Malta – Health Risks, Inoculations, Vaccinations, and Health Certificates

What are the main health risks for expats living in Malta?

Malta’s disease environment is generally low-risk — broadly on a par with other Western European nations. Even so, there are several health matters that expats ought to understand before and after making the move to the islands.

Heat-related conditions, including potentially fatal heatstroke, are a genuine concern throughout the Maltese summer. Maintaining regular food and fluid intake, choosing loose, light clothing, and curtailing strenuous outdoor activity during peak afternoon heat are all sensible precautions. Those spending extended periods outdoors should replace salt lost through perspiration by consuming salty foods alongside water, apply a sunscreen of at least SPF 15, wear protective clothing, and seek shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Parts of Southern Europe, Malta included, carry a risk of insect- and tick-borne diseases. These encompass conditions such as Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, leishmaniasis, and West Nile virus. Although the risk for most residents is relatively low, anyone spending time in rural countryside or engaged in outdoor pursuits should take standard precautions to prevent bites.

Dengue, chikungunya, and Zika are also present to varying degrees. Risk levels shift with the seasons, and — somewhat counterintuitively — urban and suburban environments carry a higher risk than rural ones for these particular illnesses. Because no licensed vaccines exist for any of these three conditions, avoiding insect bites through appropriate clothing, repellents, and eliminating standing water near the home remains the most effective protective strategy.

Malaria poses no risk to travellers in Malta whatsoever. This is a notable advantage compared with many popular destinations across Africa, Asia, and parts of the Americas, where prophylactic antimalarial medication is routinely needed.

Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections are present in Malta as in any other country. Practising safe sex with new partners substantially lowers individual risk, and expats are advised to carry condoms. Diseases transmitted via blood — including HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C — can also result from blood transfusions, tattooing, body piercing, or the use of unsterilised needles.

Traveller’s diarrhoea affects a notable proportion of people newly arrived on the island and is considered a high-risk concern. Attention to food and drink choices is advisable, and packing self-treatment medications for diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting is worthwhile. Although Malta’s food safety standards broadly align with EU requirements, choosing busy, well-regarded eating establishments and exercising caution with street food will significantly reduce the likelihood of gastrointestinal problems.

Other risks worth noting include accidental inhalation of air or ingestion of food tainted with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents, as well as exposure to airborne tuberculosis bacteria from an infected person speaking, coughing, or singing nearby. Neither of these risks is specific to Malta, but they are worth bearing in mind, particularly for expats relocating from countries where routine TB screening is common practice.

Are any vaccinations or inoculations required before entering Malta?

It is essential to distinguish between vaccinations that are legally required as a condition of entry and those that are recommended purely for your personal health protection. For Malta, the category of mandatory vaccinations is extremely narrow.

Yellow fever does not circulate in Malta, but a certificate requirement exists nonetheless. Under the International Health Regulations, travellers arriving from countries where yellow fever transmission is a recognised risk must present proof of vaccination. This applies to anyone aged nine months and older who has departed from — or made a transit stop of more than 12 hours in the airport of — a yellow-fever-risk country.

According to the World Health Organization, from 11 July 2016, a yellow fever vaccination certificate is considered valid for the entire lifetime of the vaccinated individual. As a result, authorities cannot refuse a valid certificate on the basis that ten or more years have elapsed since the vaccination took effect, and neither booster doses nor revaccination can be demanded.

As of 2025, Malta imposes no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements on incoming travellers. All such requirements were discontinued following the conclusion of the pandemic emergency period.

Apart from the yellow fever certificate rule applying to those arriving from endemic regions, Malta has no other compulsory vaccination requirements for entry. This does not, however, mean that advance health preparation is unnecessary — recommended vaccines are still important for safeguarding your wellbeing as a long-term resident. Always confirm the latest requirements with the Maltese Ministry for Health or your own country’s official travel health authority ahead of departure, since these rules can change at short notice.

Which vaccinations are recommended for expats moving to Malta?

The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Malta: hepatitis A, polio, yellow fever (where applicable), rabies, hepatitis B, influenza, COVID-19, pneumonia, meningitis, chickenpox, shingles, Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). Not every vaccine on this list is equally relevant to every individual — the appropriate combination will depend on your personal medical history, your age, and the activities you plan to undertake.

Every traveller should verify that their routine immunisations are current. These include chickenpox (varicella), tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap), measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), and — for adults aged 65 and over or those with chronic illnesses or immunocompromising conditions — pneumococcal vaccine. If your vaccination records are incomplete or you are uncertain about your status, now is the time to close those gaps, particularly for MMR, which is experiencing a resurgence in numerous countries worldwide.

Measles infections are on the rise across many parts of the world. The CDC advises that all international travellers be fully vaccinated against measles using the MMR vaccine, in accordance with its measles vaccination recommendations for international travel. This is of particular relevance to anyone whose childhood immunisation programme did not include two complete MMR doses — a situation that applies to certain national vaccination schedules outside the EU.

Hepatitis A spreads primarily through contaminated food and water, and the vaccine is recommended for all travellers to Malta. Hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with blood or bodily fluids; while the general population risk is low, vaccination is strongly advised for those with a heightened personal risk profile — including people participating in contact sports or adventure activities, those considering tattoos or piercings, or individuals entering new sexual relationships. Expats planning an extended stay or anticipating medical procedures should seek tailored advice from a travel health professional.

Influenza transmission peaks during the northern hemisphere winter months, typically November through April. It is the vaccine-preventable illness most frequently seen in travellers, and the protective effect of the vaccine lasts approximately one year. Annual flu vaccination is therefore recommended for all expats, and especially for those aged over 65 or living with an underlying health condition.

Although uncommon, bat lyssaviruses — a form of bat rabies — can pass to humans or other animals through the saliva of an infected bat, most typically via a bite. Transmission is also possible if infected saliva enters open wounds or comes into contact with mucous membranes. Pre-exposure rabies vaccination may be worth considering for those whose lifestyle or occupation places them in regular contact with bats. Whether rabies vaccination is appropriate for you will depend on your specific itinerary and planned activities; it is generally advised for higher-risk groups such as veterinarians, animal care workers, and people who explore caves.

It is strongly advisable to visit a travel health clinic or your GP at least six to eight weeks before your planned move. This lead time allows adequate opportunity to complete vaccine courses that require multiple doses or a waiting period to become effective. Your clinician will be able to personalise their recommendations based on your individual health profile, including any pre-existing medical conditions or regular medications.

Do you need a health certificate to move to or work in Malta?

Malta does not apply a blanket mandatory medical examination to all incoming residents in the manner of some other countries. Nevertheless, depending on your specific visa or residency category, health-related documentation may still form part of your application requirements.

As of August 2024, many expats seeking to reside in Malta must hold health insurance providing a minimum coverage of approximately USD 108,000, encompassing medical treatment and hospitalisation — in some cases even when care is received outside Malta. Comprehensive international health insurance is therefore not merely advisable but often compulsory, and identifying the right private insurer should be among the first practical steps in your relocation preparations.

Applicants pursuing residency or citizenship through investment routes are generally required to demonstrate that they hold adequate health insurance. For programmes such as the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) and the Global Residence Programme (GRP), applicants also typically need to show that they do not represent a public health risk. While a standalone formal medical certificate is not always required, certain visa categories call for a declaration of good health or a letter from a physician. You should check the precise requirements for your application directly with the Residency Malta Agency, as they vary by programme and are subject to revision.

Stays exceeding 90 days may require additional health screenings and vaccinations, and consulting Maltese healthcare authorities is recommended in such cases. Those applying for work permits should also liaise with their sponsoring employer and the relevant Maltese authority, since sector-specific health criteria — in food handling or the healthcare profession, for instance — may be applicable.

Where a health declaration or certificate is called for, it typically involves a general physical assessment by a licensed medical practitioner and may include questions concerning communicable diseases. Costs and processing times differ between providers — verify current figures directly with approved clinics or the relevant Maltese government body, as these details are subject to change. Official sources should always be consulted rather than relying on information from third-party summaries.

How does healthcare in Malta compare to what expats may be used to?

Malta operates a hybrid public-private healthcare model. The public system is financed through taxation and covers a broad spectrum of treatments — including hospitalisation, surgical procedures, maternity care, childbirth, and rehabilitation. Unlike systems where residency alone entitles someone to free care, access to Malta’s publicly funded services is generally contingent on social security contributions.

Expats who pay taxes and contribute to the Department of Social Security are entitled to free medical treatment within the public system. Employees and their employers each contribute 10% of weekly earnings, while the self-employed contribute 15%. The system encompasses GP consultations, specialist referrals, inpatient care, surgery, mental health services, and the majority of prescription medications — an arrangement broadly comparable to the contribution-based social insurance frameworks found throughout much of continental Europe.

Mater Dei Hospital in Msida is Malta’s principal acute care and teaching hospital. Opened in 2007, it is the main provider of tertiary and specialist services on the island, with more than 1,000 beds, a full intensive care unit, surgical theatres, an oncology department, and an emergency department operating around the clock. All staff are English-speaking and medical records are maintained in English. Gozo General Hospital serves as the only inpatient facility on the island of Gozo, offering both medical and surgical services to that community.

English holds official language status in Malta, and fluency among healthcare professionals is universal. Hospital signage appears in both English and Maltese, and patients can communicate in English at any clinic or hospital without difficulty. For expats who have encountered language barriers in healthcare settings elsewhere in Europe, this represents a significant practical benefit.

Private hospitals and clinics offer same-day or next-day appointments across most specialties and substantially reduced waiting times compared with the public sector. Those who opt for private healthcare in Malta typically benefit from more personalised attention, quicker access, and a broader range of specialised treatments. Local insurers including Laferla Insurance, Elmo Insurance, and Atlas Insurance offer entry-level plans starting from approximately €275–€300 per year (as of 2025).

EU and EEA citizens holding a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) are entitled to medically necessary treatment free of charge at Mater Dei Hospital during temporary visits. Those staying beyond 90 days should obtain an S1 form from their home country’s social security authority and register it with Malta’s Entitlement Unit. Non-EU residents on most visa categories are required to maintain private health insurance and cannot draw on the public system in the same way as contributing residents.

Dental care in Malta is provided predominantly through private practices at the patient’s own expense. Free dental treatment through the public system is restricted to genuine emergencies and is otherwise very limited in scope. Expats should ensure their private insurance policy includes adequate dental coverage from the outset.

What are the risks of travel within Malta, and are there regional health differences?

Malta comprises five islands situated in the central Mediterranean, approximately 100 km south of Sicily. The climate features hot, dry summers, mild and intermittently wet autumns, and brief, cool winters. Given that Malta is a compact archipelago at low elevation, the stark regional health differences found in larger, more topographically varied countries — such as altitude sickness in mountainous terrain or distinct malaria zones in remote rural areas — simply do not apply here.

Altitude-related illness is entirely absent as a concern in Malta, given the country’s low-lying geography. There are no tropical disease hotspots, no dense jungle environments, and no meaningful disparities in air or water quality between the main island and Gozo that would materially alter health risk calculations.

That said, expats based on Gozo should be aware of some practical healthcare differences. Gozo General Hospital is the island’s sole inpatient facility, with 302 beds and an air ambulance link to Mater Dei for serious cases. Residents of Gozo requiring specialist treatment or facing a major medical emergency may need to be transferred to the main island, and this reality should inform both health planning and insurance decisions.

The risk of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika fluctuates according to the time of year, and urban and suburban environments actually carry a higher risk of these mosquito-borne diseases than rural areas — a somewhat counterintuitive pattern explained by the tendency for stagnant water to accumulate in built-up settings, providing ideal mosquito breeding grounds. Expats in or around busy towns should not assume that city living automatically lowers their exposure to insect-borne illness.

Those who enjoy outdoor activities should remain alert to shifting weather conditions and plan accordingly. Packing appropriate gear — including insect repellent, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit — and wearing suitable clothing are sensible habits regardless of the season. Sun protection and consistent hydration are especially critical throughout the summer months, wherever on the islands you happen to be.

Where can expats get reliable and up-to-date health advice for Malta?

Health entry requirements, vaccination guidance, and residency-related health rules are subject to frequent revision. Always consult authoritative official sources before making decisions, and cross-check any figures or requirements encountered in third-party publications — including this article — against current official guidance.

• Malta Ministry for Health: The principal Maltese government body responsible for public health policy, national immunisation schedules, and health advisories. Current guidance is available at deputyprimeminister.gov.mt.
• World Health Organization (WHO) — Malta: The WHO publishes Malta’s immunisation country profile and updates relating to international health regulations. Authoritative data can be found on the WHO Malta country page.
• CDC Travellers’ Health — Malta: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains a dedicated Malta destination page covering vaccine recommendations and current health notices. Visit wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/malta.
• Travel Health Pro (NaTHNaC) — Malta: Peer-reviewed by the National Travel Health Network and Centre, the Travel Health Pro Malta page is one of the most thorough and regularly updated resources available to travellers and prospective residents. Visit travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/141/malta.
• Residency Malta Agency: For details on health insurance obligations, health declarations, and residency application procedures, consult residencymalta.gov.mt directly.
• Identity Malta (Identità): The authority responsible for residence permits and associated documentation. See identita.gov.mt for application requirements broken down by visa category.
• Travel health clinics: Before relocating, visit a specialist travel health clinic in your home country for a personalised vaccination schedule and health recommendations tailored to your age, medical history, and planned activities in Malta. Once settled on the islands, private clinics and pharmacies can provide ongoing medical support.

Please note: specific requirements, fees, and health recommendations are liable to change. Always verify information directly with official sources before travelling, submitting visa applications, or making medical decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need any vaccinations before moving to Malta?

Although yellow fever does not circulate within Malta itself, the country requires a yellow fever vaccination certificate from travellers aged nine months and older who arrive from countries where the virus is known to be present. No other vaccines are legally required for entry. However, a number of vaccines are strongly recommended to protect your health, among them hepatitis A, MMR, tetanus, and seasonal influenza. Visiting a travel health clinic before you leave your home country is advised.

Is there a malaria risk in Malta?

Malta is completely free of malaria, and no antimalarial medication is needed. That said, mosquitoes do inhabit the islands and are capable of transmitting other diseases, such as dengue and West Nile virus. Using insect repellent and wearing protective clothing, particularly during the summer months, is still a sensible precaution.

Is health insurance required to get a residence permit in Malta?

As of August 2024, many expats applying to live in Malta are required to have health insurance with a minimum coverage of approximately USD 108,000. Comprehensive international health insurance is advisable, and identifying the right private insurer should be among the first priorities when planning your move. EU citizens who are employed and contributing to social security can access the public healthcare system; however, those on investment or passive income residency programmes are generally obliged to hold private cover.

Will vaccinations I received in my home country be accepted in Malta?

In general, yes. Malta adheres to EU and international health standards, and certificates issued by recognised countries are accepted at the border. In the specific case of yellow fever, the vaccination certificate is valid for the lifetime of the holder, and no authority may reject a valid certificate solely because more than ten years have passed since the vaccine was administered. If your documentation is not in English or Maltese, carrying an officially certified translation is advisable.

How do I find a doctor in Malta who speaks English?

English is one of Malta’s two official languages, and the overwhelming majority of medical professionals are completely fluent in it. Hospital signage is displayed in both English and Maltese, patient records are kept in English, and telephone enquiries to any hospital or clinic can be conducted entirely in English. Language barriers in Maltese healthcare are exceptionally rare. Eligible residents can register with their nearest government health centre for free GP appointments, or attend any private clinic directly without a prior referral.

What happens if I develop a serious illness in Malta?

Emergency and accident departments at public hospitals — including Mater Dei in Msida and Gozo General Hospital — are open to anyone physically present in Malta. Call 112 for emergencies. In an emergency, Maltese hospitals will provide immediate care to anyone in the country, including visitors and uninsured residents. Entitlement to non-emergency follow-up treatment depends on your residency status and insurance arrangements.

Is the tap water in Malta safe to drink?

Tap water in Malta meets EU drinking water safety standards and is safe to consume. However, because much of Malta’s water supply is produced through desalination, many residents — both Maltese and expatriate — find the taste unappealing and prefer bottled or filtered water. Regardless, taking sensible precautions with food and water, particularly when dining out, is worth doing to minimise the risk of traveller’s diarrhoea.

Do I need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter Malta?

As of 2025, Malta has no COVID-19 vaccination or testing requirements for arriving travellers. All pandemic-related entry conditions have been withdrawn. Nevertheless, keeping COVID-19 vaccinations current — including boosters — remains a general public health recommendation, particularly for older adults and those with underlying health conditions.

Can I access Malta’s public healthcare system as a non-EU expat?

Malta’s publicly funded healthcare system is financed through taxation and provides a wide range of services, but eligibility is primarily restricted to people who are resident in Malta, in employment, and actively contributing to social security while holding a valid social security card. Non-EU nationals residing in Malta under investment or passive income programmes are generally required to maintain private health insurance and are not entitled to public healthcare on the same terms as employed contributing residents. For the entitlements attached to your specific visa category, consult Identità (Identity Malta) directly.