Hi my lovelies, I hope you've all had a super weekend!
I've updated my guide to the entry and exit rules for UK nationals who have holidays in #Malta this summer.
Just to reiterate, this blog post serves as an easy to read guide which can be supported by visits to the Visit Malta Gov.uk and Malta Airport sites.
Please also ensure that you have COVID-19 Travel Insurance
So without further ado, please find all you need to know for entering #Malta from the UK as of today 16 August!
Entering Malta
Only fully vaccinated tourists will be granted entry to the islands..
You can also expect to be subjected to body temperature screening upon entry into the terminal building at Malta International Airport. If your body temperature exceeds 37.2 centigrade, you can expect to be interviewed by Public Health officials.
Children aged 5-11 can travel if they accompany vaccinated adults with proof of a negative PCR test carried out within 72 hours from arrival in Malta.
Children under the age of 5 do not need to take a test.
Children aged 12-18 will need proof of full vaccination which sadly is a huge problem as here in the UK we have just opened up vaccinations to the 16-18 year old age bracket. Obviously there may be some exceptions here, if a child has had to be vaccinated due to underlying health conditions etc and can prove full vaccination status of course entry will be allowed.
You MUST now use the Malta Digital Passenger Locator Form. From today, 16th August 2021, passengers will only be allowed to submit their DPLF online the paper version is no longer being accepted. On arrival in Malta you can present your submitted DPLF with QR-Code, either in a printed format or in the digital format on your smartphone, tablet or other devices. Please note that this form now incorporates the Public Health Declaration Form too. I'd strongly recommend printing this form out once completed online, that way you have a paper copy should you not be able to access your digital copy for any reason.
Proof of vaccination
Confirmed in an official press release by the Maltese Government - the NHS App is now recognisable as proof of your fully vaccinated status.
PR211245en 01/07/2021 PRESS RELEASE BY THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTRY FOR HEALTH AND THE MINISTRY FOR TOURISM AND CONSUMER PROTECTION Malta starts accepting the digital app version of the UK NHS vaccine certificate
As from 1st July 2021, Malta will be accepting the digital app version of the UK NHS vaccine certificate, as well as the paper version of the certificate. This update came following the creation of a verifier app, created by the Maltese Authorities, which allows airlines and health officials to verify the authenticity of the UK digital certificate presented by tourists before entering Malta. People coming from the United Kingdom will only be allowed to enter Malta upon the presentation of a vaccine certificate recognized by the Superintendant for Public Health.
Accepted Vaccination Certificates for the UK
England NHS Covid Pass (Digital App or NHS Letter)
Wales NHS Covid Pass Letter
Scotland NHS Letter demonstrating Covid-19 vaccination status
Northern Ireland NI Covid Pass
How to get your NHS COVID Pass
You can access a digital version of your COVID Pass using the NHS App or website. Evidence of your two vaccinations sit within the App and you also have the option of downloading the information as a PDF document or have it sent to you in an email.
To use the NHS App you must be registered with a GP surgery in England.
Please note that once downloaded your pass lasts for 28 days therefore it's super important to check the expiry date before you travel. If its out of date, download again.
Paper Certificate
The paper certificate differs from the PDF version in that it has a 2D barcode rather than a QR code (QR codes are easily replicated and can be used fraudulently)
There is a HUGE benefit of using the paper certificate as opposed to the PDF version - the paper version does not have an expiry date.
You can request a letter 2 weeks after having your 2nd dose of the vaccine, and you should receive it within 5 working days.
You do not need to be registered with a GP surgery or have an NHS login for this.
There are two ways to request a paper copy of your letter,
By calling 119 if you are travelling within 4 weeks
Or online here
If you live in Scotland, call 0808 196 8565 or visit this link
In Wales call 0300 303 5667 or visit this link
For Northern Ireland - visit this link
My recommendation would be that if you have time, order a paper certificate.
Only certificates showing the vaccine used is one approved by the European Medicines Agency will be accepted including Comirnaty (the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine) Spikevax (the Moderna vaccine), Vaxzevria (the AstraZeneca vaccine) and the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine. These vaccines have been approved for use in the UK. For more information visit the Maltese Government website.
Be aware that anyone arriving into Malta without a Vaccine Certificate for any EMA approved COVID-19 Vaccine will be subject to mandatory quarantine in a hotel at their own cost.
Should you have questions regarding quarantine, please contact the Health Authorities via the information provided on
or email quarantine.covid19@gov.mt
You may also wish to stay updated by monitoring the following websites:
Mandatory use of face masks in Malta
You can find the full information on Malta's mandate to wear masks both indoors and outdoors in the document below, along with the exceptions to this rule.
Returning to the UK
Malta is on the Uk's Green list.
Even better news, the islands are NOT on the green watch list which means traffic light changes will not happen suddenly like they did for Portugal.
Return requirements to England are,
Book a PCR test for Day 2 after your return (before leaving to go on holiday as you need to add the test info into your return passenger locator form) You do not need to quarantine unless your day-two test is positive, or NHS Test & Trace says you have travelled with someone who tested positive. There are numerous suppliers of Day 2 tests, including Dante Labs at just £49. PCR tests are required for all adults. Children aged 4 and under do not need to take a Day 2 test.
To be able to fly home, you need to provide proof of a negative result from a test taken in the 3 days before your return flight departs. This could be a PCR, antigen/lateral flow or LAMP Covid-19 test. Your test result can be provided as a printed document, an email or text message you can show on your phone. Children under 11 do not need a test
There are various testing centres across the islands, including a a rapid antigen testing facility at Malta International Airport’s Multi-Storey Car Park, Park East, on Level 0. The test price is just EUR35. You can book your slot here
You can also buy a lateral flow test to take to Malta with you which can be taken in the privacy of your own accommodation. Methods of lodging the result differ by supplier, some require a video call, others just an upload of your test result. C19testing offer tests for just £29 and the certificate is emailed to you once your negative test result has been uploaded.
Complete the passenger locator form any time in the 48 hours before you arrive in the UK. You’ll need to show your form when you check in to travel or board your plane, or at immigration upon arrival in the UK. This is a digital form and can be stored on your phone or tablet. Each adult must complete their own form. You can include someone under 18 years old who is travelling with you on your form, if you are staying together at the same UK address.
Remember to charge your phone or tablet before heading to the airport to avoid delays.
Return rules differ for other parts of the UK, for example in Wales the Day 2 test must be an NHS test!
Please click on the relevant country below for further information.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Public Health measures in Malta
Museums & Cultural Sites
From now until the end of October, Heritage Malta’s museums and cultural sites will be open at the following times:
Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum: Open daily from 09.00 to 17.00hrs. Last minute tickets for the Hypogeum can only be purchased on site.
On Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, the following museums and sites will be open from 10.00 to 16.30hrs:
Għar Dalam and Borġ in-Nadur
Tarxien Temples
Inquisitor’s Palace
Domvs Romana
National Museum of Natural History
The Citadel museums and sites
All week except Tuesdays, the following museums and sites will be open from 10.00 to 16.30hrs:
The National Museum of Archaeology
MUŻA
The Palace Armoury
Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum
Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra Temples
Fort St Angelo
St Paul’s Catacombs
Skorba and Ta’ Ħaġrat Temples
Ä gantija Temples
Ta’ Kola Windmill
The following museums and sites are temporarily closed until further notice:
Ta’ Bistra Catacombs
Fortress Builders Interpretation Centre
The Malta Maritime Museum
The Palace State Rooms
For further information, click here.
Public Gatherings
A maximum of six persons from different households may gather in public places. The measure does not apply to persons who live in the same household. Groups of over six persons in public places will be subject to a €300 fine each, unless a social distance of two metres between them is observed.
Restaurants & Bars
Bars and restaurants are open until 2am.
Theatres and Cinemas
All theatres and cinemas are open
Controlled seated events
The number of those allowed to attend is currently 300, which will rise to 500 by the end of this month.
Full information can also be found here,
Hope this helps my lovelies, enjoy every minute!
Take care and speak soon
Tracy 😘