Purpose Identification | Type of document Passport | |
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The Maltese passport is a passport that is issued to citizens of Malta. Every Maltese citizen is also a citizen of the European Union. The passport, along with the national identity card allows for free rights of movement and residence in any of the states of the European Union and European Economic Area.
Contents
Physical appearance
Maltese passports share the common design standards of European Union passports. The cover is burgundy with the coat of arms of Malta emblazoned in the centre. The words "UNJONI EWROPEA" and "MALTA" are inscribed above the coat of arms, with "PASSAPORT" and the international biometric passport symbol below.
Travel restrictions
In 2016, Maltese citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 168 countries and territories, ranking the Maltese passport 9th in the world (the highest ranking of all the recent new member states of the EU) according to the Visa Restrictions Index.
Maltese citizens can live and work in any country within the European Economic Area (consisting of the states of the European Union and the European Free Trade Association) as a result of the right of free movement and residence granted in Article 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.