Complete guide for Brazilians to apply for a long-term student visa in Malta in 2026

Brazilians do not need a visa to enter the Schengen Zone for up to 90 days. But English language courses of 15 weeks or more in Malta require a different type of authorization: the long-term visa, known as a D-Visa. This process has specific steps, deadlines that cannot be ignored, and some points that directly affect those who come from Brazil.

This guide brings together everything a Brazilian student needs to know to apply for a D-Visa in Malta in 2026: from when a visa is required to how the online submission available to Brazilians from cities without a VFS center works. If you are still in the program selection phase, see the article about study and work in Malta to understand what the destination offers in addition to the language course.

When is a student visa mandatory for Brazilians in Malta?

Brazil is one of the visa-free countries for the Schengen Zone. In practice, this means that Brazilians can enter Malta and stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without needing a visa.

The requirement for a student visa depends solely on the length of the course:

• Courses of up to 12 weeks: no need for a student visa. The student travels using the 90-day exemption from the Schengen area

• Courses of 15 weeks or more: requires a long stay visa (D-Visa), requested before traveling via VFS Global

To understand exactly what category your course falls into, see the article do you need a visa to study in Malta for 6 months?.

Attention: The tourist visa (C-Visa or Schengen exemption) cannot be converted into a student visa within Malta. If your course requires D-Visa, it must be requested and approved before boarding.

What is the Long Stay Visa (D-Visa) for Malta?

The D-Visa, or national long-term visa, is issued by Identita Malta and authorizes the student to stay in Malta for a period longer than 90 days. It is requested via VFS Global before travel and, once approved, works as a multiple-entry visa.

D-Visa benefits for students:

• Allows you to travel around the Schengen area from the first day in Malta

• It is valid for multiple entries, including temporary exits to non-Schengen countries

• Students aged 27 weeks or older (including holidays) do not need to present a return ticket on the request

• Can be requested up to 6 months in advance Regarding the start of the course

As Student visa rules in Malta underwent relevant updates in 2025 and 2026. Any guidance based on previous processes may be out of date.

What are the steps in the visa process for Brazilians?

The complete process has six steps. The total time, from enrollment to obtaining a passport with a visa, is 4 to 6 months for those who plan ahead.

Step 1: Enrollment and minimum payment

The process begins with the confirmed enrollment at the language school and the minimum payment required by Identita Malta. Without this payment, the school does not issue the letter of invitation and the appointment at the VFS cannot be made.

Identita Malta recommends that partner schools require initial payment to give credibility to the visa application. Schools registered with the ELT Council follow this protocol.

Step 2: Choose between in-person scheduling or online submission

This is a specific point for Brazilians. VFS Global offers the online submission option for students who reside in cities without a nearby VFS center. The difference is significant:

If you live in São Paulo, for example, attending the VFS in person is mandatory. If you live in an inland city with no accessible VFS, online submission is a valid alternative.

Step 3: Preparation and translation of documents

All documents that are not in English need to be translated by an official translator. This is a point that directly affects Brazilians, since most of the financial and personal documentation will be in Portuguese.

Translation rule in effect in 2026:

• Until March 31, 2026: Can translations be done by official translators in Brazil

• After March 31, 2026: only translators from Identita Malta's official list are accepted

Hire the translation service in advance. Translations made in haste, non-standard or by non-certified professionals are one of the most common causes of refusal.

Step 4: Financial proof with currency conversion

The bank statement must be in euros or accompanied by a currency conversion printout. The official site accepted for conversion is XE.com.

The amount to be proven depends on the type of accommodation and the duration of the course. The detailed calculation is in the article about How to calculate financial proof for a Malta visa. Remember: the statement cannot be issued more than 30 days ago on the date of the appointment at the VFS.

Beware of “new money”: high deposits made in the days before the statement was issued raise suspicion that the balance is unusual. Keep the required funds in the account in advance.

Step 5: Scheduling the VFS and sending the documents

With documents prepared and reviewed, it's time to schedule. If you choose the face-to-face service, the student comes to the VFS center with the original passport and all documents. Biometrics are collected the same day.

For those who use online submission, the documents are sent by courier to the VFS after the booking is confirmed. The passport is also sent separately.

Before going to the VFS, review the complete checklist of documents for the Malta visa to ensure that nothing is missing or out of date.

Step 6: Passport Processing and Withdrawal

The processing time after scheduling at the VFS is 8-10 weeks. During this period, Identita Malta may invite the student for an interview, communicated by e-mail.

When the visa is issued, the VFS informs about taking the passport in person or sending it by courier. Once you receive the visa, confirm the course start date with the school if there are any necessary adjustments.

What specific Brazilian documents need to prepare?

In addition to the documents required for any student, there are items that require special attention from those who come from Brazil:

• Bank statement in reais: must be accompanied by an official exchange rate conversion (XE.com) for euros

• Personal documents in Portuguese: birth certificate, transcript or any other document in Portuguese must have an official translation into English

• Travel insurance: It must cover all countries in the Schengen Zone with at least 30,000 euros in medical expenses and a minimum validity of 120 consecutive days. Brazilian insurance that covers only Brazil or the specific destination is not accepted

• Biometric passport: mandatory for those who choose to submit online through VFS

For a complete list with all the specifications of each document, see the article on student visa requirements in Malta.

What is the ideal time to start the process from Brazil?

The minimum legal deadline is 9 weeks before the start of the course. But the actual process, considering enrollment, translations, on-time bank statement and scheduling with the VFS, takes 4 to 6 months.

Recommended schedule for Brazilians:

1. 5 to 6 months before: Confirm enrollment and make the minimum payment required by the school

2. 4 to 5 months before: schedule the VFS (in person or online) and start preparing the documents

3. 2 to 3 months before: take out insurance, close accommodation, prepare a bank statement and request translations

4. At least 2 weeks before VFS: send all documents to the school for review and obtaining the letter of invitation

5. On the day of the VFS: attend the center with a passport and original documents (or send by courier if submitted online)

6. 8 to 10 weeks after VFS: wait for processing and withdraw the passport with the issued visa

For a detailed overview of each stage with its specific deadlines, see the article on How long before do you need to apply for a Malta visa.

What to do after the visa is approved?

With D-Visa in hand, the next step is to organize your arrival in Malta. Some points worth paying attention to:

• Confirm the course start date with the school if there are any adjustments to the trip

• Check that the arrival flight is within the allowed window: up to 2 weeks before the start of the course

• Arrange definitive accommodation for the first few days, if you haven't already done so

• Know that a long-term visa allows you to travel through the Schengen area from the first day of its validity

For guidance on how to get organized after arrival, see the guide to first steps in Malta for exchange students And the article about What does the comprehensive 2025 guide offer about costs and opportunities in Malta.

FAQ: Questions from Brazilians about a student visa in Malta

1. Can Brazilians who have already been in Malta with a 90-day exemption apply for a D-Visa?

Yes. The D-Visa is a national visa, regardless of previous entries as a tourist. What is not allowed is to enter Malta as a tourist intending to apply for a long-term student visa extension without having previously left the Schengen area.

2. Can I use international health insurance that I already have for a visa?

It depends. The insurance must cover all countries in the Schengen Zone, be valid for a minimum of 120 consecutive days and cover a minimum of 30,000 euros in medical expenses. If your insurance meets all of these criteria and is in English (or can be translated), it may be accepted.

3. Does the bank statement in reais have to be converted to euros?

An extract already in euros is not necessary, but the document in reais must be accompanied by an official exchange conversion printed on the site XE.com, with the date close to the issue of the statement.

4. If I live in São Paulo, can I use the online submission?

No. Online submission is exclusive for those who live in cities without an available VFS center. As São Paulo has a VFS, in-person attendance is mandatory for residents of the city.

5. Is a student visa in Malta accepted to travel to other European countries?

Yes. The D-Visa issued by Malta, as a member of the Schengen Zone, allows students to move freely through the countries of the Schengen area during the validity of the visa.

Be Easy

Be Easy accompanies Brazilian students at every stage of the Malta visa process, from enrollment to boarding, with attention to the details that make the difference in approval. If you want to study English in Malta or learn about other programs abroad, such as a Exchange in English-speaking European countries, our team is ready to guide you clearly and safely. Get in touch with us and start your planning today.