Frequently Asked Questions
I need to renew my ID card, which forms do I fill up?
First of all the e residence document is not an ID card but a residence document that serves identification purposes and will include an ID number. There are two forms that need to be filled up: •
The application form that refers to the grounds on which you wish to reside in Malta.
The identity registration form (ID1A) which is the same for all categories of applicants whether EU or Non-EU. If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss national you will be required to fill up one of these forms
Form A- in case one is employed or self employed
Form F- Family member (including Family members who are Third Country Nationals)
Form J- Economic Self Sufficiency
Form M- Student
Form P-Permanent Resident.
If you are married to a Maltese national (all nationals), you will need to fill up Form E- Exempt Person Status
If you are a permanent resident under the Permanent Residence Scheme Regulations (all nationals)
Form S- Permanent Residence Scheme.
If you are a Non-EU national you need to select one of the following forms:
CEA Form B- Blue Card
CEA Form C- Employment/Self Employment
CEA Form G- Family Member
CEA Form I- International Protection
CEA Form K- Economic Self Sufficiency
CEA Form L- Long Term Residents
CEA Form N- Study
CEA Form O- Partners
CEA Form O- Religious Purposes
CEA Form O-Posted Workers
CEA Form O- Temporary
CEA Form O- Health Purposes
CEA Form O- Working Holiday
CEA Form O- Humanitarian Grounds
CEA Form O Pensioners.
Is there an application fee?
If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss National or family members thereof there is no application fee in respect of your applications. However in case that your residence document has been lost, stolen, destroyed or defaced the applicable fee is as follows:
In case the document has been lost, stolen or destroyed : 20 Euros
In case the document has been defaced : 15 Euros
Non-EU nationals are required to pay a fee of 25 Euros which covers the period of one
year or part thereof.
Persons who are married to Maltese nationals and who enjoy Exempt Person Status are
exempt from the payment of the fee.
Long term Residents are required to pay the fee for a five year permit amounting to 125 Euros upon application.
Persons enjoying International Protection who have just been released from detention are
exempt from payment of the fee.
What is the difference between form ID1A and ID2?
Form ID1A needs to be filled in by all those persons applying in person at the Department who are 14 years and above. For those persons sending in their application by post (EU nationals and housebound persons) apart from the ID1A, the form ID2 needs tobe filled up additionally. A colour passport size photo on a white background needs to be provided.
Which Documents do I need to present with the application?
The list of documents applicable for each category is to be found on each form. If one is
an EU national and has already been issued with a registration certificate, all one has to do is to submit the original and copy of the registration certificate together with the forms. .
Do I need to come in Person?
If you are a Non-EU nationals need to come in person as the Department will take the biometrics consisting of the photo, fingerprints and signature of each applicant.
If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss national you may send in their application by post. It is important to note that the photo and photocopy of the passport or foreign ID of EU nationals needs to be authenticated by one of the following: a public officer not below the grade of Principal or analogous grade, a professional person, a Minister for Religion or any other person of similar standing.
Do I need an appointment to submit my application or do I just come?
The Department is no longer giving appointment and applicants can come to apply from Monday to Thursday from 8.30 am till 15.30 pm. Persons arriving without an appointment will be given a number. Only a limited number of places per day are available for those persons without a prior appointment. Appointments already given are still valid. Fridays will continue to be reserved for persons enjoying international protection.
What are the opening hours of the Department?
The Department is open from Monday to Thursday from 8.30 am till 15.30 pm. Friday is reserved for persons enjoying International Protection.
Where do I have to submit my application?
Applications are submitted at the Department which is situated on the 2nd floor of 3, Castille Place, Valletta.
What do I do once I arrive at the Department?
If you had been given an appointment, your name will be on the list of appointments and your name will be called by officers in Room 6. If you do not have an appointment, a number will be given to you. Only a limited number of places per day are available for those persons without a prior appointment.
Can I send in my application by Post?
As has already been indicated, Non-EU nationals need to apply in person since the Department will take biometrics on the spot. EU/EEA/Swiss nationals and members of their families have the option to send in their application and accompanying documentation by post.Apart from the application form for residence, in sending your application by post you will need to fill up the form ID1A and ID2 providing a recent colour passport size photo on a white background. Moreover the photo and photocopy of the passport or foreign ID card needs to be authenticated by one of the following: a public officer not below the grade of Principal or analogous grade, a professional person, aMinister for Religion or any other person of similar standing. Moreover in case of EU nationals who were never issued an ID card before, you will need to fill up the Electoral Form indicating whereyou wish to vote for EP elections for inclusion in the Electoral Register.
I am housebound, can I send in my application by post?
If you are an EU national or Non-EU national and you are housebound (as attested by a medical certificate), then you can send in your application form, accompanying documents, forms ID1A and ID2 by post.
Where do I need to send in my application?
The application needs to be addressed to Director Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs Department for Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs 3, Castille Place Valletta
How long will the processing of my application take ?
The application will take a few weeks to be processed. The Department needs to be informed at least two weeks in advance in case of urgent travel.
Where do I collect my residence document?
Once printed, the card would need to be collected in person from 172 Melita street, Valletta following a notification to this effect sent from our Department. This office is open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8.30 am till 11.30am am.
Which documents do I need to present when collecting the residence document?
You will need to present the receipt of your application as well as the ID card issued to you by the Electoral Office (if any). In the case that this card has been lost or stolen, a police report would have to be presented with the application.
EResidence - FAQ from the ministry
Sorry but to me this does not make sense:
The Department is no longer giving appointment and applicants can come to apply from Monday to Thursday from 8.30 am till 15.30 pm. Persons arriving without an appointment will be given a number. Only a limited number of places per day are available for those persons without a prior appointment.
so you don't need to book an appointment for months in the future, you either apply for the eResidence doc by post or turn up and the first, say, 25 will be seen that day.
prior appointment refers to those who were given an appointment already, as these are still valid
Thanks a lot George!!!
So big question now then, who do you get to sign off the photos/ passport?
georgeingozo wrote:Frequently Asked Questions
Which documents do I need to present when collecting the residence document?
You will need to present the receipt of your application as well as the ID card issued to you by the Electoral Office (if any).
And for postal applications?
You gotta love red tape! 
socialwhirl wrote:So big question now then, who do you get to sign off the photos/ passport?
A Police Officer, a Priest, perhaps a Warden. Anyone with perceived professional status. As the answers include:
authenticated by one of the following: a public officer not below the grade of Principal or analogous grade, a professional person, a Minister for Religion or any other person of similar standing.
Now, we could have one hell of a debate as to what a so called 'professional person' is, couldn't we? 
Like going back to Victorian times. Love it!!
now who can a new arrival go to they are not likely to know anyone.... so i guess the police stations are going to be overun and am sure thats not gonna go down well.
When this is done on the UK (I used to sign some) there was a worded statement that had to be included. I wonder if there is one for this? Is there an official 'stamp' to certify? Because if there is not then I can see problems arising, knowing how overly fastidious some agencies can be.
you can go to a notary.
you cannot just go to a police station - they have specific sections for this, or atleast they do in Gozo
georgeingozo wrote:you can go to a notary.
you cannot just go to a police station - they have specific sections for this, or atleast they do in Gozo
Point taken.
Presumably you'd have to pay a notary
In the UK its any professional, eg doctor, accountant, solicitor etc, I have signed them myself too
And yes toon, you're right, new arrivals don't know these people - unless they are employed and have one in the office maybe
"who is a professional person" is the confusing bit, and do they have to be Maltese?
socialwhirl wrote:and do they have to be Maltese?
That would be illegal - it would be sensible if they were residents of Malta though
I had to write a paper and do a presentation on the definition of professionalism and the delivery of a professional service.
The term professional is wide open to so many interpretations.
I bet those responsible have not considered that so staff will make their own judgements. I see problems ahead for some.
hmmm another farce then....with more problems than answers.
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