All commercial aviation in and out of Malta will be suspended from 23:59 on Friday 20 March. For more information about coronavirus, see Health.
Safety
Malta is a popular tourist destination with a lot of charter tourism. There are also more and more direct scheduled flights from Norway to the island. Most trips to Malta are hassle free. Malta is included in Schengen, but passports must always be brought. Health and sanitation are generally good, but varied.
Diplomatic relations between Norway and Malta were established in 1969 and are covered today from the embassy in Rome. Norway is also represented in Malta by an Honorary Consulate General.
Threats and acts of terrorism in all parts of the world indicate that terrorist incidents cannot be ruled out, even in Malta. However, there is nothing to indicate that Malta or Norwegian targets in Malta are particularly vulnerable. Nevertheless, travelers should be wary and take reasonable precautions. Most trips to Malta usually go safely and without special problems. There is relatively low crime rates in the country, but tourists can be targets for pickpockets. Common caution must be exercised.
In Malta, it is a left-hand drive. When renting a car, Malta’s tourist office recommends that additional insurance be purchased. Despite a somewhat rough driving style from the perspective of Norwegian conditions, safety is mainly good on roads, buses and ferries. There is well-developed bus transport in Malta and Gozo.
Malta has a well-developed bus network, and most of the bus routes have their terminus at the bus station outside Valletta’s city gate. Here you can find an overview of the bus routes.
There is no railway in Malta. There is a ferry between Malta (from Cirkewwa, on the west side of the island) and the second largest island, Gozo. In the summer season the ferries run approx. every 45 minutes.
There is left-hand traffic in Malta. The speed limits are 50 km/h in urban areas and 80 km/h outside. There are no toll roads in Malta.
Taxis in Malta are safe. Make sure the tachometer is not turned off. It is still common to agree a fixed price for taxi rides. Payment for taxis from the airport is made in advance at the exit and at a fixed price.
Norwegian driver’s licenses are valid in Malta.
Malta has not had major natural disasters in the last approx. 500 years.
Norwegian citizens staying for a shorter or longer period of time in Malta are encouraged to register on the Foreign Travel Registration pages. This also applies to Norwegians who are permanent residents of Malta. Only upon such registration will the embassy have an overview of which Norwegians are located in a crisis situation.
Norwegian citizens are encouraged to have valid travel insurance. Full-year travel insurance is recommended rather than short-term insurance linked to airfare.
In crisis and emergency, Norwegians are encouraged to contact the Norwegian Consulate General in Malta or the Embassy in Rome, which covers Malta.
Address and contact info of the Consulate General:
Consul General Ms Giselle Balzan Demajo
Honorary Consulate General of Norway
W Business Center
Level 2
Dun Karm Region
B’Kara BKR 9033
Malta
Tel. +356 994 36 706
Email: norwegianconsulatemalta@outlook.com
Contact information for the embassy +47 23 95 29 00, e-mail: emb.rome@mfa.no
Outside opening hours, the public can contact the UD’s 24-hour operating center on tel.: +47 23 95 00 00 or by e-mail: UDops@mfa.no
Entry
Please note that entry regulations may change. The Foreign Service is not responsible if the following information on entry regulations or visa requirements is changed at short notice. It is the responsibility of the traveler to ensure that travel documents are valid for entry and to familiarize themselves with the current entry rules for each country.
Malta is a member of Schengen. Before traveling to Malta, make sure you have a passport, European health insurance card and valid travel insurance.
For Norwegians, passports are the only valid travel document. Although you can get into Malta without a passport (no passport control in Norway on departure), you will not get out of Malta without a passport. Passports must also be displayed upon check-in at hotels. Norwegians must therefore have a valid passport before traveling to Malta.
Immigrant passports and travel documents for refugees issued by Norwegian authorities are valid travel documents in Malta. In addition, the holder of a foreigner passport/travel certificate should bring a valid residence permit issued by the Norwegian authorities.
Health
Coronavirus (covid-19: All commercial aviation in and out of Malta is suspended from 23:59 on Friday, March 20. Persons located in Malta are encouraged by Maltese authorities to contact their travel or airline.
See also information from the Maltese authorities.
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It is a relatively well-developed health system in Malta, with both public and private hospitals. Health and sanitation conditions vary somewhat. Better hotels often offer their own medical services.
St. James Hospital Sliema (private hospital): +356 213 35 235
St. James Hospital Zabbar (private hospital) +356 216 92 055
Malta’s water supply largely comes from seawater desalination plants. The water should be drinkable, but bottled water is recommended for visitors.
Practical information
The currency unit in Malta is the euro. Most credit cards can be used. Malta is part of the Schengen cooperation. Passports must nevertheless be brought, as the only full Norwegian credentials.
Stores are usually closed in the middle of the day between 7 p.m. 1300 and 2 p.m. Regular opening hours are 9 am – 1 pm and 4 pm – 7 pm. Most shops are closed on Sundays and public holidays. During the tourist season, some shops in the most prominent tourist areas will remain open until 10 pm. 2200.
Official Maltese Holidays: January 1, February 10, March 19, March 31, Good Friday, May 1, June 7, June 29, August 15, September 8, 21, September, December 8, December 13, December 25.
Emergency number in Malta: Emergency number 112, ambulance 196, fire 199, police 191. According to allcitycodes, Malta area code is +356.
Malta has 240 volts current. Adapters are usually required as Malta uses UK three pin plugs.