Frequently Asked Questions
A foreign birth registration is the process through which the birth of a Maltese citizen born outside Malta—who has a claim to Maltese citizenship, typically by descent or other legal provisions—is officially registered with the Public Registry in Malta.
Any Maltese citizen born abroad may apply to have their foreign birth registered in Malta.
Registering a foreign birth with the Public Registry ensures that the individual’s details are officially recorded in Malta. Once the foreign birth is registered, the individual may apply for a Maltese passport and access other services provided by the public service.
The Public Registry, within the Identità Agency, is the responsible authority for registering births that occur abroad.
Applications must be submitted in person to the Public Registry offices in Malta or Gozo. Alternatively, applications may be submitted through the nearest Maltese Embassy, Maltese Consulate, or Maltese Mission abroad.
If you are residing abroad, your application must be submitted through the nearest Maltese Embassy, Consulate, or Mission.
You should contact the nearest Maltese Embassy, Consulate, or Mission that is accredited to the country in which you reside. The respective diplomatic mission will advise you on how to submit your documents.
No, applications cannot be submitted by post. Any applications received by post will not be processed, and the documents will be returned to the sender.
No, applications cannot be submitted online. Applications must be submitted either in person at the Public Registry in Malta or Gozo, or through a Maltese Embassy, Consulate, or Mission abroad.
Foreign birth registration is not mandatory. However, it is required if you wish to apply for a Maltese passport. In such cases, the foreign birth must first be registered with the Public Registry in Malta.
Generally, the following documents are required:
- The original birth certificate issued by the Civil Registrar’s Office of the country where the birth was registered. Please note that the original certificate will be retained indefinitely in the Public Registry Archives and will not be returned after registration.
- Confirmation of Maltese citizenship (usually a Maltese Citizenship Certificate or Dual Letter).
- A valid identification document (foreign passport, ID card, or driving licence).
Additional documentation may be requested, depending on the circumstances of the application.
If the certificate was issued by a non-EU country, it must be either apostilled or legalised, depending on the country of origin.
Certificates issued by EU Member States do not require an apostille or legalisation.
An apostille is a form of certification issued by countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention, such as Malta, to authenticate public documents for use abroad.
Legalisation is a more complex authentication process required for documents issued by countries that are not signatories to the Hague Convention.
If your certificate is not issued in English, or contains characters outside the English or Maltese alphabet, it must first be translated into English.
We recommend using a translator listed on our official portal: https://identita.gov.mt/public-registry-sec-page-translators-list/
When submitting your application, you must provide both the original certificate and the original translation. Both documents will be retained indefinitely in the Public Registry Archives.
The Public Registry records details using characters from the Maltese and English alphabets only. Special accents, symbols, or characters from other languages must be transliterated into their equivalent Maltese or English characters before the birth certificate is registered.
Yes, a basic fee of €2.60 applies. Additional administrative fees may be charged when the application is submitted through Maltese Embassies, Consulates, or Missions abroad.
Yes. Once the registration process is finalised, you will receive a notification by SMS or email. Upon receiving this notification, you may request a copy of the Maltese birth certificate either by visiting our offices in Marsa (Malta) or Victoria (Gozo), or by ordering it online through our portal: https://certifikati.identita.gov.mt/en/Home/Index
The certificate may also be purchased directly from our offices in Malta or Gozo.
If you notice any error or omission on your Maltese birth certificate, please contact the Public Registry immediately so that the matter can be reviewed without delay.
Depending on the nature of the correction required, you will be advised on the appropriate procedure to amend the record.
Any discrepancies must be resolved and supported by official documentation before the birth can be registered in Malta. The Public Registry will not proceed with the registration unless the personal details on all submitted foreign documents correspond exactly.
While walk-ins are accepted, it is recommended that you book an appointment in advance to avoid longer waiting times, particularly during busy periods.
A foreign marriage registration is the process by which the marriage of a Maltese citizen born outside Malta, who has a claim to Maltese citizenship typically by descent or through other legal provisions, is registered at the Public Registry in Malta.
Any Maltese citizen born abroad may apply to have their foreign marriage registered in Malta. One spouse must be Maltese for the Public Registry to register the marriage.
Registering a foreign marriage at the Public Registry ensures that the person’s details are officially recorded in Malta, especially if, through this marriage, there was a change in surname from the surname at birth. Once the foreign marriage is registered at the Public Registry, the individual may apply for a Maltese passport and access other services provided through the public service.
The Public Registry, within the Identità Agency, is the responsible entity that registers marriages occurring abroad.
Applications should be submitted to the Public Registry offices in Malta or Gozo. Applications may also be submitted through the nearest Maltese Embassy, Maltese Consulate, or Maltese Mission abroad.
Applications must be submitted through the nearest Maltese Embassy, Consulate, or Mission.
You need to contact the nearest Maltese Embassy, Consulate, or Mission that is accredited to the country where you live. You will be advised to send your documents, preferably by registered post or by courier.
No, applications cannot be sent by post. Applications received by post will not be processed, and the documents will be returned to the sender.
Applications may only be submitted either in person at the Public Registry in Malta or Gozo, or via a Maltese Embassy, Consulate, or Mission. Online submissions are not possible.
While a foreign marriage registration is not mandatory, if you wish to apply for a Maltese passport and your surname changed through this marriage, you must first register your foreign marriage at the Public Registry in Malta.
Generally, you need to provide:
- The original marriage certificate issued by the Civil Registrar’s Office of the country where your marriage was registered. Please note that your original certificate will be retained indefinitely in our Archives and will not be returned to you after registration.
- Confirmation of Maltese citizenship, usually through a Maltese Citizenship Certificate or Dual Letter.
- A valid identification document (foreign passport, ID card, or driving licence) for both spouses.
If the certificate you wish to register was issued by a non-EU country, it must be either legalised or apostilled, depending on the country of origin.
Certificates issued by EU Member States, on the other hand, do not require an apostille or legalisation.
An apostille is a form of validation of the marriage certificate and is issued by countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention. Legalisation is a more complex authentication process used for countries outside that agreement.
If your certificate is not issued in English or contains characters that are not in the English or Maltese alphabet, it must be translated into English. We suggest that you use the services of a translator listed on our portal: https://identita.gov.mt/public-registry-sec-page-translators-list/
When you register, you must submit both the original certificate and the original translation.
The Public Registry only registers using characters from the Maltese and English alphabets. Special accents, symbols, or characters from other languages must first be transliterated into the equivalent Maltese or English characters before submitting the marriage certificate.
Yes, there is a basic fee of €2.60. Additional administrative fees may apply when submitting an application through Maltese Missions abroad.
Yes, once the registration process is finalised, you will receive a notification either by SMS or email. As soon as you receive the notification, you may request a copy of the marriage certificate either by personally visiting our office in Marsa (Malta) or Victoria (Gozo), or by ordering the marriage certificate online through our portal: https://certifikati.identita.gov.mt/en/Home/Index
You may also purchase your certificate from our offices in Malta or Gozo.
If you notice any error or omission on the Maltese marriage certificate, please contact the Public Registry immediately so that the matter can be reviewed without delay. Depending on the nature of the correction, you will be advised accordingly on the way forward to make the necessary amendments.
Any discrepancies must be resolved and substantiated with official documentation before the marriage can be registered in Malta. The Public Registry will not proceed with the registration unless the personal details on all submitted foreign documents correspond exactly.
While walk-ins are accepted, we recommend that you book an appointment to avoid longer waiting times, particularly during busy periods.
A foreign death registration is the process by which the death of a Maltese citizen who passed away outside Malta, and who has a claim to Maltese citizenship typically by descent or through other legal provisions, is registered at the Public Registry in Malta.
The death of any Maltese citizen who passed away abroad may be registered in Malta.
Registering a foreign death at the Public Registry ensures that the person’s details are officially recorded in Malta.
The Public Registry, within the Identità Agency, is the responsible entity that registers deaths occurring abroad.
Applications should be submitted to the Public Registry offices in Malta or Gozo. Applications may also be submitted through the nearest Maltese Embassy, Maltese Consulate, or Maltese Mission abroad.
Applications must be submitted through the nearest Maltese Embassy, Consulate, or Mission.
You need to contact the nearest Maltese Embassy, Consulate, or Mission that is accredited to the country where you live. You will be advised to send your documents, preferably by registered post or by courier.
No, applications cannot be sent by post. Applications received by post will not be processed, and the documents will be returned to the sender.
Applications may only be submitted either in person at the Public Registry in Malta or Gozo, or via a Maltese Embassy, Consulate, or Mission. Online submissions are not possible.
While a foreign death registration is not mandatory, relatives may be requested to provide a Maltese death certificate for administrative purposes and in connection with inheritance proceedings in Malta.
Generally, you need to provide:
- The original death certificate issued by the Civil Registrar’s Office of the country where the death was registered. The original certificate will be retained indefinitely in our Archives.
- Confirmation of Maltese citizenship, usually through a Maltese Citizenship Certificate or Dual Letter.
- A valid identification document (foreign passport, ID card, or driving licence) of the deceased.
- Where the deceased was the holder of a valid Maltese ID card, the physical ID card must be submitted.
If the certificate you wish to register was issued by a non-EU country, it must be either legalised or apostilled, depending on the country of origin. Certificates issued by EU Member States, on the other hand, do not require an apostille or legalisation.
An apostille is a form of validation of the death certificate and is issued by countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention. Legalisation is a more complex authentication process used for countries outside that agreement.
If the certificate is not issued in English or contains characters that are not in the English or Maltese alphabet, it must be translated into English. We suggest that you use the services of a translator listed on our portal: https://identita.gov.mt/public-registry-sec-page-translators-list/
When you register, you must submit both the original certificate and the original translation.
The Public Registry only registers using characters from the Maltese and English alphabets. Special accents, symbols, or characters from other languages must first be transliterated into the equivalent Maltese or English characters before submitting the death certificate.
No fees apply to register a foreign death in Malta.
Yes, once the registration process is finalised, you will receive a notification either by SMS or email. As soon as you receive the notification, you may request a copy of the death certificate either by personally visiting our office in Marsa (Malta) or Victoria (Gozo), or by ordering the death certificate online through our portal: https://certifikati.identita.gov.mt/en/Home/Index
You may also purchase the death certificate from our offices in Malta or Gozo.
If you notice any error or omission on the Maltese death certificate, please contact the Public Registry immediately so that the matter can be reviewed without delay. Depending on the nature of the correction, you will be advised accordingly on the way forward to make the necessary amendments.
Any discrepancies must be resolved and substantiated with official documentation before the death can be registered in Malta. The Public Registry will not proceed with the registration unless the personal details on all submitted foreign documents correspond exactly.
While walk-ins are accepted, we recommend that you book an appointment to avoid longer waiting times, particularly during busy periods.
The Public Registry accepts requests for the registration of a foreign death of a Maltese citizen from relatives of the deceased or from other individuals acting on their behalf.