7,239 total student visas issued in 2024

A total of 7,239 student visas were issued in Malta during the first 10 months of 2024, according to figures tabled in Parliament by Minister for Home Affairs, Security, Reforms, and Equality Byron Camilleri.

The statistics shed light on a significant influx of student visas issued from the Central Visa Unit.

Dr Camilleri revealed the following monthly distribution:

This substantial number of student visas underscores the growing relevance of Malta’s visa policies. One raises their eyebrows at this figure, recalling past instances where student visas were reportedly misused.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Ian Borg revealed that no information is maintained regarding the institutions where student visa holders pursue their studies.

In a statement made in August 2024, Dr Borg revealed that between 2014 and July 2024, Malta issued 29,565 short-term visas (C visas), allowing students to stay for up to 90 days, and 34,006 long-term student visas (D visas).

Over the past decade, the majority of D visas were granted to nationals from India (5,744) and Colombia (6,138), while 4,008 visas were issued to students from Turkey.

For C visas, the largest recipients were students from the Russian Federation (18,584) and Turkey (7,053), highlighting their significant interest in short-term educational opportunities in Malta.

However, recent trends indicate a noticeable decline in the issuance of long-term student visas. This year, the total number is well below the levels recorded in the past two years.

Indian and Colombian nationals, usually the largest recipients of these visas, have seen their numbers nearly halve in 2024. In 2023, these two nationalities alone accounted for over half of all long-term student visas issued.

Short-term student visas have also undergone significant changes over the years. In 2014, Russian nationals were issued 5,961 short-term visas, making up a staggering 77 per cent of all student visas that year. By 2024, this number had dropped sharply to just 162.

Concerns over student visa misuse

As reported by The Sunday Times of Malta in 2018, English language schools in Malta are being viewed as a gateway to the European Union for non-EU students. There are claims that some students acquire visas but fail to attend classes, instead using them as a means to enter the Schengen Area.

A senior police investigator commented to The Sunday Times of Malta: “We do receive reports about this. In fact, I am certain that if we were to check every language school in Malta, we would find that this has been happening at nearly all of them.”

Another source noted that “some of these people probably never set foot in a classroom and head straight to the airport with their visa and into the EU.”

In addition to the above concerns, The Sunday Times of Malta reported that a whistleblower alleged a racket involving an English language school and a middleman who charged thousands of euros for student visas. The whistleblower claimed this scheme, which began in 2014, funnelled non-EU nationals into Europe under the guise of educational enrolment.

Separately, the CEO of an Indian employment agency, Abroad Study Plan, is under investigation for alleged fraud. According to Times of Malta, the agency charged Indian nationals thousands of euros for promised employment in Malta, only for clients to arrive and discover forged rental agreements and fake documentation.