How to apply for international protection in Malta?

To apply for asylum in Malta, follow the below steps:

STEP 1. Contact the authorities

If you are in a detention centre: you must inform the Immigration Police and/or the Detention Services Agency (DSA) that you wish to apply for international protection as soon as possible. The International Protection Agency (IPA) will schedule an appointment to register your application and will inform the DSA about the date, time and place where the registration will take place.

If you live in an open centre or in the community, you must approach the International Protection Agency (IPA) and inform them that you wish to apply for international protection.

• Address: Fafner House, Triq Nazzjonali, Il-Ħamrun, Malta (Location on Google Maps)
• Tel: +356 2125 5257
• Email: info@ipa.gov.mt (for queries), frontoffice@ipa.gov.mt (requests for appointments to renew documentation)

Even if you approach another organisation or entity to seek asylum, you will be referred to the IPA.

• There is no time limit for submitting the asylum application. However, if you delay too long before applying, you might have to answer questions about the reasons for the delay.

STEP 2. Register

During your appointment with IPA, you:

• will be interviewed by an IPA officer. They will ask questions about you and your family members that are applying for asylum with you, including nationality, date of birth, family composition, contact details, the language you prefer to have your interview in, and the reasons why you left your country of origin.

You must answer with absolute sincerity to all questions. If you provide false information or evidence, this may have a negative effect on the outcome of your case.

• will be asked to present your documents, such as your travel documents/passport and any other document you may have in your possession, for the verification of yours and your family members’ identity, country of origin, as well as family status. If you are in detention, the Immigration Police will already have taken these documents and they will be presented to IPA.

• will be photographed and have your fingerprints taken. All family members applying for asylum together will be photographed and any person above the age of 14 years will have their fingerprints taken.

Your fingerprints will be entered into the European Central Database (EURODAC) and if the conditions are met, for example, if you applied for asylum in another Member State, your application might be examined by that EU Member State according to the Dublin procedure. For more information, please see the Dublin Regulation section here.

ATTENTION! Please always inform IPA, as soon as possible, if there is any change in your contact details (telephone number and/or address). Otherwise, they will not be able to contact you and you risk having your application withdrawn.

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