According to Eurostat's Migration and migrant population statistics, as of 1 January 2022, there were about 62 400 third-country nationals (TCNs), or 12% of the total population, and 45 000 EU citizens (8.6%) living in Malta at the time.

According to Eurostat, at the end of 2022 there were 89 000 people registered as having residence permits in the country, compared to 48 053 in 2019. Eurostat data also shows that most first-time residence permits issued in 2022 were issued to citizens of India, Nepal, Colombia, Philippines and Turkey. In 2022, Malta issued 71 permits per 1 000 people, reaching a total of 37 851 first permits issued (compared with 14 358 in 2021 and 11 107 in 2020). Of these, 27 549 were issued for employment reasons, 5 260 for educational reasons, 2 693 for family reasons and 2 349 for ‘other’ reasons. A total of 1 967 long term residence permits were issued in 2021.

Other detailed statistical data is available in the European Migration Network (EMN)’s 2022 country factsheet for Malta, with insights about the age and gender of TCNs, most common types of residence permits issued and international protection statistics.

By October 2023, Malta also saw a total of 1 935 non-EU citizens who had fled the war against Ukraine and were under temporary protection – see monthly updates in the numbers of temporary protection beneficiaries on Eurostat.

No aggregated data on Maltese citizens of third-country background are available, although qualitative research has been conducted with this population. The recent OECD/EC Indicators of Immigrant Integration 2023: Settling In report also provides further breakdowns of the composition of migrant populations and households in Malta, including in terms of immigration flows by legal category, concentration in densely populated areas, duration of stay and household composition.

Malta adopted its first integration strategy, Integration = BelongingMigrant Integration Strategy & Action Plan (Vision 2020), in December 2017. The strategy foresaw the launch of the current national integration training course called I Belong and of an integration unit at the Ministry of European Affairs and Equality (which has since been renamed the ‘Intercultural and Anti-Racism Unit’).

Between 2018 and 2023, the policy was in effect focusing on providing integration courses for migrants (which can also lead to long-term residence permits for some, as long as they satisfy a number of other requirements listed by Identity Malta).

The policy set out a number of targets around integration governance, equality and anti-discrimination, mainstreaming and 16 integration measures including revamping the website www.integration.gov.mt, intra-ministerial migrant integration action plans, undertaking research on the specific integration needs of vulnerable groups, networking with migrant communities, and monitoring and evaluation at each quarter.

In May 2023 a consultation was launched around developing the second integration strategy, which is expected in late 2023 / early 2024.

The I Belong integration programme was launched in July 2018. Free of charge and voluntary, it can be followed by all TCNs after their formal application. Migrants who lodge a request for integration but do not reach the final stage or do not obtain a positive assessment will have their integration process stopped, but will not lose any benefits. However, those who do not lodge an application at all would be subject to general rights and obligations under Maltese law and would not benefit from dedicated support.

The programme comprises two stages:

Stage 1 (Pre-Integration Certificate) is awarded to successful participants of accredited Maltese and English classes (20 hours each) and basic cultural and societal orientation courses (20 hours). Each component is set at MQF level 1, which is the equivalent of VET Level 1 (i). In addition to attendance and completion of the assessment for these courses, migrants go through an assessment of qualifications, work experience and skills carried out by an integration officer. The completion of this initial stage is a prerequisite for continuing towards Stage 2. As far as language requirements are concerned, migrants may choose to complete a test in order to skip the language classes (for either English or Maltese or both), but the cultural and societal orientation course (and assessment) is mandatory.

Stage 2 (Integration Certificate) involves:

• a course of 120 hours on the social, economic, cultural and political history of Malta, with special focus on the constitution, democratic values and practical sessions, followed by assessments/examinations and a mandatory attendance of at least 100 hours;
• A Maltese language course (at MQF Level 2) which is the equivalent of VET Level 1(ii) of 50 hours, or any other Maltese language exam at MQF Level 2, which must be passed with a minimum grade of 65%.

Vocational training is not part of the integration programme.

The Integration Certificate provided after completion of the entire I Belong programme is valid for one year and therefore any application for long term residency must be lodged within that timeframe.

Detailed information about the content of the free programme is provided to migrants by the Intercultural and Anti-Racism Unit and integration officers.

The Integration Certificate is one of a long number of requirements for obtaining long term residence status, as set out by Subsidiary Legislation 217.05. Other requirements include a cover letter explaining the applicant’s intentions, the background of the applicant in Malta, listings of any family members, tax declarations for two years, evidence of a level of income equal to minimum wage plus an additional 20% for each family member, a certificate from an architect confirming the applicant’s accommodation is ‘normal’ for a comparable family in Malta and evidence of sickness insurance for the applicant and his/her family.

No national evaluation of the Maltese integration policies or migrants' outcomes has yet been conducted. The 2017 Integration=Belong action plan foresaw quarterly monitoring reports and annual evaluation reports of the plan and its actions, although no such evaluations have yet been published. An evaluation of the programme is expected to be published by the end of 2023.

The international Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) points out that as Malta only recently started to address integration, its integration policies still create as many obstacles as opportunities for integration. The country does promote a comprehensive approach to integration, with more needed to be done to guarantee equal rights, opportunities and security for migrants. The country scores 48 out of 100 points on the MIPEX 2020 scale, with the average score being 49.

Law on foreigners

Malta’s immigration act was first adopted in 1970 and has been amended more than 20 times. The latest changes were made through Act XV of 2022 which introduced the requirement of appointing an interim legal guardian for minors in the asylum system. A previous amendment, introduced through Act No. VI in 2021, states that permanent residence may be granted to a third country national on the basis of investment. There are a total of 26 pieces of subsidiary legislation under the Act covering different institutional, procedural and substantive factors.

Asylum law

The International Protection Act (previously the Refugee Act) introduced on 1 October 2001 establishes the procedures and requirements related to the application for and granting of international protection. It has eight subsidiary pieces of legislation dealing with reception, temporary protection and subsidiary protection among other issues. Most recently, amendments were made through Act XIX of 2022. The International Protection Agency performs the beneficiaries of international protection status determination functions under this act.

Integration law

Malta does not have a self-standing integration law: provisions of relevance to integration can be found in various other pieces of legislation.

Citizenship law

The Citizenship Act of 1964 was last amended in July 2020, with changes relating to the individual investor programme and creating an offence of disseminating information about nationality by naturalisation without being duly authorised to do so. Moreover, the act provides for the granting of nationality to foreign nationals for having ‘rendered exceptional services to the Republic of Malta or to humanity, or whose naturalisation is of exceptional interest to the Republic of Malta’. The act is supplemented by five subsidiary pieces of legislation. Legal Notice 437 of 2020 sets out the framework under which Maltese citizenship may be granted to individuals on the basis of their exceptional contributions to Malta, as well as due to "exceptional direct investment in the economic and social development of Malta".

Anti-discrimination law

There are 4 pieces of non-discrimination subsidiary legislation (SL) regulating specific themes. SL 350.26 of 2007 promotes racial equality under the Broadcasting Act. SL 452.95 of 2004 establishes equal treatment under the Employment and Industrial Relations Act. SL 460.16 and SL 460.16 of 2007 provide for equal treatment under the related EU act. Further amendments to the equality legislation continue to be considered, for instance the proposed Equality Act and the proposed Human Rights and Equality Commission Act. The Equality Act would provide for the establishment of the Human Rights and Equality Commission body in line with the principles relating to the Status of National Institutions (the Paris Principles) which are responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights. In 2021 Malta’s first Anti-Racism Strategy was adopted. The strategy sets out 4 objectives and 22 measures for 2021-2023.

The Human Rights Directorate (HRD) was set up with the aim of creating dialogue with social partners and civil society, as well as promoting civil liberties, equality and anti-discrimination. Its main goal is to ensure that "everybody belongs". It was initially founded in November 2015 under the name of Human Rights and Integration Directorate to assist the Ministry for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties. After the general election of May 2017, the directorate was incorporated into the Ministry for European Affairs & Equality and later, in January of 2020, moved to form part of the Ministry for Justice, Equality and Governance and is now within the Ministry of Home Affairs, Security, Reforms and Equality.

The HRD  includes the Intercultural and Anti-Racism Unit , which was set up in the first months of 2018 and is a dedicated integration unit within HRD. It takes care of the day-to-day implementation of the integration strategy and action plan. As the main governmental coordinating body, it provides information and receives integration requests.

Due to their limited political and financial power, the main task of local authorities is to promote initiatives put forward by national actors and the civil society. A ‘Local Integration Charter and Action Plan’ was promoted as part of the Integration Strategy.

In addition, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Integration is a structure chaired by the Parliamentary Secretariat for Equality and Reforms on behalf of the Ministry for Justice, Equality and Governance, to coordinate the government’s actions in the field of integration, draw general approaches and assist horizontal collaboration between ministries and their respective institutions. 

Between 2018 and 2023 the Intercultural and Anti-Racism Unit within Malta’s Human Rights and Integration Directorate held a number of Migrant Integration Information Sessions (MIIS), as well as a series of integration discussions, as part of the ‘Turning the Tables’ initiative (TTT). The Migrant Integration Information Sessions were led by the Intercultural and Anti-Racism Unit, while Turning the Tables was convened by the Malta African Media Association. Both formed part of AMIF-funded project ‘Learning: Exchanging: Integrating’.

Other relevant bodies include Identity Malta (which processes residence permit applications including for long term residence); the International Protection Agency (which processes asylum applications), and Residency Malta Agency (responsible for managing the Malta Permanent Residence Programme).

The Forum on Integration Affairs (FIA) (set up in 2015 to advise the government on migrant integration-related solutions, necessary amendments to legislations and policies and improvement of services) was disbanded in 2018. However, civil society has continued to engage actively with integration issues through advocacy, service provision and project implementation.

A wide array of integration related projects are implemented by civil society organisations funded through their own, private, EU, EEA or national funds.

Non-profit organisations and local authorities in Malta can apply for financial support for migrant and beneficiaries of international protection integration through several EU funds, including the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, European Social Fund and Erasmus+.

The Active Citizens Fund of the EEA Financial Mechanism and national and private funds are available to service providers and other stakeholders to carry out projects aiming to improve integration of the migrant population. Other public and private funds are also available.

EU funds

Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) in Malta

The national allocation for Malta under AMIF during the 2021-2027 programming period is approximately EUR 52.3 million. The general objective is that of further strengthening national capacities and improving procedures for migration management, as well as enhancing solidarity and responsibility sharing between Member States. The programme will target the following four specific objectives:

• Supporting the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) by providing material aid and security services, strengthening communication with migrants, supporting vulnerable groups and providing healthcare services among other interventions; ​
• Focusing on providing integration services to third-country nationals (TCNs), promoting diversity, and embracing ethnicity at the local level to support the integration of TCNs;
• Addressing effective return cooperation management systems, strengthening the referral network to promote voluntary return and counter irregular migration;
• ​Furthering bilateral cooperation with other Member States through resettlement and humanitarian admission to enable voluntary admissions.

Technical assistance, funded through the programme, will also ensure effective implementation of the programme through preparation, management, monitoring, evaluation, and information and control actions.

National managing authority: The national managing authority for the AMIF in Malta is the Funds and Programmes Division within the Ministry for the Economy, EU Funds and Lands.

European Social Fund (ESF) Plus in Malta

Details: Funds committed under ESF+ Programme in Malta for the 2021-2027 are EUR 205 million. Investment under the ESF+ programme has the objective of strengthening capacities in all sectors falling within the scope of the ESF+ regulation, namely employment, education, health, and social sectors, in order to improve and adapt services to new and emerging needs.

The 5 priorities for the programme are:

• Enhancing employability and labour market resilience;
• Fostering active inclusion for all;
• Quality and inclusive education and enhanced lifelong learning for growth;
• Addressing material deprivation;
• Enhancing social innovation.

National managing authority: The national managing authority for the ESF in Malta is the Planning and Priorities Coordination Division within the Ministry for The Economy, EU Funds and Lands.

Other EU funds for integration available in Malta

ERASMUS+, the EU’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe

National managing authority: European Union Programme Agency (EUPA) within the Ministry for Economy, EU Funds & Lands.

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to strengthen economic and social cohesion in the EU by correcting regional imbalances

National managing authority: Planning and Priorities Coordination Division within the Ministry for The Economy, EU Funds and Lands.

Other funds

Other public funding in Malta

• Active Citizens Fund, operated by SOS Malta.
• NGO Co-Financing Fund, managed by the Ministry for Education and Employment
• Voluntary Organisations Project Scheme (VOPS) managed by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS)

Private funding in Malta

Sources of private funding include the Social Impact Awards, the Gasan Foundation and Inspirasia Foundation.