Health Insurance in Malta

Malta runs a dual system: a tax- and social-security-funded public health service that is free at the point of use for people who are entitled to it, and a large private sector that many residents use for faster access to specialists and elective procedures.

Whether you need private health insurance depends on who you are. If you work in Malta and pay social security contributions, you are generally entitled to public care (for non-EU nationals, after a 12-month qualifying period). If you are a non-EU national applying for a residence permit, a private policy is a legal requirement. If you are an EU citizen who is not working in Malta, you need either an S1 form from your home country or private cover.

This guide explains who is entitled to what, when insurance is mandatory, what a compliant policy looks like, and how to choose one.

Entitlement to Malta's public health service comes from paying Maltese social security contributions, from an EU S1 form, from the UK–Malta reciprocal agreement, or from certain social security exemptions (for example people on benefits or with low income). Residence alone does not make you entitled. Entitlement is handled by the Entitlement Unit at the former St Luke's Hospital, G'Mangia (tel. +356 2595 2400, entitlement.health@gov.mt).

Your Situation	Route to Public Care	What You Show
EU/EEA/Swiss employee or self-employed person paying Maltese social security	Contributions	Residence card, backed by your contribution record
Non-EU worker after 12 months of continuous residence, work and contributions	Contributions	Residence card / Certificate of Entitlement
EU/EEA/Swiss pensioner or posted worker insured in another EU country	S1 form registered with the Entitlement Unit	Certificate of Entitlement
UK national resident in Malta with no other entitlement	Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement (RHA)	RHA Entitlement Certificate
EU/EEA visitor on a temporary stay	EHIC (necessary care only)	European Health Insurance Card
UK visitor	GHIC or UK-issued EHIC (necessary care only)	GHIC / EHIC
Non-EU employee in the first 12 months, non-EU national not working, or a non-working EU resident without an S1	No automatic entitlement	Private health insurance

Non-EU workers: The Ministry for Health states that free public healthcare is available to foreign nationals who have lived and worked in Malta continuously for 12 months, paying tax and social security contributions. Until then, non-EU workers rely on private insurance, which is why Identità requires a policy covering the whole first year of the permit.

An EHIC is for temporary stays only. Once you live and work in Malta, your entitlement comes from Maltese social security, not from your home-country card. RHA certificate holders are covered for public in-patient and out-patient care, but not for treatment abroad, an EHIC, or free POYC medicines.

• Hospitals: Mater Dei Hospital in Msida (tel. +356 2545 0000) is the main acute hospital and runs the national Emergency Department. Gozo General Hospital (tel. +356 2156 1600) serves Gozo.
• Health centres: Regional health centres across Malta and Gozo provide free GP consultations, nursing, and routine services. Use the government Health Site Finder to locate the nearest one.
• Medicines: Medicines given during an in-patient stay, and for the first three days after discharge, are free for entitled persons. After that, prescriptions are normally paid for privately. Entitled patients with qualifying chronic conditions can get free medicines through the Pharmacy of Your Choice (POYC) scheme.
• Dental care: Emergency dental treatment is free for entitled persons, but routine dental care is limited in the public system and is usually paid privately.
• Emergencies: Call 112 for an ambulance. Emergency ambulance transport is covered for EHIC holders and entitled persons.

The main drawback of the public route is waiting time for non-urgent specialist appointments, scans, and elective surgery. This is the main reason many entitled residents still buy private cover.

Private health insurance is mandatory for most non-EU nationals applying for residence in Malta, and for EU citizens who live in Malta without working or holding an S1. The minimum cover and the agency that checks it depend on your permit.

Permit or Status	Who Checks It	Insurance Requirement
Single Permit (non-EU employees) and family members	Identità	At least €100,000 cover, including out-patient and hospital treatment in Malta and, if needed, other European countries
Nomad Residence Permit	Residency Malta Agency	At least €100,000 per person covering the EU (including Malta) and the UK; must meet the agency's Table of Minimum Benefits; paid in full for one year; travel insurance not accepted
Non-EU students at private or other institutions	Identità	At least €100,000 cover for the whole stay, on new and renewal applications
Students at the University of Malta, MCAST or ITS	Identità	Exempt from the €100,000 rule
EU citizens living in Malta as self-sufficient (not working)	Identità	Health insurance covering in-patient and out-patient treatment in Malta, or an S1, or a Certificate of Entitlement
Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP), Global Residence Programme, Malta Retirement Programme	Residency Malta / Commissioner for Revenue	Comprehensive health insurance covering Malta and the EU for the applicant and all dependants; confirm the current minimum with the programme before buying

The €100,000 rule for employment-based applicants and their family members has applied to new applications since 1 August 2024, under the Healthcare (Fees) Regulations (S.L. 35.28). Identità also requires the policy to be valid for the whole first year of the residence permit and not revocable during that period.

What this means in practice:

• Non-EU employees: You need private cover to get your Single Permit, valid for the whole first year. After 12 months of continuous residence, work, and social security contributions, you become entitled to public care. Many people keep private cover afterwards to avoid public waiting lists.
• Digital nomads: Nomad Residence Permit holders are not entitled to free public healthcare. Your private policy is your only cover, so choose it carefully. Monthly-payment policies are not accepted.
• Foreign policies: An international or home-country policy can be accepted if it meets the cover, territory, and benefit requirements. If it does not, you will be asked to buy a compliant one.
• Wording matters: Applications are often delayed because the policy certificate does not clearly state the cover limit, the territory, the policy dates, or that hospitalisation is included. Ask your insurer for a certificate that spells these out.

You can buy cover from a Maltese insurer or from an international expat insurer. Local plans are usually cheaper and settle bills directly with Malta's private hospitals; international plans cost more but cover you across Europe or worldwide and move with you if you leave Malta.

	Local Maltese Plans	International Expat Plans
Examples	Mapfre Malta (formerly Mapfre Middlesea), GasanMamo, Atlas	Allianz Care, Bupa Global, Cigna Global, AXA Global Healthcare
Where you are covered	Mainly Malta, sometimes limited cover abroad	Europe or worldwide, depending on the plan
Portability	Ends if you leave Malta	Usually continues if you move country
Typical strength	Price; direct billing with local private hospitals	Wider cover, higher limits, out-patient options
Permit products	Several insurers sell plans built for Single Permit, Nomad, and MPRP requirements	Must be checked against the specific permit rules

Mapfre Middlesea changed its name to Mapfre Malta in July 2026. GasanMamo, for example, sells Vital, Key and International plans plus residency-specific products such as a Residency Europe Plan and an MPRP plan.

Malta's largest private hospital group is St James Hospital. Most local policies settle in-patient and day-case bills with participating private hospitals directly.

What policies usually cover:

• In-patient and day-case hospital treatment, including surgery, accommodation, and specialist fees
• Diagnostic tests and scans linked to a covered condition
• Cancer treatment, often up to a separate limit
• Emergency treatment abroad on many plans
• Out-patient consultations and tests, often as an optional add-on or with a lower limit

What policies often exclude:

• Pre-existing conditions, at least for an initial period
• Routine maternity care, or maternity after a waiting period only
• Routine dental and optical care, unless you buy an add-on
• Chronic condition management and long-term medication
• Cosmetic treatment and fertility treatment

Always read the table of benefits, not only the brochure. Limits, excesses, and waiting periods vary widely between plans with similar names.

A basic permit-compliant local policy typically costs a few hundred euros a year per person, while comprehensive local or international plans run from around €1,000 to several thousand euros a year. Prices below are indicative; always get a written quote for your age and the permit you are applying for.

Type of Policy	Indicative Annual Premium (per adult)
Basic local plan built for a residence permit	About €180 – €400
Local plan for an investment residence programme	About €400 or more
Comprehensive local plan with out-patient cover	Roughly €500 – €1,500, rising with age
International expat plan (Europe or worldwide)	Roughly €1,000 – €3,000+, rising with age and cover

What drives the price:

• Age: Local insurers price in age bands, typically rising every five years.
• Level of cover: In-patient-only plans are cheapest; out-patient, maternity, dental, and worldwide cover add cost.
• Area of cover: Malta-only is cheapest; Europe-wide or worldwide (especially including the USA) costs more.
• Excess (deductible): A higher excess lowers the premium.
• Medical history: Pre-existing conditions are usually excluded rather than charged extra, so check what will not be covered.

Many people insure the expensive hospital risk and pay smaller out-patient bills, such as private GP visits, themselves.

Start with what your permit legally requires, then decide how much extra cover you want for your lifestyle.

1. Check your permit's minimum. Confirm the cover limit, territory, and policy length your permit needs (for example €100,000, Malta plus Europe, one full year).
2. Ask for a compliant certificate. The insurer's certificate should state the policyholder, dates, cover limit, territory, and that hospitalisation and out-patient treatment are included.
3. Pay annually if required. The Nomad Residence Permit does not accept monthly-payment policies.
4. Decide on out-patient cover. In-patient-only plans are cheaper; out-patient cover pays for specialist visits and scans outside a hospital stay.
5. Check direct billing. Find out which Maltese private hospitals settle bills directly with the insurer, so you do not pay upfront.
6. Read the exclusions. Look at pre-existing conditions, maternity waiting periods, mental health limits, and dental cover.
7. Think about the future. If you may leave Malta, an international plan avoids a gap in cover. If you will stay, check whether the policy is renewable for life.
8. Cover your family. Each dependant on your permit needs their own cover meeting the same rules.

Is healthcare free in Malta?
Public healthcare is free at the point of use for people who are entitled, mainly those paying Maltese social security, EU citizens with a registered S1, and UK nationals under the reciprocal agreement. Others pay fees or rely on private insurance.

Do EU citizens need private health insurance in Malta?
Not if you work in Malta and pay social security. If you live in Malta without working, you need an S1 from your home country, a Certificate of Entitlement, or private health insurance to register your residence.

Can I use my EHIC if I live in Malta?
No. The EHIC covers necessary care during temporary stays only. Residents need entitlement through Maltese social security or an S1.

Is travel insurance enough for a residence permit?
No. Residence permits require a year-long health insurance policy; Residency Malta explicitly rejects travel insurance for the Nomad Residence Permit.

Can I use an insurance policy from my home country?
Yes, if it meets the cover, territory, and benefit requirements of your permit. If not, you will be asked to buy a compliant policy.

Are digital nomads entitled to public healthcare?
No. Nomad Residence Permit holders are not entitled to free public healthcare and must rely on private insurance.

What happens in an emergency?
Call 112 or go to the Emergency Department at Mater Dei Hospital (Malta) or Gozo General Hospital. If you are not entitled to public care, you may be charged fees under the Healthcare (Fees) Regulations, so keep your insurance details with you.

Who do I contact about public healthcare entitlement?
The Entitlement Unit, St Luke's Hospital, G'Mangia: +356 2595 2400, entitlement.health@gov.mt, or the MT Health Entitlement app.

This guide is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Rules and premiums change; confirm current requirements with Identità, Residency Malta, the Entitlement Unit, or a licensed insurer before you apply or buy a policy.