ID cards etc.

Hi redmik,

whether it is correct or not the authorities ask for a residency certificate , not the id card, to qualify for the better utility rates.

So you can get a ID card within about 1 week if you want to declare yourself resident (beware of car issues). The residence certificate will take a bit longer.

If you are planning to rent make sure your future landlord is willing to transfer the utility bill to your name. Not all are ....

Cheers
Ricky

Thanks, I've tried to understand the 'Sticky' relating to this but I am a bit confused or stupid!
No car issues as we do not intend to get one.
I'll change my Driver's Licence though in case I ever have to hire one.

as ricky has said many landlords will not allow you to be named on their accounts as registered consumers (and thats what you need to be) or even have the bill in your own name as this exposes them to the tax man here - if they do allow you to have the bill in your own name this will cost you 466 euros..

also be wary of doing this immediately as you may not stay in your first let as you dont truly know the area or the neighbours (including issues)  until you have been there for a while.....might be nice initially but then things change.!!!!

Thanks, in that case I'd better hope that Malta responds correctly to the ruling by the EU that the two tier practise is discriminatory.

NB some friends of mine got their residency cert within one week...


its normal to get your id card withing 7 days

the utilities company ask for both plus an application form - if its to be named as registered consumer on the bills then the landlords consent and his id card number plus a copy if it front and back is required

redmik wrote:

Thanks, in that case I'd better hope that Malta responds correctly to the ruling by the EU that the two tier practise is discriminatory.

dont hold your breath altho an infringement notice has been issued it may take a year to answer and more years to actually do anything.

also remember that currently you have to prove these things all over again every time you move...

even if you have history with them as a registered connsumer and have only moved a few hundred yards in the same village.

"dont hold your breath altho an infringement notice has been issued it may take a year to answer and more years to actually do anything"

Toon this will end up going the same way as VAT on import duty on cars and the goverment will have to backpay all of the Electric charges ... well we would assume

Julian

Scoobs - yes am sure your are right but that depends on whether or not they dodge it like other issues in the past - they will find a way you watch....i do hope you are right.

There is a class action against ARMs being prepared at this very  moment and they have a lawyer so it will be interesting to see where this goes. - millions of euros in back dated claims potentially back dated for 5 years as its time barred

Hi All,

My wife and I are finally about to get to Malta.  Arriving November.

One quick question about the residency cert.. Both of us have Maltese citizenship and passports (via parents/grandparents/marriage) so getting an ID card is no problem.. we actually know our Maltese ID numbers already.  Do we also need a residency cert?

i doubt it - but it depends on whether you have an M or an A in your card number!!!if M no problem

redmik wrote:

Thanks, in that case I'd better hope that Malta responds correctly to the ruling by the EU that the two tier practise is discriminatory.

Its clearly discriminatory - what's not clear is if its illegal.

GnG the EU recent decision of the 27th would appear to declare that it is illegal

"After consultation with the responsible Commission department (the Directorate-general for Justice) we would like to inform you that the European Commission decided 27 September 2012 to send a letter of formal notice to Malta for incorrect application of the free movement Directive.

To benefit from reduced water and electricity tariffs, EU citizens residing in Malta need to submit specific residence documents – other means for proving their residence are not accepted by the MT authorities. By contrast, Maltese citizens need only to submit a copy of their identity card (and no proof of residence).

This discriminatory treatment is not in line with EU law and creates an unacceptable obstacle to exercising the right to free movement and residence. We thus take action to ensure that EU citizens are able to fully enjoy their rights.

Please consult the Commission decision at the following Commission website: ec.europa.eu/eu_law/eulaw/decisions/dec_20120927.htm#mt"

make of this what you will

The EU infringement notice will probably be cleared when Malta stops issuing ID cards to foreigners (as from the new year ??), and replaces it with the joint residency certificate/ID card.

The government will probably tighten up on Maltese citizens rather than relax on non-Maltese citizens.

Bear in mind its illegal for a non-resident Maltese citizen to have a Maltese ID card

Actually its illegal for any non-resident to have an ID card !

i agree 100% GnG - GNg this has to stop - be warned...LOL

i suspect that they will release the new joint id card/residency card  as a means of getting out of their mess.....or at least try to

:-)

I suspect the conclusion to all of this won't be a simple elimination of the two tier pricing. Its legal under EU law to discriminate based on residency, but not citizenship, although it has to be justified.

Every EU country has the legal right to demand foreigners from other EU countries to register for residency after 3 months. As part of this they are allowed to ask for proof of income/capital and health cover, in both cases sufficient not to be a burden on the state. They can then issue a residency certificate if they want - Malta decided they would.

Where is got mixed up is the issuance of ID cards to foreigners - this includes a declaration that the person considers themselves resident, but the Maltese government says that isn't the same as registering as no proof of income/capital/health cover is asked for. I suspect this is one reason why ID cards will stopped being issued to foreigners.

What is likely to happen is -
2 tier pricing will remain, but that
1. Maltese citizens will find greater checks on non-residents holding ID cards
2. foreigners will be under greater scrutiny on applying for residency certificates. If they have one, they will be able to get the cheaper rates in a much simpler way than now

Thanks Toon.  At this stage we dont know.  We just know the main number which doesnt have a prefix.Im guessing that we will get an M though given that we are both citizens.  I am a citizen from birth and my wife is naturalized through marriage.

Thanks again, Ill take a look at the stickies again.

P

hi,
who can tell me what do they check when asking for the ID card.
thanks, max

got some tax problems years ago in germany, its registered in my file,
does it matter ?

you fill in the application form, and give them whats asked for on the forum