REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE / ID CARD

Hi vicki,

as of today I don't have any info about how the ID cards are being handled so I presume that you can still apply for one by going to the Ewans building in Valletta with your UK passport and a Maltese address. It will take about 1 week to process. You don't actually need the ID card to apply for residency (non-EU citizens don't even get an ID card until they have residency).

To apply for residency they will probably ask you for a job contract stating your income. If that is what your 'job confirmation letter' says then you are ok.

You will be applying for Ordinary Residency. If your salary is more than the average Maltese income you don't need a bank statement.

But they will ask you about health insurance coverage.

Please let us know how the ID card process for new cards for EU citizens is being handled.

Thanks
Ricky

Thanks Ricky,

Unfortunately my income wont be more than the average salary - its just a dogs body type of job, but full time & not seasonal. But the letter does not really confirm my income or duration  etc.

Am I right in that the UK & Malta have an agreement for health cover, and documention required (if so)is easy to obtain - so this shouldn't really be an issue - or, have i got the wrong info?

Of course I will be more than happy to let you know how it all goes. But I'm a wee bit nervous, LOL (not).

Also, if Malta cannot (due to EU legislation) enforce An EU person to hold an ID card - Is the new-to-be 'card' not just another re-named version of the same thing [but re-labelled]?

ugh!

Hi vickilou,

the difference is that for the ID card you just declared yourself a resident by signature. Many self-declared residents never applied for the Residence Document.

For the Residence Document you need to show your income and health insurance coverage or entitlement - things that are not asked for the ID card. You will have to see if they accept a letter as equivalent to a work contract.

If you are working in Malta you should be paying contributions to the National Insurance and thus be covered by the state health care system.

If not you will need to check your coverage at the Entitlement office in Valletta. If you were paying contributions in the UK for the past 3 years you should qualify for coverage in Malta for up to 2 1/2 years.

Let us know how it goes for the ID card. You should do that first.

Cheers
Ricky

ricky wrote:

If your salary is more than the average Maltese income you don't need a bank statement.

I think it only needs to be minimum wage, not average income

vickilou wrote:

Also, if Malta cannot (due to EU legislation) enforce An EU person to hold an ID card - Is the new-to-be 'card' not just another re-named version of the same thing [but re-labelled]?

ugh!

The new card will be a residency certificate that can be used as an ID card as well

vickilou wrote:

Am I right in that the UK & Malta have an agreement for health cover, and documention required (if so)is easy to obtain - so this shouldn't really be an issue - or, have i got the wrong info?

yep, you are talking about the RHA

I am a bit confused here. I didn't get the chance to get to the ID card office on Friday *hangs head in shame* however I intend to go this week to get both ID card and residency certificate. However I am not employed as I am a student and my husband is currently looking after our son until I finish my course in November. We are currently living off our savings and right now we have the EHIC card for health insurance purposes. I received my S1 form from the UK and it says I need to give in to the Maltese local health authority to register (I don not know where this is???) So can I apply for a residency certificate if neither my husband or I am employed, is there different rules for students?

Hi Summer,

you have to go to the Entitlement office in St. John's Street,Valletta with your S1 form and your UK passport. They will issue a Certificate of Entitlement which you can then use to show health care coverage at the DCEA in Valletta.

Living of your savings should be good enough to show that you can support yourself. They might ask for a bank statement.

A student also has to apply for residency if the stay is longer than 3 months and they also have to show that they can pay the fees and support themselves.

You can go and apply for your ID card at any time. It is not necessary for residency and I'm not even sure about the procedure for issuing new ID cards after the 28 th June.

Please let us all know how the ID card goes and if the procedure has changed.

Cheers
Ricky

Sounds fine, although I do not have a bank account yet here in Malta, all my money is still in the UK due to the absolute ridiculous procedures at BOV. I am now looking to open one at HSBC but I will have to start the whole process again so it will likely take yet another 6 weeks!!!

Firstly, go early, really early.

I left my apartment in Bugibba at around 8.30am. I took the 31 to Valletta - it took over 1 hr and was so full on leaving Bugibba it didn't stop to let anyone else on until Mosta.

A Maltese friend called me en-route and said he would pick me up at the station and take me to the office - I explained I wanted to go to the Citizen's place to do the registration cert. He dropped me off at the ID card place. So I figured to get the ID card first. The place was so busy, really hot and full of confused people.

Secondly, take a pen!

Take passport and completed yellow form (EU) to get the police check. Then go straight down the hall to room 29 for photo taking(past the very long que you will join after photo is taken). After this, go join very long que to go in room 1 (or it may have been 3) - this is where you sit down while the clerk will input your details for processing your ID card application.

The clerk then tells you that 'You will receive a letter in about 1 week, you must bring the letter and your passport. You will then need to go have your photo taken again (!??), and then go join the huge que again for room 1 - where you will collect the your ID from [I asked her to repeat it all to me because I couldnt quite believe my ears, yep gotta do it all again minus the police check.

I was in that building for 2 hrs & 40 mins.

No mention [or notices] about 28th June, or any other dates.

Take a drink - the vending machine ran out of water.

If I'd left home an hour later, the office would have closed before I reached room 1. Or is it room 3, sorry I'm really not sure, but that would have been a real waste of time, unless you wanted to see the sights - I wasn't in the mood for doing much after that experience.

Needless to say, the other office was long closed by the time I'd finished - I've got to go back! I hope it's not half as faffy, I will be there when the doors open. I will have a pen.

Another person from Aberdeen? Me too, Malta is filling up with them it seems! Sounds like a right faff! I had an ID card in 1996, long gone now, I wonder if I can just get a replacement? Don't suppose it matters as hubby still needs to get one. Not going to be a pleasant outing with a baby in tow :0(

its always busy this time of year..now that the schools are on holiday...lots of kids have left school now and they are all wanting id cards......

For those lucky enough to live in Gozo, the ID card office there never seems to have queues.

Really isn't that bad...

Pictures taken twice..... To ensure you are the same person that came the first time !!

we have been a few times and its not been as bad as that - with the exception of the very first time but again that was because the schools were on holiday....school leavers applying for id cards.

Sounds like fun...I need to do all this first week of august, so I can get paid, all part of the experience eh!!

I think I dropped on a particularly bad/busy day. Next time I go into the city - or for anyone else who needs to - be there when they are literally opening the doors. As folks have said, the kids are off school now etc and it's the busiest time of year.

I still haven't managed to go and get my residency certificate/card. My husband has been struck down with some bout of stomach illness so was told to stay out of the sun and has done for the last two weeks or so. He is feeling much better now so we aim to go this Friday. It is over three months now, is it still okay? I don't have any statements to bring with me to prove my savings (UK bank), I would have to request that from my bank which might take a while. Do you think this will be a problem?

Summer,

You are looking at 2 different things to do.

1. ID Card
You will go to the ID Card Offcie near St Elmo Fort.  You will have a picture taken and fill in a form (Bring you Marriage Cert, Passport etc) you will then have a letter sent to you within 2 weeks and will have to go back to collect your ID card (another Photo and you will receive the card on the day)

2. Residency - This used to be by Upper Barrakka Gardens. Here you will fill in a form, and it will take longer than ID place. You will need a lot of info to be answered and will need proof of where you are living, Marriage, work, etc. - This may have changed.... You will then get a letter sent to you (About 3 months later) and will have to go back with your passports, ID etc to collect this.

Hope this helps

Julian

hi Scoobs a mate of mine has just done this (res cert) and he got his within one week....

@Toon REALLY !!! that is pretty amazing ....

Well fingers crossed that it will be that easy for you Summer, just dont expect to get them the same day !

Julian

yes for sure scoobs.....one week. truly amazing - we got ours over 3 years ago and that to be honest only took one month so looks like big in-roads may have been made to improve the efficiency (Hmm strong word)..but then now it may be different with trying to change the system by the end of the year.

Hi, we went today to ID office and our experience is very good. Everything was done really quickly, there was no que in police officer´s room, neither in "photo" room or room nr. 1. We will now wait for the letter and see if everything will go so smooth when we will go to pick up our IDs. So just wanted to say that no always so bad there . Have a nice evening..

Got my ID card after being here for 3 weeks.

First time at the office filled the form in and got straight through all rooms.

Was told seven to ten days for the letter and had it in my hand after four days.

Second time straight through photo and was in room 1 for about 1/2 hour.

Ah so nice to hear.

Its a very very simple process that really doesnt take that long.

To be honest everything in Malta is easy enough if you get into the "Maltese" system of doing things... don't fight things embrace them ... Its Malta after all ... Chill, Kick back and Grab a beer.