additional 29 per cent consider low-cost flights as an option.

Furthermore, train passes were the second choice among Chinese travellers, slightly lower at 25 per cent, while motorhomes, including campervans and truck campers, were the least preferred option, selected by only seven per cent of the respondents.

For the Employer

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

Step 1: Fill out the employer's questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you.  Fill in the form.

Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

For Job Seeker Registration

If you are looking for Truck Drivers, such as our guest today, we would like you to fill out the application form on our website. After reviewing the details of the completed offer, a representative of AtoZ Serwis Plus will contact you and tell you about all the details.  Fill in the form.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pl is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

According to the government agency, which offers residency programs for wealthy internationals from non-EU countries, it projected revenue of a total of €7.5 million last year, and slightly over €10 million the year before, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

The figures came from the Budget estimates published on Monday, according to a report from Times Malta.

Residency Malta oversees a coveted residency program for nationals from countries outside the bloc, according to its website.

The agency is responsible for three residency programmes:

• The Nomad Residence Permit
• The Malta Startup Residence Programme
• The Malta Permanent Residency Programme

Malta’s Digital Nomad Visa Program gives digital nomad workers the opportunity to legally stay in this country and work remotely for companies or businesses located outside the country.

At the same time, Malta Startup Residence Programme is dedicated to non-EU citizens who want to bring their start-ups to the island. It gives them the opportunity to acquire a three-year residence permit, extendable for an additional five years.

As for the Golden Visa, the program gives wealthy foreigners the opportunity to acquire residency if they meet some specific conditions and invest in Malta.

In order to get a Maltese passport in one year, through the country’s Residence and Visa Program, applicants should invest at least €750,000 to the national development fund.

Regarding this scheme, the Ministry for Home Affairs, is expecting no changes in how much money will the country earn through the sale of passports.

The same notes that just like the previous year, it is expected to bring €21 million from the Individual Investment Scheme, known as the Golden Passport Program.

In spite of making a significant economic contribution, Malta’s golden visa raised security concerns, of its involvement in illegal acts.

Besides, a fund that administers income brought to Malta from the Golden passport Scheme, still didn’t make accounts for 2021 public.

Minister for National Security, Byron Camilleri previously revealed that since 2014 until March this year, a total of 1,532 requests for Malta’s Golden Passport scheme were received by authorities in Malta.

Camilleri stressed that nationals from North and South America, Asia, the Oceana and those from Gulf countries were the top beneficiaries from this scheme.

For the Employer

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

Step 1: Fill out the employer's questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you.  Fill in the form.

Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

How can AtoZ Serwis Plus assist you?

AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

After obtaining a majority stake in Lombard Bank, the National Development and Social Fund (NDSF) was discovered to lack a formal written policy or procedure for deciding which projects receive funding, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

In its annual report, the National Audit Office noted that there is no official record for declined projects. The NDSF finances significant national projects using millions of euros generated from the selling of passports to wealthy foreign persons for more than €1 million, along with other residency programs.

According to a report from Malta Today, last year the agency received a total of €30 million in grants. In addition, it invested a total of €55 million from its savings in shares in government stocks and shares of local banks and projects reaching €14 million.

The National Audit Office examined  the following six sample projects:

• A €10 million renovation of primary healthcare clinics.
• €5 million granted to the MFA’s national football center.
• €4.5 million allocated for urban greening projects in ?amrun, Mosta, Qormi, and ?abbar, managed by WasteServ.
• €5 million granted for developing a total of30 apartments in the United Kingdom in order to accommodate Maltese patients under the PuttinuCares Foundation.
• €1 million granted for the Mdina illumination project.
• €53,000 distributed for the restoration of the St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral’s rooftop.

The National Audit Office also recommended that the Fund should hire a specialized technical company in order to verify invoices. In the case of the football center and primary health clinics, a total of 90 per cent of the funds were advanced before any audit, and the grants were assigned only on the basis of invoices provided by the beneficiaries.

In addition, the NAO also noted that the NDSF made a total of €15,000 in donations to two recipients last year, without following a documented policy. These donations also included a total of €10,000 to a charity organization telethon on April 15, last year, and a €5,000 contribution requested by the Maltese Ambassador to the Vatican, to cover part of the costs for bringing and displaying the vestment of St. Pope Pius V in Valletta for a whole month from October 10, 2022.

The Golden Passport of Malta allows wealthy internationals to acquire citizenship provided they meet the needed conditions and invest in this country.

The Minister for National Security Byron Camilleri, in February this year, announced that since its introduction,  a total of 1,532 applicants have acquired citizenship in this country through the Golden Passport scheme.

However, the program is often criticized for being involved in irregular affairs such as corruption and money laundering among others.

In March this year, it was reported that a fund that administers hundreds of millions of euros brought to Malta from the Golden Passport scheme still didn’t make its audited accounts for 2021 public.

For the Employer

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

Step 1: Fill out the employer's questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you.  Fill in the form.

Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

How can AtoZ Serwis Plus assist you?

AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

According to the Times of Malta, all university graduates or those who are qualified in a managerial or technical role and who make at least €25,000 annually are eligible to apply,  AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

Another requirement that must be met in order for employees to be candidates for the scheme includes their employers proving that there are no Maltese or EU workers that can fill the role.

Furthermore, the scheme enables skilled third-country nationals to have their applications processed within 15 working days, while the “Key Employee Initiative”, which is the source scheme that inspired the “Specialist Employee Initiative”, fast-tracks applications of highly paid managers or technicians within five days.

According to data from Jobsplus, the influx of foreign workers to Malta has seen a significant increase, rising from 15,000 in 2012 to 97,000 in 2022 – a 546 per cent increase. On the other hand, A Eurobarometer survey conducted last year revealed that nearly two-thirds of businesses in Malta were dealing with skills shortages in the local labour market.

The surge in migration, particularly from third (non-EU) countries, has raised concerns about worker exploitation and strained the country’s infrastructure, including housing and traffic. Maltese citizens have expressed their concerns about the impact of this migration influx.

In response to the criticism, Prime Minister Robert Abela stated that while the government is working to address and manage population growth, the local workforce’s supply does not meet the demand. The introduction of the ‘Specialist Employee Initiative’ aligns with the government’s commitment to addressing skill gaps and ensuring a smoother integration of skilled foreign workers.

With the fast-track process now in place, the Maltese government aims to strike a balance between meeting the demands of the labour market and addressing the concerns raised by citizens regarding the challenges posed by increased migration.

According to the AIDA Asylum Information Database report, a total of 973 people applied for asylum in Malta in 2022. This takes the total number of cases pending to 1,730. Some 15 people were granted refugee status, and 172 were offered subsidiary protection.

In addition, 783 were rejected, taking the rejection rate to 30 per cent, while the refugee rate was 0.6 per cent. The issuance of subsidiary protection rates reaches 6.5 per cent. The main countries of origin are Syria (243), Eritrea (93), Bangladesh (78) and Ukraine (92).

For the Employer

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

Step 1: Fill out the employer's questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you.  Fill in the form.

Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

How can AtoZ Serwis Plus assist you?

AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

Among other sectors, Malta has recently reported shortages in occupations related to business and administration, culinary and hospitality, and transportation, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

This implies that foreigners who are looking to live and work in Malta have a higher chance of securing employment in this country if they have the qualifications to fill in any of the vacancies.

In addition, Maltese authorities are looking to attract foreign workers, in particular highly-skilled ones. Regarding this, Identita – an agency under the Maltese government – decided to launch the Specialist Employe Initiative (SEI).

SEI provides an alternative for highly skilled third-country nationals who lack eligibility for the Key Employee Initiative but possess relevant academic or technical skills for their job offer in Malta.

Moreover, the Malta Employer Association (MEA) considers foreign workers as a crucial element in Malta’s logistics industry.

At the 2023 National Forum hosted by MEA, President Joanne Bondin highlighted the essential role of foreign workers in supporting and boosting economic growth.

According to the 2022 EURES report on labour shortages and surpluses, the following occupations were reported in-demand in Malta:

1. Accounting and bookkeeping clerks
2. Administrative and executive secretaries
3. Advertising and marketing professionals
4. Building construction labourers
5. Car, taxi and van drivers
6. Chefs
7. Contact centre information clerks
8. General office clerks
9. Managing directors and chief executive
10. Manufacturing labourers not elsewhere classified
11. Messengers, package deliverers and luggage porters
12. Office supervisors
13. Security guards
14. Shop sales assistants
15. Software developers
16. Waiters

Is a Visa Necessary in Order to Work in Malta?

EU/EEA/Swiss citizens don’t need a visa in order to live and work in Malta. However, within three months after arriving, they must register with the?Department for Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs.

Meanwhile, citizens who do not belong to the mentioned countries are required a visa in order to work in Malta. The Maltese authorities provide three types of work permits: the single permit, key employment initiative, and EU Blue Card.

For the Employer

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

Step 1: Fill out the employer's questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you.  Fill in the form.

Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

How can AtoZ Serwis Plus assist you?

AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

Announcing the country’s plans last week, the Active Aging Minister of Malta, Jo Etienne Abela, said that by requiring foreign carers to meet such a requirement, the country would ensure that the quality of workers is improved and the rules for employment will be less bureaucratic, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

As Times of Malta explains, Minister Abela also said that the engagement of carers will be one of the main priorities this year.

The changes come amid an increase in life expectancy in recent years. Data show that more and more elderly are in need of carers.

However, many families struggle to hire carers, with them facing long waiting times as well as paperwork.

According to Minister Abela, the skills card will ease the procedures for hiring foreign carers for the elderly. He said that a parallel system would be created through which the authorities would be able to assess if the applicants meet all the requirements, including language and professional skills.

The introduction of the skills card will be made in March of this year, with the authorities saying that this is an important tool.

Times of Malta noted that the government agreed last year to also introduce a skills card in 2024 for workers from non-EU countries who seek employment in the hospitality and tourism industry.

The government also agreed to extend the requirement for a skills card to include citizens of the EU as well as citizens of Malta in 2025.

In order to obtain the skills card, foreign workers will undergo a training and assessment programme. The programme will include an English language test and will also provide foreign workers with some basic Maltese phrases, among others.

Moreover, the government said that it will also implement changes to ensure that foreigners have basic knowledge of Maltese.

Malta heavily relies on foreign workers to fill job positions across different sectors throughout the country. Previously, AtoZSerwisPlus.com listed the top 16 in-demand jobs, with accounting and bookkeeping clerks, administrative and executive secretaries, and advertising and marketing professionals being the top three.

For the Employer

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

Step 1: Fill out the employer's questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you.  Fill in the form.

Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

How can AtoZ Serwis Plus assist you?

AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

After this record, the airport company expects to welcome eight million passengers in 2024, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

In addition to passenger traffic, Malta Airport aims to reach a total revenue of €126 million. EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) is expected to reach €79 million, net profit €42, and planned CAPEX is expected to reach €45 million.

Alan Borg, CEO of the airport company, stated that last year, Malta Airport achieved record-breaking monthly figures for the first time since 2019.

Borg further revealed that in 2024, the company plans to expand the airport’s capacity. More specifically, the company concludes phases of terminal expansion and Apron X construction this year and will start works on the VIP Terminal and SkyParks Business Centre 2.

Meanwhile, Leslie Vella, Deputy CEO of Malta Tourism Authority, praised the partnership between Malta Airport and MTA, attributing it to the record success of the Maltese tourism industry.

Vella further committed that MTA will keep collaborating with the airport to achieve ongoing, sustainable growth throughout the year.

In general, Malta Airport has reported increased passenger traffic throughout 2023. The highest number of passengers was registered in August last year, with 878,462 travelling through this airport. Additionally, this figure exceeded 2019 levels by 6.7 per cent.

After August, the second month with the highest number of passengers last year was July, with 848,716 travellers. Malta Airport experienced high passenger traffic during September and October, with over 812,000 and over 770,000 passengers, respectively.

Last year, Malta International Airport also secured its first-ever seat on Airports Council International’s regional board (ACI).

In addition to passenger traffic, Malta has been reporting a continuous increase in tourists since 2019, the pre-pandemic year.

Between September and December last year, Malta saw a growth in the number of Chinese travellers compared to the same period in 2022.

Meanwhile, in 2022, Malta welcomed approximately 2.3 million tourists, reaching 83 per cent of 2019 levels.

For the Employer

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

Step 1: Fill out the employer's questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you.  Fill in the form.

Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

How can AtoZ Serwis Plus assist you?

AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

According to the report, Spain, Monaco, and Malta stand out as the top three EU countries for the year in the estimated list of 20 destinations, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

The report is also the culmination of knowledge gathered from one million travellers spanning 172 countries. From a pool of over 500 destinations, the top 20 most-voted countries have been crowned ‘Best EU Destinations 2024’.

Marbella, Spain

Known for its unparalleled beauty, abundant sunshine, and exclusive atmosphere, Marbella is a haven for those seeking luxury experiences and ranks first on this listing.

Within its borders are some of the best golf courses in Europe, offering panoramic views of majestic mountains and the sparkling Mediterranean. After a round of golf, indulge in post-game refreshments or a sumptuous meal at the upscale, landscaped clubhouse.

Monaco

Securing second place, Monaco offers visitors an extraordinary mix of glamour, culture, and relaxation. Despite its modest size, it fascinates with its rich history and unwavering commitment to safety.

From gastronomic delights to cultural festivities, vibrant nightlife, and unparalleled shopping experiences, Monaco leaves no stone unturned in fulfilling every traveller’s dream within its compact territory.

Whether embarking on a romantic getaway, a family getaway, or a getaway with friends, Monaco’s diverse array of hotels ensures a stay characterised by comfort, sophistication, and exceptional service.

Malta

Third on the list is Malta, a pearl in the heart of the Mediterranean. With its picturesque villages and breathtaking coastlines, Malta, Gozo, and Comino beckon adventurers to explore their natural wonders.

Every corner of Malta is adorned with stunning architecture featuring honey-coloured stones against the azure blue waters, creating a visual feast for visitors. Travelers should also delve into the island’s culinary scene to enjoy the best Mediterranean cuisine and wines.

Malta’s mild climate and fascinating underwater landscapes make it a prime diving destination for those seeking tranquillity. At the same time, luxury hotels and resorts offer rejuvenating spa and wellness experiences, providing a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

In addition to Spain, Monaco, and Malta, which have been ranked as the best three European destinations to travel to this summer, the list of European Best Destinations includes 17 other destinations.

According to European Best Destinations, the other destinations that must be visited this year are as follows:

• Geneva, Switzerland
• Batumi, Adjara Region, Georgia
• Riga, Latvia
• Madeira, Portugal
• Florence, Italy
• London, United Kingdom
• Reykjavik, Iceland
• Lège-Cap-Ferret, Nouvelle Aquitaine, France
• Siena, Italy
• Ponza Island, Italy
• Porto-Vecchio, Corsica, France
• Champagne wine region, France
• Faroe Islands
• Sirmione, Lombardy, Italy
• Piran, Slovenia
• Newquay, Cornwall, United Kingdom
• Thassos, North Aegean Sea, Greece

For the Employer

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

Step 1: Fill out the employer's questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you.  Fill in the form.

Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

How can AtoZ Serwis Plus assist you?

AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

According to the airport’s latest report, the increase in passenger activity marked a notable increase of 22.7 per cent compared to the previous year 2023, reaching a peak on January 6, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

On this busy day, which marked the end of the busy holiday travel period, a total of 151 flights transported 23,923 passengers to and from the airport.

Further MIA data also shows that January 2024 witnessed an intriguing change in passenger traffic dynamics at Malta International Airport. As a result, Italy led the charge with a 24 per cent increase compared to last year. Other countries that also contributed to this growth are as follows:

• United Kingdom (+23 per cent)
• Poland (+59 per cent)
• Germany (+30 per cent)
• France (-20 per cent)

The Polish market emerged as the standout performer, showing steady growth over the past few years. Overtaking Spain, France, and Germany, Poland climbed to become Malta International Airport’s third-largest market in January 2024.

Increased flight frequencies to Polish destinations operated by Ryanair and Wizz Air during the winter season fueled a 59 per cent year-on-year increase, with the Polish market accounting for around ten per cent of all passenger movements last month.

Based on the Airports Council International (ACI) report, Malta International Airport has strengthened its position among Europe’s best performers for 2023.

Overtaking counterparts in Spain and Italy, Malta secured fourth place within the EU+ region, boasting a commendable traffic growth of 6.7 per cent during 2019. Portugal (+12.2 per cent) and Greece (+12.1 per cent) claimed the top two spots in the segment, while Iceland secured third place with an increase of 6.9 per cent.

Moreover, Malta Airport grew on 2019 levels by 6.7 per cent, boasting a record achievement of 7.8 million passengers in 2023. Recently, European Best Destinations, known for its annual ranking, ranked Malta as one of the top EU destinations for 2024.

For the Employer

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

Step 1: Fill out the employer's questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you.  Fill in the form.

Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

How can AtoZ Serwis Plus assist you?

AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

This phenomenon came to light after the difference in Russian tourists to Switzerland more than halved in 2022, while at the same time, Switzerland was increasingly more visited by Maltese and Cypriot passport holders, AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

The “Tagesanzeiger” and an expert interviewed assume that this could be related to the “Golden Passes” offered to third-country nationals who can make a certain investment in Malta and Cyprus.

Malta & Cyprus Golden Passes – Apple of Discord for Europeans Continually Sanctioning Russians

After the war in Ukraine, the number of Russians visiting Switzerland dropped significantly. In 2019, which marks the period before the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, Russians spent 350,000 overnight stays in Switzerland. In 2022, this number dropped to around 100,000, showing a 71 per cent decline.

However, the plummeting numbers in tourism statistics do not indicate that Russians are visiting Switzerland any less than they did pre-pandemic or before the war happened. According to statistics from the Federal Statistical Office BfS, the number of overnight stays spent by Maltese and Cypriot passport holders in Central Switzerland has soared in 2022.

In comparison, the number of overnight stays by people with a Russian passport has declined from 26,000 in 2019 to around 8,800.

As Nau.ch reports, the “golden passports” issued by Malta and Cyprus are extremely popular among wealthy Russian nationals, who can obtain dual citizenship in exchange for an investment in the two EU countries.

Research by the European Parliament reveals that the EU states received a total of €21.4 billion from this phenomenon between 2011 and 2019. Malta and Cyprus have since stopped this practice for Russian citizens.

Only Russian Riches Able to Take Advantage of Dual Citizenship

Although the Maltese passport can be easily obtained, it does cost a lot of money. An investment of almost €1.6 million in the country would have been required for Russian nationals to be eligible to gain dual citizenship back in 2021. This could result in a large discrepancy with the people who are sanctioned, as they often have a lot of money.

Travelling to Switzerland has become harder for Russian citizens who are not subjected to sanctions. Since September 2022, they have needed a visa and are no longer eligible for the previous visa exemption. In addition, direct flights are suspended, making it tougher to travel.

As shared by Steven Edginton from Telegraph, the preliminary data on Schengen visa applications for the first quarter of 2023 shows that Russians lodged 32,156 requests for visitor visas during this period, ranking 15th.

In 2022, Russians filed a total of 687,239 visa applications, second only to Turkish nationals, who had the highest number of requests for the year (779,000).

For the Employer

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

Step 1: Fill out the employer's questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you.  Fill in the form.

Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

How can AtoZ Serwis Plus assist you?

AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

The research emphasises the unclear criteria for those wishing to be naturalised, in comparison to citizenship acquired through the Citizenship by Investment scheme, known as the Golden Passport program, AtoZSerwisPlus reports.

The study suggests that the naturalisation regime needs to be either overhauled by introducing objective and legal criteria or by issuing detailed guidelines similar to those in the United Kingdom.

In Absence of Legal Reform, Lawyers Urged to Resort to Judicial Review for Citizenship Applicants

Agius told the Times of Malta that if the laws remain unchanged, lawyers representing people who want to apply should use the judicial review process more often.

She said that Malta’s social reality has changed, stressing that laws should reflect such a change. According to her, the country is no longer a country of emigration, but one of immigration.

In 2021, when she was gathering data for her dissertation, she found that 22 per cent of Malta’s population of 519,562 were non-Maltese, thus accounting for a five-fold increase than in 2011.

Her study was focused on how people become citizens by living in Malta, including those who moved there by choice, refugees, people whose asylum requests were denied, and their children born in Malta.

According to her, while the law specifies the number of years that a person would need to have resided in Malta, the remaining criteria are not quantifiable.

She has considered that the five-year requisite is a minimum standard, stressing that in practice, refugees and people with subsidiary protection are made to wait for some ten and 20 years, in spite of there not being any distinctions based on the legal status of the applicant law.

According to the study conducted by Agius, a European Convention on Nationality that Malta signed in 2003 but has yet not ratified would permit people residing here the right to apply after ten years in Malta.

About AtoZ Serwis Plus

AtoZ Serwis Plus is a reputable and well-known B2C immigration agency that has been providing specialised immigration services since 2009. With company registration offices in Poland, Portugal, Malta, Germany, and Romania and partner offices in various countries worldwide, it offers individualised immigration services to clients globally.

Supported by Polish attorneys and with company registration numbers Regon: 382604058, NIP: 5252780856, and KRS: 0000770916, AtoZ Serwis Plus Sp. z o.o. is a Polish Overseas Career Consultant and is considered one of the largest B2C immigration firms in Europe. It works closely with regulated and licensed immigration lawyers in its offices in Poland and Portugal.

AtoZ Serwis Plus has extensive experience managing international recruitment projects and specialises in providing staffing services. They assist individuals from countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, and others in finding employment opportunities in Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Poland, Malta, Portugal, Germany, and other European countries.

Their services cater to individuals seeking professional growth and those looking to relocate permanently to Europe. AtoZ Serwis Plus charges reasonable fees for its services and offers flexible payment options.

Overall, AtoZ Serwis Plus aims to provide high-value immigration services, leveraging their expertise, international network, and partnerships to assist clients in achieving their career goals abroad.

For the Employer

Would you happen to need new employees? Our Immigration agency can assist you in finding the best candidates from various countries, including:

• CIS: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.
• Southeast Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam.
• Middle East: Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates 
• Africa: Nigeria, Algeria, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire,  Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia.
• EU and EEA: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

We take a personalised approach to each of our clients and ensure that we understand your specific needs and requirements for candidates before deciding on the cost of our services. It's a critical step in the recruitment process, and we ask that you fill in all the fields as thoroughly as possible to help us and the job applicants.

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

Step 1: Fill out the employer's questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you.  Fill in the form.

Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

For Job Seeker Registration 

If you'd like to find work opportunities in Europe, please complete the application form on our website. Once you have filled out all the necessary details, our team at AtoZ Serwis Plus will look over your application and contact you to give you more information. Don't hesitate to fill out the form and take the first step towards your new job.  Fill in the form.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. Please be careful when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

The figures were provided in Parliament following a question by Opposition MP David Aguis, who asked Sports Minister Clifton Grima, Home Affairs Minister Byorn Camilleri and Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg regarding the number of visas issued to Russians since the beginning of the invasion, AtoZSerwisPlus reports.

Both Grima and Camilleri directed the MEP candidate to the responsible minister as their ministries are not responsible for issuing visas, as reported by Newsbook Malta.

Borg said that visas were issued in line with the European Union visa code regulation. The applications also contained an official request from the sports organizations.

Agius also asked Clifton Grima if the Malta Racing Club’s horse races, featuring Russian and Maltese jockeys, were funded by EquestriMalta or another government entity.

He also questioned if it was smart to host these races taking into account the current global situation.

In addition, he clarified that Russian jockeys weren’t permitted to use their country’s flag, and the Malta Racing Club had to adhere to protocols from the International Olympic Committee.

Grima emphasized that the athletes did not participate as a team, but individually.

The Sports Minister also noted that the jockeys did not wear their country’s jockey uniform jacket.

Spain Issues Visas to Athletes Allegedly Backing Ukraine Invasion

In March this year, two athletes from Russia and Belarus managed to qualify for the Paris Olympics this summer during a match in Germany, in spite of not being granted visas by authorities in Germany to enter the country.

Last year, German Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, proposed that by halting visa issuance for Russians and Belarusians, countries could use their own authority to deny such athletes from attending important events.

In December 2023, the Council of the European Union adopted its 12th package of sanctions related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Back then the Council decided to add tens of thousands of Russian nationals to the sanctions list.

About AtoZ Serwis Plus

AtoZ Serwis Plus is a reputable and well-known B2C immigration agency that has been providing specialised immigration services since 2009. With company registration offices in Poland, Portugal, Malta, Germany, and Romania and partner offices in various countries worldwide, it offers individualised immigration services to clients globally.

Supported by Polish attorneys and with company registration numbers Regon: 382604058, NIP: 5252780856, and KRS: 0000770916, AtoZ Serwis Plus Sp. z o.o. is a Polish Overseas Career Consultant and is considered one of the largest B2C immigration firms in Europe. It works closely with regulated and licensed immigration lawyers in its offices in Poland and Portugal.

AtoZ Serwis Plus has extensive experience managing international recruitment projects and specialises in providing staffing services. They assist individuals from countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, and others in finding employment opportunities in Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Poland, Malta, Portugal, Germany, and other European countries.

Their services cater to individuals seeking professional growth and those looking to relocate permanently to Europe. AtoZ Serwis Plus charges reasonable fees for its services and offers flexible payment options.

Overall, AtoZ Serwis Plus aims to provide high-value immigration services, leveraging their expertise, international network, and partnerships to assist clients in achieving their career goals abroad.

For the Employer

Would you happen to need new employees? Our Immigration agency can assist you in finding the best candidates from various countries, including:

• CIS: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.
• Southeast Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam.
• Middle East: Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates 
• Africa: Nigeria, Algeria, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire,  Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia.
• EU and EEA: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

We take a personalised approach to each of our clients and ensure that we understand your specific needs and requirements for candidates before deciding on the cost of our services. It's a critical step in the recruitment process, and we ask that you fill in all the fields as thoroughly as possible to help us and the job applicants.

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

Step 1: Fill out the employer's questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you.  Fill in the form.

Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

For Job Seeker Registration 

If you'd like to find work opportunities in Europe, please complete the application form on our website. Once you have filled out all the necessary details, our team at AtoZ Serwis Plus will look over your application and contact you to give you more information. Don't hesitate to fill out the form and take the first step towards your new job.  Fill in the form.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. Please be careful when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

Kuksov has been imprisoned in the UK after admitting to laundering over €14 million in cash together with an associate, AtoZSerwisPlus reports.

He was jailed for more than five years and seven months in February after admitting to his role in laundering the cash.

Both the father and son Kuksov received Maltese citizenship back in 2022. The elder Kuskov hasn’t been connected to his son’s criminal case. Both were granted Maltese citizenship weeks before Malta suspended passport sales to wealthy nationals from Russia following the latter’s invasion of Ukraine, in February 2022.

Under the current laws in Malta, passports can only be revoked if applicants are sentenced within seven years of becoming citizens to a jail term of a year or longer.

The case of Semen Kuksov is being reviewed by the Community Malta Agency, which oversees the Golden Passport program, according to the CEO of Joseph Mizzi.

Regarding the case against Semen, Vladimir Kuksov’s lawyers said he had “no comment to make but notes that he and his adult son have lived separate lives for some years,” as reported by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

Attracting Foreign Investors

Malta’s Golden Passport scheme allowed wealthy foreigners to acquire citizenship in exchange for financial investment and meeting the needed conditions.

The scheme was introduced in 2014, and since then until the scheme was abolished there were a total of 833 investors and 2,109 family members who obtained Maltese citizenship.

Those who benefit from this scheme are also allowed to travel visa-free to other European countries after Malta is part of the borderless area of Schengen.

According to statistics from BBC, between mid-2017 and min-2018, the program brought a total of €162,375,000 equating to 1.38 per cent of Malta’s GDP in that period, in spite of the fact that back in 2018, there was a decrease in the purchase of passports.

The Golden Visa Program was an instant hit for nationals from Russia. During its first year of operation, a total of 54 per cent of applications were submitted by nationals of Russia.

About AtoZ Serwis Plus

AtoZ Serwis Plus is a reputable and well-known B2C immigration agency that has been providing specialised immigration services since 2009. With company registration offices in Poland, Portugal, Malta, Germany, and Romania and partner offices in various countries worldwide, it offers individualised immigration services to clients globally.

Supported by Polish attorneys and with company registration numbers Regon: 382604058, NIP: 5252780856, and KRS: 0000770916, AtoZ Serwis Plus Sp. z o.o. is a Polish Overseas Career Consultant and is considered one of the largest B2C immigration firms in Europe. It works closely with regulated and licensed immigration lawyers in its offices in Poland and Portugal.

AtoZ Serwis Plus has extensive experience managing international recruitment projects and specialises in providing staffing services. They assist individuals from countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, and others in finding employment opportunities in Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Poland, Malta, Portugal, Germany, and other European countries.

Their services cater to individuals seeking professional growth and those looking to relocate permanently to Europe. AtoZ Serwis Plus charges reasonable fees for its services and offers flexible payment options.

Overall, AtoZ Serwis Plus aims to provide high-value immigration services, leveraging their expertise, international network, and partnerships to assist clients in achieving their career goals abroad.

For the Employer

Would you happen to need new employees? Our Immigration agency can assist you in finding the best candidates from various countries, including:

• CIS: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.
• Southeast Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam.
• Middle East: Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates 
• Africa: Nigeria, Algeria, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire,  Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia.
• EU and EEA: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

We take a personalised approach to each of our clients and ensure that we understand your specific needs and requirements for candidates before deciding on the cost of our services. It's a critical step in the recruitment process, and we ask that you fill in all the fields as thoroughly as possible to help us and the job applicants.

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

Step 1: Fill out the employer's questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you.  Fill in the form.

Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

For Job Seeker Registration 

If you'd like to find work opportunities in Europe, please complete the application form on our website. Once you have filled out all the necessary details, our team at AtoZ Serwis Plus will look over your application and contact you to give you more information. Don't hesitate to fill out the form and take the first step towards your new job.  Fill in the form.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. Please be careful when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

In 35 per cent of the files checked by Malta’s FIAU, several buyers posed a significant risk of money laundering because they bought expensive properties or used their own funds for the purchase, AtoZSerwisPlus reports.

According to a report from Malta Today, the real estate company didn’t do thorough controls on these purchases.

One example involved a client who acquired citizenship in Malta through Malta’s Golden Passport Program. The client bought two properties in a special real estate area on the island, totalling more than €2 million in value, all within a year.

The real estate agent collected information about where the buyer’s money came from, like their business in a non-EU country and financial statements from a local company they owned. Yet, it wasn’t enough for these reasons.

FIAU said that it was not enough for the company to simply collect the source of wealth information, after the company was then expected to verify the veracity of such information against documentation, particularly in view of the risks pertaining to the two files.

Besides, the financial statements also revealed that the client company was not profitable and experienced year-on-year losses.

Over 1,500 Golden Passport Applications in Malta Since 2014

Malta’s Golden Passport Scheme allows foreign internationals to acquire citizenship in this country, by financially investing and meeting the needed criteria.

Last year, Malta’s Minister for National Security, Byron Camilleri, said that over 1,500 requests for Malta’s Golden Passport scheme have been received by authorities in Malta since 2014 when the scheme was first introduced.

The scheme was often criticised for being involved in irregular affairs. In December last year, the Audit Office said that Malta’s posterity fund, fueled by millions from golden passport sales, does not have clear rules for choosing projects that receive funding.

About AtoZ Serwis Plus

AtoZ Serwis Plus is a reputable and well-known B2C immigration agency that has been providing specialised immigration services since 2009. With company registration offices in Poland, Portugal, Malta, Germany, and Romania and partner offices in various countries worldwide, it offers individualised immigration services to clients globally.

Supported by Polish attorneys and with company registration numbers Regon: 382604058, NIP: 5252780856, and KRS: 0000770916, AtoZ Serwis Plus Sp. z o.o. is a Polish Overseas Career Consultant and is considered one of the largest B2C immigration firms in Europe. It works closely with regulated and licensed immigration lawyers in its offices in Poland and Portugal.

AtoZ Serwis Plus has extensive experience managing international recruitment projects and specialises in providing staffing services. They assist individuals from countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, and others in finding employment opportunities in Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Poland, Malta, Portugal, Germany, and other European countries.

Their services cater to individuals seeking professional growth and those looking to relocate permanently to Europe. AtoZ Serwis Plus charges reasonable fees for its services and offers flexible payment options.

Overall, AtoZ Serwis Plus aims to provide high-value immigration services, leveraging their expertise, international network, and partnerships to assist clients in achieving their career goals abroad.

For the Employer

Would you happen to need new employees? Our Immigration agency can assist you in finding the best candidates from various countries, including:

• CIS: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.
• Southeast Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam.
• Middle East: Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates 
• Africa: Nigeria, Algeria, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire,  Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia.
• EU and EEA: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

We take a personalised approach to each of our clients and ensure that we understand your specific needs and requirements for candidates before deciding on the cost of our services. It's a critical step in the recruitment process, and we ask that you fill in all the fields as thoroughly as possible to help us and the job applicants.

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

Step 1: Fill out the employer's questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you.  Fill in the form.

Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

For Job Seeker Registration 

If you'd like to find work opportunities in Europe, please complete the application form on our website. Once you have filled out all the necessary details, our team at AtoZ Serwis Plus will look over your application and contact you to give you more information. Don't hesitate to fill out the form and take the first step towards your new job.  Fill in the form.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. Please be careful when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

Agius, who is a Member of the European Parliament from the Nationalist Party says the government has started ‘last minute’ preparations which may cost it with suspension from the Schengen Area, AtoZSerwisPlus reports.

He claims that representatives of the EU Commission have confirmed for him that there is a ‘real risk’ for Malta to be left out of the Schengen Zone, if the same does not successfully put up in place the electronic system for the operation of the Entry/Exit System by October 6.

Maltese Govt Working on a Temporary Manual System for EES Implementation

MEP Agius also revealed in a statement on Wednesday, July 3, that the government is working on a temporary manual passport control system, to make up for the delayed electronic one, for scanning fingerprints and verifying passports.

According to him, putting such a manual system in place would cause unnecessary delays for travellers.

He has pledged to continue requesting the EU to keep him updated on the matter, while urging the Maltese government to do the same.

Government of Malta Aware It’s Too Late With the EES Preparations

Previously in June this year, the Maltese Home Affairs had admitted that it was too late with the preparations for the EES.

In a reply to Newsbook Malta, the government had admitted it would fully adjudicate a pending tender for the remaining stages around the middle of June. It had also pointed out that the Police Force “had to urgently seek a new EES-compatible system” after there had been no interest in the initial tender.

The Entry/Exit System is an automated IT system for registering travellers from third-countries every time they enter and leave the EU borders. The system was designed in a bid of the block to enhance security in its territory and prevent irregular migration.

About AtoZ Serwis Plus

AtoZ Serwis Plus is a reputable and well-known B2C and B2B immigration agency providing specialized immigration services since 2009. With company registration offices in Poland and as a European leader, our official websites operate in over five European countries, and partner offices are located in various countries worldwide; it offers individualized immigration services to clients globally.

Supported by Polish attorneys and with company registration numbers Regon: 382604058, NIP: 5252780856, and KRS: 0000770916, AtoZ Serwis Plus Sp. z o.o. is a Polish Overseas Career Consultant and is considered one of the largest B2C and B2B  immigration firms in Europe. It works closely with regulated and licensed immigration lawyers in its offices in Poland and Portugal.

AtoZ Serwis Plus has extensive experience managing international recruitment projects and specializes in providing staffing and immigration services. They assist individuals from countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, and others in finding employment opportunities in Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Poland, Malta, Portugal, Germany, and other European countries.

Their services cater to individuals seeking professional growth and those looking to relocate permanently to Europe. AtoZ Serwis Plus charges reasonable fees for its services and offers flexible payment options.

Overall, AtoZ Serwis Plus aims to provide high-value immigration services, leveraging their expertise, international network, and partnerships to assist clients in achieving their career goals abroad.

For Employer Registration!

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

• Step 1: Fill out the employer questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customize our services for you. Fill in the form.

• Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.
• Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll use our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. We have favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

Do you need new employees? Our  Immigration agencies can assist you in finding the best candidates from various countries, including:

• CIS: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

• Southeast Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam.
• Middle East: Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates 
• Africa: Nigeria, Algeria, Congo, Côte d'Id'IvoireEgypt, Ghana, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia.
• E.U. and EEA: E.U.ria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

We take a personalized approach to each of our clients and ensure that we understand your specific needs and requirements for candidates before deciding on the cost of our services. It's a critical step in the recruitment process, and we ask that you fill in all the fields as thoroughly as possible to help us and the job applicants.

For Job Seeker Registration!

If you'd like to find work opportunities in Europe, please complete the application form on our website. Once you have filled out all the necessary details, our team at AtoZ Serwis Plus will review your application and contact you to give you more information. Don't hesitate to fill out the form and take the first step towards your new job. Fill in the form.

Please be aware that we only communicate with selected candidates. If you do not receive a response from our recruitment specialist, we cannot offer you a position.

Contact Us AtoZ Serwis Plus Group provides professional workforce solutions to companies across Europe. With over 14 years of experience, we have successfully placed workers from E.U. and non-EU countries. Our comprehensive immigration services cater to nearly 10,000 jobseekers annually, making us one of the leading immigration agencies in the CEE and E.U. regions.

Become our recruitment and immigration partner!

Join Us: Premier Partnerships for Recruitment and Immigration Agencies. 

Partner with us as a recruitment or immigration agency to access job opportunities and work visa services. Register now by filling out our online form.

Why Partner with Us?

• Extensive Job Opportunities: Diverse job openings across industries and locations.
• Comprehensive Visa Services: Simplify the visa application process.
• Global Reach: Connect with employers and candidates worldwide.
• Support and Guidance: Dedicated support for a smooth partnership.

Benefits

• Increased Revenue: Expand your services and attract more clients.
• Enhanced Credibility: Partnering with us adds credibility to your agency.
• Seamless Integration: Easily integrate our services with your operations.
• Access to Resources: Valuable tools to better serve your clients.

How to Join

1. Register: Fill out our online form.
2. Verification: We review and verify your credentials.
3. Agreement: Sign the partnership agreement.
4. Get Started: Offer our job and visa services to your clients.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included is for you to review. You'll always consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ, Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. In reading, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's completeness or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. Please be careful when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. If you are applying, kindly consult an expert.

A statement on the matter by the Identity Agency was issued following a report published by Net News, which said that the agency granted identity cards to thousands of foreigners who were staying in the country irregularly.

Rejecting the claims, the Identity Agency clarified that the authority grants identity cards only to individuals who have Maltese nationality, AtoZSerwisPlus reports.

The same authority further explained that foreign nationals who legally reside and work in Malta are granted residence permits or another similar document through ehich foreigners are able to prove that they have the right to stay in the country.

In addition to the above-mentioned, the Identity Agency also revealed that an internal investigation has taken place.

It was not disclosed exactly what else the investigation included, but it was stressed that the gathered information, including evidence on some individuals, was passed to the police of Malta in order for the authority to take necessary steps in line with the country’s law.

According to the agency, additional measures will be taken when there is suspicion of irregularities, and if there are any reports, the information will be passed on to the relevant authorities.

Identity Agency Pledged Not to Tolerate Any Irregularities

In light of the claims made in the report, the Identity Agency pledged that it would not allow any irregularities in the system, especially when it comes to the regularisation of migrants.

To avoid irregularities, the authority said that it will continue its cooperation with the other authorities and will conduct investigations whenever needed.

The Identity Agency is currently undergoing an audit. Despite this, it said that it remains committed to investigating any case that may raise suspicions.

About AtoZ Serwis Plus

AtoZ Serwis Plus is a reputable and well-known B2C and B2B immigration agency providing specialized immigration services since 2009. With company registration offices in Poland and as a European leader, our official websites operate in over five European countries, and partner offices are located in various countries worldwide; it offers individualized immigration services to clients globally.

Supported by Polish attorneys and with company registration numbers Regon: 382604058, NIP: 5252780856, and KRS: 0000770916, AtoZ Serwis Plus Sp. z o.o. is a Polish Overseas Career Consultant and is considered one of the largest B2C and B2B  immigration firms in Europe. It works closely with regulated and licensed immigration lawyers in its offices in Poland and Portugal.

AtoZ Serwis Plus has extensive experience managing international recruitment projects and specializes in providing staffing and immigration services. They assist individuals from countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, and others in finding employment opportunities in Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Poland, Malta, Portugal, Germany, and other European countries.

Their services cater to individuals seeking professional growth and those looking to relocate permanently to Europe. AtoZ Serwis Plus charges reasonable fees for its services and offers flexible payment options.

Overall, AtoZ Serwis Plus aims to provide high-value immigration services, leveraging their expertise, international network, and partnerships to assist clients in achieving their career goals abroad.

For Employer Registration!

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

• Step 1: Fill out the employer questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customize our services for you. Fill in the form.

• Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.
• Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll use our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. We have favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

Do you need new employees? Our  Immigration agencies can assist you in finding the best candidates from various countries, including:

• CIS: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

• Southeast Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam.
• Middle East: Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates 
• Africa: Nigeria, Algeria, Congo, Côte d'Id'IvoireEgypt, Ghana, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia.
• E.U. and EEA: E.U.ria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

We take a personalized approach to each of our clients and ensure that we understand your specific needs and requirements for candidates before deciding on the cost of our services. It's a critical step in the recruitment process, and we ask that you fill in all the fields as thoroughly as possible to help us and the job applicants.

For Job Seeker Registration!

If you'd like to find work opportunities in Europe, please complete the application form on our website. Once you have filled out all the necessary details, our team at AtoZ Serwis Plus will review your application and contact you to give you more information. Don't hesitate to fill out the form and take the first step towards your new job. Fill in the form.

Please be aware that we only communicate with selected candidates. If you do not receive a response from our recruitment specialist, we cannot offer you a position.

Contact Us AtoZ Serwis Plus Group provides professional workforce solutions to companies across Europe. With over 14 years of experience, we have successfully placed workers from E.U. and non-EU countries. Our comprehensive immigration services cater to nearly 10,000 jobseekers annually, making us one of the leading immigration agencies in the CEE and E.U. regions.

Become our recruitment and immigration partner!

Join Us: Premier Partnerships for Recruitment and Immigration Agencies. 

Partner with us as a recruitment or immigration agency to access job opportunities and work visa services. Register now by filling out our online form.

Why Partner with Us?

• Extensive Job Opportunities: Diverse job openings across industries and locations.
• Comprehensive Visa Services: Simplify the visa application process.
• Global Reach: Connect with employers and candidates worldwide.
• Support and Guidance: Dedicated support for a smooth partnership.

Benefits

• Increased Revenue: Expand your services and attract more clients.
• Enhanced Credibility: Partnering with us adds credibility to your agency.
• Seamless Integration: Easily integrate our services with your operations.
• Access to Resources: Valuable tools to better serve your clients.

How to Join

1. Register: Fill out our online form.
2. Verification: We review and verify your credentials.
3. Agreement: Sign the partnership agreement.
4. Get Started: Offer our job and visa services to your clients.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included is for you to review. You'll always consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ, Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. In reading, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's completeness or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. Please be careful when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. If you are applying, kindly consult an expert.

As a result, the Federation of English Language Organizations in Malta, (FELTOM) estimates that the repercussions will take years to resolve, AtoZSerwisPlus reports.

CEO of FELTOM, Jessica Rees Jones, revealed to Times of Malta how since the Coronavirus pandemic FELTOM’s schools have been showing remarkable resilience, especially through huge investments to attract learners from new countries outside the EU.

Schools Losing Hundreds of Thousands in Revenue as Long as Visa Issuies Persist

She said that one of her school members has already reported a loss of 300 student weeks valued at €100,000 in revenue. She added that another smaller school has seen €27,000 in revenues lost from three different Turkish agents.

The ongoing changes to visa application processes by Identity Malta, have caused confusion for everyone, according to FELTOM and other stakeholders.

However, she emphasized that the visa issue persists and the reason behind this is still unknown.

Based on a recent report from the FELTOM, English language learners’ expenditure last year amounted to a total of €155 million.

Malta Offers English Language Teaching (ELT) Permit Valid for 4 Years

In order to operate an English as a Foreign Language School (ELT) in Malta, a license to operate, issued by the ELT Council is required first.

The ELT Permit is valid for four years and it is ssued once the Council agrees that all the required skills are met in line with Legal Notice 221 of 2015.

Among the requirements for the ELT Permit are at least 18 years and are required to hold the following qualifications: a test for English Language Teachers (TELT) certificate issued by the Council and a certificate in the methodology of teaching the English language to speakers of other languages, approved by the Council among others.

About AtoZ Serwis Plus

AtoZ Serwis Plus is a reputable and well-known B2C and B2B immigration agency providing specialized immigration services since 2009. With company registration offices in Poland and as a European leader, our official websites operate in over five European countries, and partner offices are located in various countries worldwide; it offers individualized immigration services to clients globally.

Supported by Polish attorneys and with company registration numbers Regon: 382604058, NIP: 5252780856, and KRS: 0000770916, AtoZ Serwis Plus Sp. z o.o. is a Polish Overseas Career Consultant and is considered one of the largest B2C and B2B  immigration firms in Europe. It works closely with regulated and licensed immigration lawyers in its offices in Poland and Portugal.

AtoZ Serwis Plus has extensive experience managing international recruitment projects and specializes in providing staffing and immigration services. They assist individuals from countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, and others in finding employment opportunities in Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Poland, Malta, Portugal, Germany, and other European countries.

Their services cater to individuals seeking professional growth and those looking to relocate permanently to Europe. AtoZ Serwis Plus charges reasonable fees for its services and offers flexible payment options.

Overall, AtoZ Serwis Plus aims to provide high-value immigration services, leveraging their expertise, international network, and partnerships to assist clients in achieving their career goals abroad.

For Employer Registration!

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

• Step 1: Fill out the employer questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customize our services for you. Fill in the form.

• Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.
• Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll use our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. We have favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

Do you need new employees? Our  Immigration agencies can assist you in finding the best candidates from various countries, including:

• CIS: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

• Southeast Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam.
• Middle East: Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates 
• Africa: Nigeria, Algeria, Congo, Côte d'Id'IvoireEgypt, Ghana, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia.
• E.U. and EEA: E.U.ria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

We take a personalized approach to each of our clients and ensure that we understand your specific needs and requirements for candidates before deciding on the cost of our services. It's a critical step in the recruitment process, and we ask that you fill in all the fields as thoroughly as possible to help us and the job applicants.

For Job Seeker Registration!

If you'd like to find work opportunities in Europe, please complete the application form on our website. Once you have filled out all the necessary details, our team at AtoZ Serwis Plus will review your application and contact you to give you more information. Don't hesitate to fill out the form and take the first step towards your new job. Fill in the form.

Please be aware that we only communicate with selected candidates. If you do not receive a response from our recruitment specialist, we cannot offer you a position.

Contact Us AtoZ Serwis Plus Group provides professional workforce solutions to companies across Europe. With over 14 years of experience, we have successfully placed workers from E.U. and non-EU countries. Our comprehensive immigration services cater to nearly 10,000 jobseekers annually, making us one of the leading immigration agencies in the CEE and E.U. regions.

Become our recruitment and immigration partner!

Join Us: Premier Partnerships for Recruitment and Immigration Agencies. 

Partner with us as a recruitment or immigration agency to access job opportunities and work visa services. Register now by filling out our online form.

Why Partner with Us?

• Extensive Job Opportunities: Diverse job openings across industries and locations.
• Comprehensive Visa Services: Simplify the visa application process.
• Global Reach: Connect with employers and candidates worldwide.
• Support and Guidance: Dedicated support for a smooth partnership.

Benefits

• Increased Revenue: Expand your services and attract more clients.
• Enhanced Credibility: Partnering with us adds credibility to your agency.
• Seamless Integration: Easily integrate our services with your operations.
• Access to Resources: Valuable tools to better serve your clients.

How to Join

1. Register: Fill out our online form.
2. Verification: We review and verify your credentials.
3. Agreement: Sign the partnership agreement.
4. Get Started: Offer our job and visa services to your clients.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included is for you to review. You'll always consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ, Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. In reading, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's completeness or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. Please be careful when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. If you are applying, kindly consult an expert.

Some of the affected sectors include manufacturing, construction, healthcare, food service and hospitality,  business and administration, and transportation, AtoZSerwisPlus reports.

Moreover, with a population size of 542,051, as estimated in 2022, Malta consequently relies on foreign workers to fill job vacancies across various fields.

This implies that foreigners who are looking to live and work in Malta have a higher chance of securing employment in this country if they have the qualifications to fill in any of the vacancies.

According to the latest EURES report, the following roles are facing a shortage of workers in Malta:

• Messengers, package deliverers and luggage porters
• Manufacturing labourers not elsewhere classified
• Building construction labourers
• Cleaners and helpers in offices, hotels and other establishments
• Car, taxi and van drivers
• Security guards
• Health care assistants
• Child care workers
• Shop sales assistants
• Bartenders
• Waiters
• Accounting and bookkeeping clerks
• Contact centre information clerks
• Bookmakers, croupiers and related gaming workers
• General office clerks
• Chefs
• Administrative and executive secretaries
• Office supervisors
• Business services and administration managers not elsewhere classified
• Managing directors and chief executives

On the other hand, Malta has not reported any surplus occupations, as per the report mentioned above.

Malta Looking to Attract Highly-Skilled Workers

In addition, Maltese authorities are looking to attract foreign workers, in particular highly-skilled ones. Regarding this, Identita – an agency under the Maltese government – decided to launch the Specialist Employe Initiative (SEI).

SEI provides an alternative for highly skilled third-country nationals who lack eligibility for the Key Employee Initiative but possess relevant academic or technical skills for their job offer in Malta.

Moreover, the Malta Employer Association (MEA) considers foreign workers as a crucial element in Malta’s logistics industry.

At the 2023 National Forum hosted by MEA, President Joanne Bondin highlighted the essential role of foreign workers in supporting and boosting economic growth.

Is a Visa Necessary to Work in Malta?

EU/EEA/Swiss citizens do not need a visa to live and work in Malta. However, within three months after arriving, they must register with the?Department for Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs.

Meanwhile, citizens who do not belong to the mentioned countries are required a visa in order to work in Malta. The Maltese authorities provide three types of work permits: the single permit, key employment initiative, and EU Blue Card.

About AtoZ Serwis Plus

AtoZ Serwis Plus is a reputable and well-known B2C and B2B immigration agency providing specialized immigration services since 2009. With company registration offices in Poland and as a European leader, our official websites operate in over five European countries, and partner offices are located in various countries worldwide; it offers individualized immigration services to clients globally.

Supported by Polish attorneys and with company registration numbers Regon: 382604058, NIP: 5252780856, and KRS: 0000770916, AtoZ Serwis Plus Sp. z o.o. is a Polish Overseas Career Consultant and is considered one of the largest B2C and B2B  immigration firms in Europe. It works closely with regulated and licensed immigration lawyers in its offices in Poland and Portugal.

AtoZ Serwis Plus has extensive experience managing international recruitment projects and specializes in providing staffing and immigration services. They assist individuals from countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, and others in finding employment opportunities in Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Poland, Malta, Portugal, Germany, and other European countries.

Their services cater to individuals seeking professional growth and those looking to relocate permanently to Europe. AtoZ Serwis Plus charges reasonable fees for its services and offers flexible payment options.

Overall, AtoZ Serwis Plus aims to provide high-value immigration services, leveraging their expertise, international network, and partnerships to assist clients in achieving their career goals abroad.

For Employer Registration!

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

• Step 1: Fill out the employer questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customize our services for you. Fill in the form.

• Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.
• Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll use our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. We have favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

Do you need new employees? Our  Immigration agencies can assist you in finding the best candidates from various countries, including:

• CIS: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

• Southeast Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam.
• Middle East: Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates 
• Africa: Nigeria, Algeria, Congo, Côte d'Id'IvoireEgypt, Ghana, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia.
• E.U. and EEA: E.U.ria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

We take a personalized approach to each of our clients and ensure that we understand your specific needs and requirements for candidates before deciding on the cost of our services. It's a critical step in the recruitment process, and we ask that you fill in all the fields as thoroughly as possible to help us and the job applicants.

For Job Seeker Registration!

If you'd like to find work opportunities in Europe, please complete the application form on our website. Once you have filled out all the necessary details, our team at AtoZ Serwis Plus will review your application and contact you to give you more information. Don't hesitate to fill out the form and take the first step towards your new job. Fill in the form.

Please be aware that we only communicate with selected candidates. If you do not receive a response from our recruitment specialist, we cannot offer you a position.

Contact Us AtoZ Serwis Plus Group provides professional workforce solutions to companies across Europe. With over 14 years of experience, we have successfully placed workers from E.U. and non-EU countries. Our comprehensive immigration services cater to nearly 10,000 jobseekers annually, making us one of the leading immigration agencies in the CEE and E.U. regions.

Become our recruitment and immigration partner!

Join Us: Premier Partnerships for Recruitment and Immigration Agencies. 

Partner with us as a recruitment or immigration agency to access job opportunities and work visa services. Register now by filling out our online form.

Why Partner with Us?

• Extensive Job Opportunities: Diverse job openings across industries and locations.
• Comprehensive Visa Services: Simplify the visa application process.
• Global Reach: Connect with employers and candidates worldwide.
• Support and Guidance: Dedicated support for a smooth partnership.

Benefits

• Increased Revenue: Expand your services and attract more clients.
• Enhanced Credibility: Partnering with us adds credibility to your agency.
• Seamless Integration: Easily integrate our services with your operations.
• Access to Resources: Valuable tools to better serve your clients.

How to Join

1. Register: Fill out our online form.
2. Verification: We review and verify your credentials.
3. Agreement: Sign the partnership agreement.
4. Get Started: Offer our job and visa services to your clients.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included is for you to review. You'll always consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ, Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. In reading, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's completeness or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. Please be careful when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. If you are applying, kindly consult an expert.

Previously, Maltese politician and Member of the EU Parliament, Peter Agius, had raised his concerns that Malta would not be able to implement the EES at its borders in October. According to him, the EU and Malta were already working together on an alternative system, that would work instead of the EES until the latter is ready.

Commission Does Not Deny Malta’s Struggling With Preparations for EES

While insisting that the EU authorities are closely working with Malta in order to put into operation the EES on time, the Commission has not denied that the country struggled to start preparing for the system on time.

However, the Maltese government itself had confirmed at the beginning of June that they were late with the preparations for the EES. At the time, they had blamed uninterest in the initial tender from companies that would enable the introduction of the system at its borders, for the delay.

EES Likely Postponed to November 2024

For unknown reasons, the implementation of the EES has been postponed once again, from the planned date of October 6, to November 10.

Though the EU has not come forward with an official announcement in this regard, sources of the Independent have told the newspaper that the EES launch could even be pushed back to November 17.

Amongst the reasons behind such a move might be the failure of several countries to implement the system on time, including at the air borders.

About AtoZ Serwis Plus

AtoZ Serwis Plus is a reputable and well-known B2C and B2B immigration agency providing specialized immigration services since 2009. With company registration offices in Poland and as a European leader, our official websites operate in over five European countries, and partner offices are located in various countries worldwide; it offers individualized immigration services to clients globally.

Supported by Polish attorneys and with company registration numbers Regon: 382604058, NIP: 5252780856, and KRS: 0000770916, AtoZ Serwis Plus Sp. z o.o. is a Polish Overseas Career Consultant and is considered one of the largest B2C and B2B  immigration firms in Europe. It works closely with regulated and licensed immigration lawyers in its offices in Poland and Portugal.

AtoZ Serwis Plus has extensive experience managing international recruitment projects and specializes in providing staffing and immigration services. They assist individuals from countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, and others in finding employment opportunities in Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Poland, Malta, Portugal, Germany, and other European countries.

Their services cater to individuals seeking professional growth and those looking to relocate permanently to Europe. AtoZ Serwis Plus charges reasonable fees for its services and offers flexible payment options.

Overall, AtoZ Serwis Plus aims to provide high-value immigration services, leveraging their expertise, international network, and partnerships to assist clients in achieving their career goals abroad.

For Employer Registration!

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

• Step 1: Fill out the employer questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customize our services for you. Fill in the form.

• Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.
• Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll use our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. We have favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

Do you need new employees? Our  Immigration agencies can assist you in finding the best candidates from various countries, including:

• CIS: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

• Southeast Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam.
• Middle East: Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates 
• Africa: Nigeria, Algeria, Congo, Côte d'Id'IvoireEgypt, Ghana, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia.
• E.U. and EEA: E.U.ria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

We take a personalized approach to each of our clients and ensure that we understand your specific needs and requirements for candidates before deciding on the cost of our services. It's a critical step in the recruitment process, and we ask that you fill in all the fields as thoroughly as possible to help us and the job applicants.

For Job Seeker Registration!

If you'd like to find work opportunities in Europe, please complete the application form on our website. Once you have filled out all the necessary details, our team at AtoZ Serwis Plus will review your application and contact you to give you more information. Don't hesitate to fill out the form and take the first step towards your new job. Fill in the form.

Please be aware that we only communicate with selected candidates. If you do not receive a response from our recruitment specialist, we cannot offer you a position.

Contact Us AtoZ Serwis Plus Group provides professional workforce solutions to companies across Europe. With over 14 years of experience, we have successfully placed workers from E.U. and non-EU countries. Our comprehensive immigration services cater to nearly 10,000 jobseekers annually, making us one of the leading immigration agencies in the CEE and E.U. regions.

Become our recruitment and immigration partner!

Join Us: Premier Partnerships for Recruitment and Immigration Agencies. 

Partner with us as a recruitment or immigration agency to access job opportunities and work visa services. Register now by filling out our online form.

Why Partner with Us?

• Extensive Job Opportunities: Diverse job openings across industries and locations.
• Comprehensive Visa Services: Simplify the visa application process.
• Global Reach: Connect with employers and candidates worldwide.
• Support and Guidance: Dedicated support for a smooth partnership.

Benefits

• Increased Revenue: Expand your services and attract more clients.
• Enhanced Credibility: Partnering with us adds credibility to your agency.
• Seamless Integration: Easily integrate our services with your operations.
• Access to Resources: Valuable tools to better serve your clients.

How to Join

1. Register: Fill out our online form.
2. Verification: We review and verify your credentials.
3. Agreement: Sign the partnership agreement.
4. Get Started: Offer our job and visa services to your clients.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included is for you to review. You'll always consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ, Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. In reading, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's completeness or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. Please be careful when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. If you are applying, kindly consult an expert.

Such conclusions have been made by EU Advocate General Michael Collins in response to the European Commission’s comments that Malta’s program violates the EU rules, AtoZSerwisPlus reports.

According to the European Commission, the Citizenship by Investment Program of Malta, known as the Golden Passport Program, violates Article 30 and Article 4(3) of the EU constitution.

At present, several European countries offer residency and citizenship to internationals through the Golden Visa and Golden Passport programs, respectively, which contribute significantly to the countries’ economies.

However, the European Commission has continuously called on EU countries that offer such programs to terminate them after allegations of their involvement in irregular affairs such as money laundering and corruption.

Malta’s citizenship program, known as “Malta Citizenship by Naturalization for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment,” or MEIN, has two pathways:

• For a direct investment of €600,000, foreigners can acquire multi-Maltese citizenship after 36 months.
• For €750,000, you can get citizenship after 12 months.

Advocate General of European Court of Justice Backs EU Golden Passport Programs Continuation

Advocate General of the European Court of Justice Michael Collins delivered an opinion related to the Golden Passport program. He made two points that give hope to other countries planning to sell citizenship.

At first, he stressed that the constitutional definition of EU citizenship does not refer to genuine links. According to him, this requirement was made up by EU politicians after the fact and has no legal binding force.

Second, he showed that Declaration no.2, annexed to the Treaty on European Union, reserves questions of nationality to member states.

His conclusions were that EU countries have the right to sell their citizenship as long as they take steps to preserve their integrity through rigorous due diligence. He therefore recommended that the European Court of Justice (ECJ) drop the case against Malta, as reported by International Living.

Years ago, the Commission took legal action, arguing that the golden passport program breached Malta’s duty to cooperate sincerely.

Malta continues to maintain its Golden Passport Program in spite of other countries’ decisions to terminate such programs.

Following reports by Al Jazeera revealing illicit acts in which Cyprus’ Golden Passport Program was involved, the country decided to abolish this scheme.

Bulgaria also made a similar decision back in 2022.

About AtoZ Serwis Plus

AtoZ Serwis Plus is a reputable and well-known B2C and B2B immigration agency providing specialized immigration services since 2009. With company registration offices in Poland and as a European leader, our official websites operate in over five European countries, and partner offices are located in various countries worldwide; it offers individualized immigration services to clients globally.

Supported by Polish attorneys and with company registration numbers Regon: 382604058, NIP: 5252780856, and KRS: 0000770916, AtoZ Serwis Plus Sp. z o.o. is a Polish Overseas Career Consultant and is considered one of the largest B2C and B2B  immigration firms in Europe. It works closely with regulated and licensed immigration lawyers in its offices in Poland and Portugal.

AtoZ Serwis Plus has extensive experience managing international recruitment projects and specializes in providing staffing and immigration services. They assist individuals from countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, and others in finding employment opportunities in Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Poland, Malta, Portugal, Germany, and other European countries.

Their services cater to individuals seeking professional growth and those looking to relocate permanently to Europe. AtoZ Serwis Plus charges reasonable fees for its services and offers flexible payment options.

Overall, AtoZ Serwis Plus aims to provide high-value immigration services, leveraging their expertise, international network, and partnerships to assist clients in achieving their career goals abroad.

For Employer Registration!

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

• Step 1: Fill out the employer questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customize our services for you. Fill in the form.

• Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.
• Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll use our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. We have favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

Do you need new employees? Our  Immigration agencies can assist you in finding the best candidates from various countries, including:

• CIS: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

• Southeast Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam.
• Middle East: Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates 
• Africa: Nigeria, Algeria, Congo, Côte d'Id'IvoireEgypt, Ghana, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia.
• E.U. and EEA: E.U.ria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

We take a personalized approach to each of our clients and ensure that we understand your specific needs and requirements for candidates before deciding on the cost of our services. It's a critical step in the recruitment process, and we ask that you fill in all the fields as thoroughly as possible to help us and the job applicants.

For Job Seeker Registration!

If you'd like to find work opportunities in Europe, please complete the application form on our website. Once you have filled out all the necessary details, our team at AtoZ Serwis Plus will review your application and contact you to give you more information. Don't hesitate to fill out the form and take the first step towards your new job. Fill in the form.

Please be aware that we only communicate with selected candidates. If you do not receive a response from our recruitment specialist, we cannot offer you a position.

Contact Us AtoZ Serwis Plus Group provides professional workforce solutions to companies across Europe. With over 14 years of experience, we have successfully placed workers from E.U. and non-EU countries. Our comprehensive immigration services cater to nearly 10,000 jobseekers annually, making us one of the leading immigration agencies in the CEE and E.U. regions.

Become our recruitment and immigration partner!

Join Us: Premier Partnerships for Recruitment and Immigration Agencies. 

Partner with us as a recruitment or immigration agency to access job opportunities and work visa services. Register now by filling out our online form.

Why Partner with Us?

• Extensive Job Opportunities: Diverse job openings across industries and locations.
• Comprehensive Visa Services: Simplify the visa application process.
• Global Reach: Connect with employers and candidates worldwide.
• Support and Guidance: Dedicated support for a smooth partnership.

Benefits

• Increased Revenue: Expand your services and attract more clients.
• Enhanced Credibility: Partnering with us adds credibility to your agency.
• Seamless Integration: Easily integrate our services with your operations.
• Access to Resources: Valuable tools to better serve your clients.

How to Join

1. Register: Fill out our online form.
2. Verification: We review and verify your credentials.
3. Agreement: Sign the partnership agreement.
4. Get Started: Offer our job and visa services to your clients.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included is for you to review. You'll always consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ, Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. In reading, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's completeness or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. Please be careful when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. If you are applying, kindly consult an expert.

Survey Reveals Key Trends in Malta’s Golden Visa Program and Its Impact  

A recent survey by the non-profit organization **“Malta’s Golden Visas: What problem are they solving and who benefits?”** highlights critical findings regarding the Golden Visa Program in Malta, its beneficiaries, and its socioeconomic impact.  

Competition in the Housing Market  

The survey found that the program often pits low-to-medium income renters against wealthier visa buyers. Out of **2,500 applications analyzed**, only **67 applicants purchased property**, while the vast majority opted for rentals. Most renters paid the minimum required amount—**€12,000 annually** on the mainland or **€10,000 annually** in Gozo.  

Chinese Nationals Dominate the Program  

From 2016 to 2021, nearly **88% of Golden Visa holders** were nationals from China. While **5,200 Chinese nationals** acquired residency in Malta through the program during this period, the population data revealed that only **2,700 Chinese citizens** currently reside in the country.  

Property Preferences of Golden Visa Buyers  

The report from the **Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation** shows that only **7%** of Golden Visa beneficiaries choose to buy property, with the rest opting to rent.  

Malta’s Golden Passport Program  

In addition to the Residency by Investment Program, Malta also runs a **Golden Passport Program** offering citizenship to wealthy foreigners in exchange for financial investments.  

- From **2014 to 2023**, **1,532 individuals** acquired Maltese citizenship through the program.  
- Despite its contribution to Malta’s economic growth, the program has faced criticism over alleged links to money laundering, tax evasion, and corruption.  

EU Commission's Stance on Golden Visa and Passport Programs  

The European Commission has repeatedly called on EU countries to terminate these programs, citing concerns over their misuse for illicit purposes. However, Malta continues to operate both schemes, emphasizing their importance to the country’s economy.  

These findings underscore ongoing debates about the long-term impact of such programs on Malta’s housing market, economic growth, and international reputation.

About AtoZ Serwis Plus

AtoZ Serwis Plus is a reputable and well-known B2C and B2B immigration agency providing specialized immigration services since 2009. With company registration offices in Poland and as a European leader, our official websites operate in over five European countries, and partner offices are located in various countries worldwide; it offers individualized immigration services to clients globally.

Supported by Polish attorneys and with company registration numbers Regon: 382604058, NIP: 5252780856, and KRS: 0000770916, AtoZ Serwis Plus Sp. z o.o. is a Polish Overseas Career Consultant and is considered one of the largest B2C and B2B  immigration firms in Europe. It works closely with regulated and licensed immigration lawyers in its offices in Poland and Portugal.

AtoZ Serwis Plus has extensive experience managing international recruitment projects and specializes in providing staffing and immigration services. They assist individuals from countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, and others in finding employment opportunities in Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Poland, Malta, Portugal, Germany, and other European countries.

Their services cater to individuals seeking professional growth and those looking to relocate permanently to Europe. AtoZ Serwis Plus charges reasonable fees for its services and offers flexible payment options.

Overall, AtoZ Serwis Plus aims to provide high-value immigration services, leveraging their expertise, international network, and partnerships to assist clients in achieving their career goals abroad.

For Employer Registration!

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

• Step 1: Fill out the employer questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customize our services for you. Fill in the form.

• Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.
• Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll use our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. We have favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

Do you need new employees? Our  Immigration agencies can assist you in finding the best candidates from various countries, including:

• CIS: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

• Southeast Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam.
• Middle East: Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates 
• Africa: Nigeria, Algeria, Congo, Côte d'Id'IvoireEgypt, Ghana, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia.
• E.U. and EEA: E.U.ria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

We take a personalized approach to each of our clients and ensure that we understand your specific needs and requirements for candidates before deciding on the cost of our services. It's a critical step in the recruitment process, and we ask that you fill in all the fields as thoroughly as possible to help us and the job applicants.

For Job Seeker Registration!

If you'd like to find work opportunities in Europe, please complete the application form on our website. Once you have filled out all the necessary details, our team at AtoZ Serwis Plus will review your application and contact you to give you more information. Don't hesitate to fill out the form and take the first step towards your new job. Fill in the form.

Please be aware that we only communicate with selected candidates. If you do not receive a response from our recruitment specialist, we cannot offer you a position.

Contact Us AtoZ Serwis Plus Group provides professional workforce solutions to companies across Europe. With over 14 years of experience, we have successfully placed workers from E.U. and non-EU countries. Our comprehensive immigration services cater to nearly 10,000 jobseekers annually, making us one of the leading immigration agencies in the CEE and E.U. regions.

Become our recruitment and immigration partner!

Join Us: Premier Partnerships for Recruitment and Immigration Agencies. 

Partner with us as a recruitment or immigration agency to access job opportunities and work visa services. Register now by filling out our online form.

Why Partner with Us?

• Extensive Job Opportunities: Diverse job openings across industries and locations.
• Comprehensive Visa Services: Simplify the visa application process.
• Global Reach: Connect with employers and candidates worldwide.
• Support and Guidance: Dedicated support for a smooth partnership.

Benefits

• Increased Revenue: Expand your services and attract more clients.
• Enhanced Credibility: Partnering with us adds credibility to your agency.
• Seamless Integration: Easily integrate our services with your operations.
• Access to Resources: Valuable tools to better serve your clients.

How to Join

1. Register: Fill out our online form.
2. Verification: We review and verify your credentials.
3. Agreement: Sign the partnership agreement.
4. Get Started: Offer our job and visa services to your clients.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included is for you to review. You'll always consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ, Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. In reading, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's completeness or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. Please be careful when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.Pl is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. If you are applying, kindly consult an expert.

Malta’s Golden Visa Program: Benefits and Controversies

Malta’s Golden Visa Program allows wealthy foreigners to acquire residency in exchange for financial investments, but recent research highlights both its advantages and challenges.

Economic and Social Impacts

While the program boosts demand in Malta’s real estate market, its benefits are not evenly distributed. The scheme has contributed to housing competition, leaving low-to-medium-income residents struggling to compete with high-income buyers. In some cases, this has worsened the housing situation for local residents, as highlighted in a report by the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation.

Out of the 2,500 Golden Visa applications analyzed, only 67 applicants purchased property, with the majority opting to rent. Additionally, many Golden Visa beneficiaries reside outside Malta, further reducing the program's direct economic impact on the local community.

Benefits for Chinese Nationals Despite Dual Nationality Restrictions

China does not recognize dual nationality, yet Malta’s Golden Visa Program offers significant advantages for Chinese citizens. Residency allows visa-free travel within the EU Schengen Zone, access to better healthcare, educational opportunities for children in European schools, and other benefits across Europe—all without requiring Chinese nationals to renounce their citizenship.

Malta’s Passport Strength

Malta’s passport ranks 25th in the Passport Index of VisaGuide.World, enabling holders to travel visa-free to 114 countries and passport-free to 31 countries, with a passport score of 88.36. This adds to the program’s appeal for foreign investors.

Who Benefits from Malta’s Golden Visa Program?

The research report titled “Malta’s Golden Visas: What Problem Are They Solving and Who Benefits?” sheds light on the program’s limited impact on Malta’s local economy. The benefits appear to favor high-income individuals and foreign investors over the broader community.

As debates about its economic and social implications continue, Malta’s Golden Visa Program remains a point of interest for foreign nationals, especially from countries like China, while sparking conversations about equitable distribution of its benefits.

About AtoZ Serwis Plus

AtoZ Serwis Plus, founded in 2009, is a top-tier B2C and B2B immigration agency providing specialised services globally. Headquartered in Poland, with operations in over five European countries and partner offices worldwide, it supports clients with expert immigration services. The agency works with regulated immigration lawyers in Poland and Portugal, ensuring professional and reliable assistance.

Our Expertise

• Immigration Services: Comprehensive support for individuals and businesses.
• Recruitment Projects: This program assists job seekers from countries like Ukraine, India, Bangladesh, and others in finding employment in European nations, including Poland, Germany, and Malta.
• Legal Backing: Supported by Polish attorneys with registration numbers: Region: 382604058, NIP: 5252780856, KRS: 0000770916.

For Employer Registration!

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

• Step 1: Fill out the employer questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you. Fill in the form.

• Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.
• Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll use our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. We have favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

Would you happen to need new employees? Our  Immigration agencies can assist you in finding the best candidates from various countries, including:

Regions We Recruit From:

• CIS: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and more.
• Southeast Asia: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam, etc.
• Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, and others.
• Europe: EU and EEA countries, including Germany, Poland, and Malta.

We take a personalised approach to each of our clients and ensure that we understand your specific needs and requirements for candidates before deciding on the cost of our services. It's a critical step in the recruitment process, and we ask that you fill in all the fields as thoroughly as possible to help us and the job applicants.

For Job Seeker Registration!

If you'd like to find work opportunities in Europe, please complete the application form on our website. Once you have filled out all the necessary details, our team at AtoZ Serwis Plus will review your application and contact you to give you more information. Don't hesitate to fill out the form and take the first step towards your new job. Fill in the form.

Just to let you know, we only communicate with selected candidates. If you don't get a response from our recruitment specialist, we won't be able to offer you a position.

Become our recruitment and immigration partner!

Join Us: Premier Partnerships for Recruitment and Immigration Agencies. 

Partner with us as a recruitment or immigration agency to access job opportunities and work visa services. You can register now by filling out our online form.

Why Partner with Us?

• Extensive Job Opportunities: Diverse job openings across industries and locations.
• Comprehensive Visa Services: Simplify the visa application process.
• Global Reach: Connect with employers and candidates worldwide.
• Support and Guidance: Dedicated support for a smooth partnership.

Benefits

• Increased Revenue: Expand your services and attract more clients.
• Enhanced Credibility: Partnering with us adds credibility to your agency.
• Seamless Integration: Easily integrate our services with your operations.
• Access to Resources: Valuable tools to better serve your clients.

How to Join

1. Register: Fill out our online form.
2. Verification: We review and verify your credentials.
3. Agreement: Sign the partnership agreement.
4. Get Started: Offer our job and visa services to your clients.

Contact Us

AtoZ Serwis Plus has over 14 years of experience and assists thousands of job seekers annually, making it a leader in workforce solutions across Europe.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included is for you to review. You'll always consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ, Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. In reading, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's completeness or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. Please be careful when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. If you are applying, could you consult an expert?

Malta Revokes Visa for Russian MFA Spokesperson Amid Rising Tensions with Baltic States

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, will not attend the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting on December 5-6 in Valletta, Malta, after Maltese authorities revoked her Schengen visa. The move comes amid objections from the Baltic countries—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—who argued against any exceptions for Russian representatives, citing past tensions, including Russia blocking Estonia's OSCE presidency in 2023.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is still expected to attend the meeting and has reportedly already arrived in Malta.

Tighter Restrictions for Russian Nationals and Diplomats

Since the invasion of Ukraine, European countries have implemented increasingly stringent measures against Russian nationals and political representatives. The Baltic nations, in particular, have frequently blacklisted or declared Russian nationals as persona non grata.

Recently, Latvia banned ten Russian citizens from entering the country for supporting the war in Ukraine. Those targeted included business owners or individuals with business interests in Latvia.

Persistent Interest of Russians in Visiting Europe

Despite the widespread sanctions and bans, Russian nationals remain highly interested in traveling to Europe. Data from Continent Express shows a 35% increase in Schengen visa applications filed by Russians between January and October 2024.

Many Russians have found alternative routes to enter Europe, often traveling through Turkiye to bypass restrictions on Russian flights in the European air zone. Popular destinations for Russian tourists include France, Italy, and Spain, which account for 17-18% of all travel bookings.

Growing Tensions and Ongoing Challenges

The revocation of Zakharova’s visa highlights the escalating diplomatic tensions between European nations and Russia. As Europe continues to tighten restrictions on Russian nationals, the commitment of Russians to visit the continent demonstrates the enduring complexities of cross-border relations amid ongoing geopolitical conflicts.
 

About AtoZ Serwis Plus

AtoZ Serwis Plus, founded in 2009, is a top-tier B2C and B2B immigration agency providing specialised services globally. Headquartered in Poland, with operations in over five European countries and partner offices worldwide, it supports clients with expert immigration services. The agency works with regulated immigration lawyers in Poland and Portugal, ensuring professional and reliable assistance.

Our Expertise

• Immigration Services: Comprehensive support for individuals and businesses.
• Recruitment Projects: This program assists job seekers from countries like Ukraine, India, Bangladesh, and others in finding employment in European nations, including Poland, Germany, and Malta.
• Legal Backing: Supported by Polish attorneys with registration numbers: Region: 382604058, NIP: 5252780856, KRS: 0000770916.

For Employer Registration!

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

• Step 1: Fill out the employer questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you. Fill in the form.

• Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.
• Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll use our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. We have favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

Would you happen to need new employees? Our  Immigration agencies can assist you in finding the best candidates from various countries, including:

Regions We Recruit From:

• CIS: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and more.
• Southeast Asia: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam, etc.
• Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, and others.
• Europe: EU and EEA countries, including Germany, Poland, and Malta.

We take a personalised approach to each of our clients and ensure that we understand your specific needs and requirements for candidates before deciding on the cost of our services. It's a critical step in the recruitment process, and we ask that you fill in all the fields as thoroughly as possible to help us and the job applicants.

For Job Seeker Registration!

If you'd like to find work opportunities in Europe, please complete the application form on our website. Once you have filled out all the necessary details, our team at AtoZ Serwis Plus will review your application and contact you to give you more information. Don't hesitate to fill out the form and take the first step towards your new job. Fill in the form.

Just to let you know, we only communicate with selected candidates. If you don't get a response from our recruitment specialist, we won't be able to offer you a position.

Become our recruitment and immigration partner!

Join Us: Premier Partnerships for Recruitment and Immigration Agencies. 

Partner with us as a recruitment or immigration agency to access job opportunities and work visa services. You can register now by filling out our online form.

Why Partner with Us?

• Extensive Job Opportunities: Diverse job openings across industries and locations.
• Comprehensive Visa Services: Simplify the visa application process.
• Global Reach: Connect with employers and candidates worldwide.
• Support and Guidance: Dedicated support for a smooth partnership.

Benefits

• Increased Revenue: Expand your services and attract more clients.
• Enhanced Credibility: Partnering with us adds credibility to your agency.
• Seamless Integration: Easily integrate our services with your operations.
• Access to Resources: Valuable tools to better serve your clients.

How to Join

1. Register: Fill out our online form.
2. Verification: We review and verify your credentials.
3. Agreement: Sign the partnership agreement.
4. Get Started: Offer our job and visa services to your clients.

Contact Us

AtoZ Serwis Plus has over 14 years of experience and assists thousands of job seekers annually, making it a leader in workforce solutions across Europe.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included is for you to review. You'll always consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ, Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. In reading, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's completeness or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. Please be careful when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. If you are applying, could you consult an expert?

Over 28,000 People Granted Maltese Citizenship Since 2013

A total of 28,045 individuals acquired Maltese citizenship between 2013 and 2024, with 2,795 citizenships granted in 2024, up from 2,652 in 2023, as reported by the Malta Independent. The peak years were 2018 with 3,610 citizenships and 2017 with 3,186. Significant increases were also observed in 2014 (902), 2015 (949), and 2016 (2,125).

Pathways to Maltese Citizenship

Maltese citizenship can be acquired through several options:

1. Descent: Under the Maltese Citizenship Act (Chapter 188), individuals with Maltese ancestry can obtain citizenship.
2. Naturalisation: Foreigners residing in Malta for a specified period can apply under outlined criteria.
3. Golden Passport Program: Wealthy individuals can acquire citizenship through the Malta Individual Investor Programme (MIIP) by making substantial financial contributions.

While the Golden Passport Program has attracted significant interest, it has faced criticism for involvement in irregularities such as money laundering and corruption. Calls for its termination have been raised.

Concerns Over Golden Passport Programs

In October 2024, Transparency International expressed concerns that a court ruling in favor of Malta’s Golden Passport Program could lead other EU nations to revive similar schemes, potentially undermining global anti-corruption efforts.

Advocacy group representative Eka Rostomashvili warned, “EU citizenship can once again become up for grabs by those who can afford it, seriously undermining global anti-corruption efforts.”

These remarks followed EU Advocate General Michael Collins's statement that EU countries retain the right to sell citizenship if they enforce rigorous due diligence to preserve the programs' integrity.

Malta’s citizenship programs remain under scrutiny, with ongoing discussions about their future impact on the EU’s broader policies on transparency and security.

About AtoZ Serwis Plus

AtoZ Serwis Plus, founded in 2009, is a top-tier B2C and B2B immigration agency providing specialised services globally. Headquartered in Poland, with operations in over five European countries and partner offices worldwide, it supports clients with expert immigration services. The agency works with regulated immigration lawyers in Poland and Portugal, ensuring professional and reliable assistance.

Our Expertise

• Immigration Services: Comprehensive support for individuals and businesses.
• Recruitment Projects: This program assists job seekers from countries like Ukraine, India, Bangladesh, and others in finding employment in European nations, including Poland, Germany, and Malta.
• Legal Backing: Supported by Polish attorneys with registration numbers: Region: 382604058, NIP: 5252780856, KRS: 0000770916.

For Employer Registration!

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

• Step 1: Fill out the employer questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you. Fill in the form.

• Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.
• Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll use our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. We have favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

Would you happen to need new employees? Our  Immigration agencies can assist you in finding the best candidates from various countries, including:

Regions We Recruit From:

• CIS: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and more.
• Southeast Asia: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam, etc.
• Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, and others.
• Europe: EU and EEA countries, including Germany, Poland, and Malta.

We take a personalised approach to each of our clients and ensure that we understand your specific needs and requirements for candidates before deciding on the cost of our services. It's a critical step in the recruitment process, and we ask that you fill in all the fields as thoroughly as possible to help us and the job applicants.

For Job Seeker Registration!

If you'd like to find work opportunities in Europe, please complete the application form on our website. Once you have filled out all the necessary details, our team at AtoZ Serwis Plus will review your application and contact you to give you more information. Don't hesitate to fill out the form and take the first step towards your new job. Fill in the form.

Just to let you know, we only communicate with selected candidates. If you don't get a response from our recruitment specialist, we won't be able to offer you a position.

Become our recruitment and immigration partner!

Join Us: Premier Partnerships for Recruitment and Immigration Agencies. 

Partner with us as a recruitment or immigration agency to access job opportunities and work visa services. You can register now by filling out our online form.

Why Partner with Us?

• Extensive Job Opportunities: Diverse job openings across industries and locations.
• Comprehensive Visa Services: Simplify the visa application process.
• Global Reach: Connect with employers and candidates worldwide.
• Support and Guidance: Dedicated support for a smooth partnership.

Benefits

• Increased Revenue: Expand your services and attract more clients.
• Enhanced Credibility: Partnering with us adds credibility to your agency.
• Seamless Integration: Easily integrate our services with your operations.
• Access to Resources: Valuable tools to better serve your clients.

How to Join

1. Register: Fill out our online form.
2. Verification: We review and verify your credentials.
3. Agreement: Sign the partnership agreement.
4. Get Started: Offer our job and visa services to your clients.

Contact Us

AtoZ Serwis Plus has over 14 years of experience and assists thousands of job seekers annually, making it a leader in workforce solutions across Europe.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included is for you to review. You'll always consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ, Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. In reading, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's completeness or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. Please be careful when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. If you are applying, could you consult an expert?

Malta Grants Residency to Over 33,400 Foreigners in 2024

Malta issued a total of 33,455 first-time residence permits to third-country nationals in 2024. According to a parliamentary response, the number of residence permits issued to both EU and non-EU nationals has now stabilized.

Growth in Residency Programs & Decline in EU Nationals' Residence Permits

• 4,073 residence permits were issued under the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP), Residency and Visa Programme (MRVP), and Nomad Visa Scheme.
• Net valid residence documents issued to EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals declined by 2,227 in 2024.
• Meanwhile, applications through MPRP, MRVP, and the Nomad Scheme saw a significant increase, according to New News.

Malta’s Permanent Residence Program (MPRP) Sees Over 1,500 Applications in 2024

• 1,500 applications for the MPRP were received in 2024, generating:
  • €46 million for the Consolidated Fund.
  • €50 million in five-year lease contracts.
  • €36 million from property purchases.
• The Nomad Residence Program received 1,031 applications in 2024.

Labour Migration Policy & Job Listings for Foreign Workers

The Labour Migration Policy of Malta requires that:

• Any job vacancy must be advertised on the Jobplus website for local workers.
• Job postings for EU citizens should also be listed on the EURES website.

Foreign Workers Address Malta’s Labour Shortages

Malta continues to face significant labour shortages across multiple industries, as highlighted in the 2023 EURES report on labour shortages and surpluses.

The most affected sectors include:

• Manufacturing
• Healthcare
• Construction
• Food service & hospitality
• Transportation

Foreign workers seeking employment in Malta have strong job prospects, provided they meet the qualifications required for vacancies in these key industries.

About AtoZ Serwis Plus

AtoZ Serwis Plus, founded in 2009, is a top-tier B2C and B2B immigration agency providing specialised services globally. Headquartered in Poland, with operations in over five European countries and partner offices worldwide, it supports clients with expert immigration services. The agency works with regulated immigration lawyers in Poland and Portugal, ensuring professional and reliable assistance.

Our Expertise

• Immigration Services: Comprehensive support for individuals and businesses.
• Recruitment Projects: This program assists job seekers from countries like Ukraine, India, Bangladesh, and others in finding employment in European nations, including Poland, Germany, and Malta.
• Legal Backing: Supported by Polish attorneys with registration numbers: Region: 382604058, NIP: 5252780856, KRS: 0000770916.

For Employer Registration!

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

• Step 1: Fill out the employer questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you. Fill in the form.

• Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.
• Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll use our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. We have favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

Would you happen to need new employees? Our  Immigration agencies can assist you in finding the best candidates from various countries, including:

Regions We Recruit From:

• CIS: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and more.
• Southeast Asia: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam, etc.
• Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, and others.
• Europe: EU and EEA countries, including Germany, Poland, and Malta.

We take a personalised approach to each of our clients and ensure that we understand your specific needs and requirements for candidates before deciding on the cost of our services. It's a critical step in the recruitment process, and we ask that you fill in all the fields as thoroughly as possible to help us and the job applicants.

For Job Seeker Registration!

If you'd like to find work opportunities in Europe, please complete the application form on our website. Once you have filled out all the necessary details, our team at AtoZ Serwis Plus will review your application and contact you to give you more information. Don't hesitate to fill out the form and take the first step towards your new job. Fill in the form.

Just to let you know, we only communicate with selected candidates. If you don't get a response from our recruitment specialist, we won't be able to offer you a position.

Become our recruitment and immigration partner!

Join Us: Premier Partnerships for Recruitment and Immigration Agencies. 

Partner with us as a recruitment or immigration agency to access job opportunities and work visa services. You can register now by filling out our online form.

Why Partner with Us?

• Extensive Job Opportunities: Diverse job openings across industries and locations.
• Comprehensive Visa Services: Simplify the visa application process.
• Global Reach: Connect with employers and candidates worldwide.
• Support and Guidance: Dedicated support for a smooth partnership.

Benefits

• Increased Revenue: Expand your services and attract more clients.
• Enhanced Credibility: Partnering with us adds credibility to your agency.
• Seamless Integration: Easily integrate our services with your operations.
• Access to Resources: Valuable tools to better serve your clients.

How to Join

1. Register: Fill out our online form.
2. Verification: We review and verify your credentials.
3. Agreement: Sign the partnership agreement.
4. Get Started: Offer our job and visa services to your clients.

Contact Us

AtoZ Serwis Plus has over 14 years of experience and assists thousands of job seekers annually, making it a leader in workforce solutions across Europe.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included is for you to review. You'll always consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ, Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. In reading, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's completeness or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. Please be careful when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. If you are applying, could you consult an expert?

Libyan Militia Leader Spotted in Italy on Schengen Visa Issued by Malta

Libyan militia leader Abdel Ghani al-Kikli, who has been accused by Amnesty International of involvement in war crimes, torture, and abductions, was recently seen in Italy. Local media outlets confirmed his presence, sharing a photo of him visiting Libya’s Minister of State, Adel Jumaa, in an Italian hospital. While his primary purpose is believed to be the visit to Jumaa, it remains unclear whether al-Kikli has since left the Schengen Area.

Libyan activist Husam El Gomati raised alarm over al-Kikli’s visit, claiming via his X (formerly Twitter) account that the militia leader is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). El Gomati also criticized the Italian government for allegedly failing to act against individuals accused of international crimes.

However, Italian media disputed the ICC claim. Sources from ANSA clarified that al-Kikli is not on the ICC’s wanted list and confirmed that there are no legal actions currently pending against him.

In response to the controversy, a spokesperson from Malta’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that al-Kikli’s Schengen visa application was thoroughly assessed and processed by Malta’s consulate in Tripoli. The application, submitted in November 2023, was reviewed in accordance with Schengen rules and with support from Maltese police authorities. The spokesperson also stated that consultations with other Schengen member states took place, and no objections were raised during the review. However, the duration and conditions of the issued visa were not disclosed.

Amnesty International had previously urged Libyan authorities in 2022 to take action against al-Kikli, citing over a decade of reported abuses by militias under his command in Tripoli’s Abu Salim district, including torture, unlawful killings, and other violations of international law.

About AtoZ Serwis Plus

AtoZ Serwis Plus, founded in 2009, is a top-tier B2C and B2B immigration agency providing specialised services globally. Headquartered in Poland, with operations in over five European countries and partner offices worldwide, it supports clients with expert immigration services. The agency works with regulated immigration lawyers in Poland and Portugal, ensuring professional and reliable assistance.

Our Expertise

• Immigration Services: Comprehensive support for individuals and businesses.
• Recruitment Projects: This program assists job seekers from countries like Ukraine, India, Bangladesh, and others in finding employment in European nations, including Poland, Germany, and Malta.
• Legal Backing: Supported by Polish attorneys with registration numbers: Region: 382604058, NIP: 5252780856, KRS: 0000770916.

For Employer Registration!

Are you looking to Hire? Let us help you find the perfect candidates!

• Step 1: Fill out the employer questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you. Fill in the form.

• Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.
• Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll use our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. We have favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

Would you happen to need new employees? Our  Immigration agencies can assist you in finding the best candidates from various countries, including:

Regions We Recruit From:

• CIS: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and more.
• Southeast Asia: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam, etc.
• Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, and others.
• Europe: EU and EEA countries, including Germany, Poland, and Malta.

We take a personalised approach to each of our clients and ensure that we understand your specific needs and requirements for candidates before deciding on the cost of our services. It's a critical step in the recruitment process, and we ask that you fill in all the fields as thoroughly as possible to help us and the job applicants.

For Job Seeker Registration!

If you'd like to find work opportunities in Europe, please complete the application form on our website. Once you have filled out all the necessary details, our team at AtoZ Serwis Plus will review your application and contact you to give you more information. Don't hesitate to fill out the form and take the first step towards your new job. Fill in the form.

Just to let you know, we only communicate with selected candidates. If you don't get a response from our recruitment specialist, we won't be able to offer you a position.

Become our recruitment and immigration partner!

Join Us: Premier Partnerships for Recruitment and Immigration Agencies. 

Partner with us as a recruitment or immigration agency to access job opportunities and work visa services. You can register now by filling out our online form.

Why Partner with Us?

• Extensive Job Opportunities: Diverse job openings across industries and locations.
• Comprehensive Visa Services: Simplify the visa application process.
• Global Reach: Connect with employers and candidates worldwide.
• Support and Guidance: Dedicated support for a smooth partnership.

Benefits

• Increased Revenue: Expand your services and attract more clients.
• Enhanced Credibility: Partnering with us adds credibility to your agency.
• Seamless Integration: Easily integrate our services with your operations.
• Access to Resources: Valuable tools to better serve your clients.

How to Join

1. Register: Fill out our online form.
2. Verification: We review and verify your credentials.
3. Agreement: Sign the partnership agreement.
4. Get Started: Offer our job and visa services to your clients.

Contact Us

AtoZ Serwis Plus has over 14 years of experience and assists thousands of job seekers annually, making it a leader in workforce solutions across Europe.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included is for you to review. You'll always consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ, Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. In reading, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's completeness or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. Please be careful when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.mt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. If you are applying, could you consult an expert?