This should boost income tax revenues.
The Government of Malta intends to review the current process for the issue of the ID Cards to foreigners. The new format of residence document applies to EU/EEA/Swiss and Non-EU nationals.
The Changes will be made:
To conform with EU legislation which prohibits Member States from requiring EU nationals and their family members to be in possession of an Identity Card;
In case of third country nationals, the identification document will be limited to their stay in Malta;
The Government of Malta intends to discontinue the issuance of ID Cards to al foreigners
In lieu of the ID card, the residence document issued to foreigners who have been authorised 1 & 2 to reside in Malta or have such a right will be used for identification purposes.
Categories of authorised residents
EU/EEA/Swiss who are workers, self-employed persons, economic self-sufficient persons, students and family members of EU/EEA/Swiss nationals.
Third country nationals who are long-term residents, workers, students, permanent residents (under the relative scheme) and family members of Non-EU nationals
The new format
Malta is in the final preparations to issue residence permits in electronic plastic format by means of a new IT system, which will replace the current ones and will contain biometric features that are:
Photograph In view of biometric features, photographs will be taken by the Department's officials;
Fingerprint;
An electronic chip for e-government services;
The title of the permit will be in Maltese language, entitled Permess ta' Residenza;
Permit will have a unique number which will be the person's ID number and it will be printed at the back of the card;
The ID number will be generated electronically and automatically and will be stored in the national identity management system (NIDMS);
Persons who are already in possession of a Maltese ID card their new identity number will remain the same number as on the current ID card
In the case of EU/EEA/Swiss nationals, the residence document will not have the fingerprint, the title of the document will be in English language, entitled Residence Documentation and it is expected to be valid for 5 years.
The residence document will contain the following information:
Name and Surname;
Address;
ID number;
Date and Place of birth;
Nationality;
Purpose and duration of stay.
The validity of current ID cards bearing the letter A is until 28th June 2012. Current plans are to effect termination of the issuance of current ID cards to foreigners before the roll out of the new IT system. The roll out is expected to take place later on during this year.
If the termination of the issue of the ID cards to foreigners occurs before the roll out, the current paper documents would serve the purpose of the identity cards until those in plastic format are produced.
The relative application forms will be provided in due course and such forms will contain details in order to generate the applicant's identity number entered in the NIDMS. In the case of EU nationals, in view of their right to vote the European Parliament and Local Council elections, arrangements will be made with the Electoral Office to have their details entered in the Electoral Register.
The said application will be linked to residence and it will entail its examination in an immigration context and may take quite some time to finalise. On application, the person concerned will be provided with an interim document which would have the photograph and ID number printed and will serve as a temporary identification document.
Further information will be provided in due course.
Terry