For Britons, A Holiday in Malta is an Excellent Value
Posted: 10/04/2012 Filed under: Travelling To Malta | Tags: Briton, Holiday, Tourism Leave a comment »
The latest tourism numbers are out and for those in the UK, a holiday in Malta is one of the best values in the EU. Travel in the EU has just gotten more expensive after the increase of the Air Passenger Duty (APD) however on average, when compared to 2011 average holidays, a trip for a Briton from the UK to Malta has only risen by £1. This is good news for those from the UK as they are not spending as much for their holidays and it is also good news for Maltese tourism, which is one of the best ways to see how the economy is fairing.
Looking at the EU as a whole, Cyprus has the best average value, at £1,199 per week, when it comes to travel from the UK to other EU countries. Malta fell just behind that at £1,230 per week. Costs in Malta only rose about 0.08 per cent which makes it very good for British tourists who are looking for a good value for their next holiday. Some countries that are popular destinations for Britons, like New Zealand, have risen up to 8 per cent or more over the last year which is quite significant. Since so many other countries are showing increases in their travel costs, more Britons will be compelled to holiday in the country of Malta.
Do to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Britons are expected to travel even more than they have in years past and this is an excellent opportunity for Maltese tourism to embrace a new surge in traffic to the islands. Since Britons will want to see all of the places associated with the Queen and British history, Malta could be the perfect destination for many looking for an amazing and affordable holiday.
How the Temporary Residence Scheme Works for You in Malta
Posted: 04/06/2011 Filed under: Living in Malta, Travelling To Malta, Working In Malta Leave a comment »
If you are planning to move to Malta or open a business up on one of the islands you have probably begun to look at property and costs. You have probably looked at tax schemes and employment rules and even demographics. You are trying to get a feel for an island nation that has so much to offer, but you haven’t actually been there. Realising that most business is concentrated in a very small area is the first step. If you are planning a long term move to Malta in the near future for anything from retiring to starting a new career you really need to visit the island to get a realistic point of view. Malta has a lot to offer but to know if it is really right for you a visit is in order.
In order to do this you need what amounts to a tourist visa in Malta. This is called the Temporary Residence scheme. When you are coming to Malta for any short period of time, up to 3 months, this is the right visa option for you. You cannot gain employment on Malta with this status, but you still have to be able to show proof that you are financially stable during your stay and will not become a burden on Maltese society.
If you plan to stay longer you can use the 3 months allotted to get all of the paperwork done, and find a place to live. If this isn’t enough time to do everything you need to do (and it normally is) then you might have to leave the country and come back. For an EU citizen this means you have to leave the country for as little as a few days before you can come back and have this tourist visa renewed. For non EU citizens or 3rd country nationals this means you have to leave Malta for at least 6 months and then come back to renew your visa status. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rules, and if you find that you are just a touch short of getting all of your details in order, then you can visit the immigration officials and speak with them at length about what can be done to help. And, if you are bringing a lucrative business to Malta, your chances of getting an extension are quite high. It is a small island, and money does talk, here as with everywhere in the world.
You will never know until you ask, so see what can be done if you are almost, but not quite, there with getting everything organised.
About the Schengen Program
Posted: 03/06/2011 Filed under: Travelling To Malta Leave a comment »
The Schengen visa is a symbol of the European Union to which Malta belongs and a benefit of a unified Europe. As a citizen of a Schengen member country, you do not need a visa or passport to travel freely from one Schengen Country to another. Air and train trips are treated like domestic trips and there are very little if any border checks or patrols. (Though of course, you will need to carry some form of identification with you, and in airports this may constitute the need for a passport to gain access to certain areas of the airport). The United Kingdom does not participate in Schengen. This is a lot like the way Americans travel from state to state in the United States.
If you are planning to travel to Malta and under the Schengen program there are a couple of things you need to know:
- This program allows you to stay in the country you are travelling to for up to 3 months in every half of year and no longer than 6 months total in a year.
- If you are planning to stay in a Schengen country, such as Malta, for a longer period of time you will need to apply for a longer term visa. Longer term visas are at the discretion of each country. In Malta this means you must apply for Ordinary Residency, or a Permanent Residency permit.
- You can be denied entry to a Schengen member country when travelling from non-member countries, even if you are a resident of a member country. The final say lies with the immigration officials at your entry point.
- You should always carry proper identification at all times in order to ensure that you are able to properly identify yourself, or should something untoward happen, that others are able to identify you and contact the appropriate people.
Though trips between Schengen member countries are generally easy and without much official interruption, you may be asked to provide proof of your entry stamp into the initial member country from time to time if you are a citizen of a non-member nation. Make sure you carry all of your pertinent papers to make any official process easier on yourself.
What Is the Schengen Area?
Posted: 02/06/2011 Filed under: Travelling To Malta Leave a comment »
The Schengen area is made up of 25 countries so far. It is an agreement between those countries that allows for unhindered international travel between said countries. This means there is no border control within the counties themselves if you are traveling between them, but there is border control when leaving or coming to the area. Before a country can become a member of the Schengen area it has to pass inspection concerning its borders, passports, police cooperation and personal data protection. The UK and Ireland are part of the European Union but not yet a part of the Schengen area though Ireland is currently looking into meeting the requirements.
If you are coming to Malta from another Schengen member country then you really don’t have to worry about this term too much as you are allowed to travel freely to any Schengen member country (like Malta) without a visa. If you are a 3rd country national you have to look at your status in reference to the Schengen area. There are currently 3 non EU Countries that are a part of the Schengen area. Those are: Switzerland, Iceland and Norway. Countries such as the United Kingdom are EU members but not yet part of the Schengen area. Countries such as the United States and Canada have agreements with the Schengen countries that allow 3rd country nationals to travel to the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 6 month period. If you wish to stay longer you will have to apply for a longer term residence scheme (such as in Malta) or leave the Schengen area and come back in 6 months to renew your stay.
For a 3rd country national to be allowed in to the Schengen area you must have valid travel documents including a visa and passport to cross the boarders and you must not be listed as a threat to security. You must also be able to justify the reason for your stay and prove that you are financially able to support yourself throughout your trip including your travel back to your home country.
The Schengen agreement, along with the Euro, have made travel within Europe much easier than it was even 10 to 15 years ago. As such, taking short breaks to other countries is quite easy, and travellers no longer need to worry about the hassle of carrying around a passport. A simple national identity card will generally do the trick.
