The process depends on whose passport is missing and whether you also lost a Maltese visa or residence card. Contact the issuing authority, and confirm that any emergency document will work for your route before booking or travelling.
| Situation | What to know |
|---|---|
| You lost a valid Maltese passport | Apply in person at the Passport Office. Identità requires Form A and a recommender; if the passport was still valid, bring an original Maltese Police report that is signed and stamped. |
| You lost a foreign passport in Malta | Contact your country’s embassy or consulate about replacing it. Identità has separate emergency-document routes for some foreign nationals who need to leave Malta; eligibility and documents depend on your circumstances. |
| You need to travel soon | Ask the issuing authority and Identità which document, if any, you can obtain and when. Confirm acceptance with your airline and destination, including any transit points, before relying on it. |
| A child’s passport is missing | First distinguish a Maltese child’s passport application from a foreign child’s emergency-document request. For a Maltese child, Identità’s requirements vary by age and include parental consent. |
First, identify whose passport is missing
If the missing passport is Maltese, apply to Identità’s Passport Office for a replacement. If it is a foreign passport, contact the issuing country’s embassy or consulate for replacement instructions. A Maltese residence card is a separate document and has its own loss-reporting and replacement process.
If the passport was stolen, report the theft to Maltese Police and keep the report. A signed and stamped Maltese Police report is required for a Maltese passport that was still valid. For foreign emergency travel documents, Identità’s current category-specific pages list a police report when the passport was stolen. Its older 2024 general service guide says a report is needed for a passport that was lost, stolen or destroyed. Because that guidance differs, ask Identità whether a report is required if your foreign passport was lost or destroyed but not stolen.
If you lost a Maltese passport
An adult Maltese citizen must apply in person. Identità lists Form A, an original valid Maltese ID card and a recommender among the requirements. A recommender is required when the previous passport is lost, whether it was still valid or expired. If it was still valid, bring the original Maltese Police report, signed and stamped; Identità lists an additional €15 fee for the lost-passport oath.
Identità says a locally submitted passport application is normally ready for collection after four working days; its urgent service is normally ready within four working hours, subject to an extra fee. These are listed times for Maltese passport applications, not a promise for a foreign passport or emergency travel document. Check the current requirements and arrangements before going.
If you lost a foreign passport in Malta
Contact your own country’s embassy or consulate about replacing the passport. The process, evidence and timing depend on your nationality, so the relevant mission must confirm what it can issue. Identità also lists emergency travel documents for certain foreign nationals who need to leave Malta or travel to an embassy.
Identità’s current service pages separate cases where a national representation is in Malta from cases where there is no representation. The pages also distinguish a representation that does not issue travel documents. The route, checklist and required confirmation differ by category, so tell Identità your nationality, whether your country has a representation in Malta, and whether that office issues travel documents.
Identità describes an Emergency Travel Document for EU nationals and a Document of Identity for third-country nationals. Its current adult pages say these documents require a flight itinerary; the Document of Identity for a third-country national is tied to the specified flight and will not be issued for an itinerary with transit in an EU country. One category-specific page says a document can be issued the same day when all required documents and the representation’s email confirmation have been received. Do not assume that timing or route applies to your case; ask Identità about your exact eligibility and itinerary.
Before booking or travelling, confirm directly with the airline and destination whether the proposed document is accepted for boarding, transit and entry. Ask the issuing authority and Identità what document they can provide and when; Identità’s category-specific service details do not establish acceptance for every nationality, airline or destination.
If the passport had a Maltese visa or you also lost a residence card
If the lost passport contained a Maltese D visa, Identità says to make a police report and email the Central Visa Unit with the report. The unit can revoke the valid visa and advise how to apply for another one using your new passport. This instruction concerns a Maltese D visa; contact the relevant authority if you had a different visa or document.
If your Maltese residence card is also missing, report its loss to Maltese Police and request a replacement through the Identità route for your nationality and residence-permit category. Identità lists different channels for EU nationals and family members, Single Work Permit holders, and other non-EU permit holders. Confirm the current checklist and submission method with the relevant unit.
Does losing a passport change your right to stay or work?
The loss of a passport by itself does not tell you whether your permission to stay or work remains valid. Your position depends on your nationality and the visa or residence route you hold. Do not rely on the lost document or a pending application as proof of travel or immigration permission; contact the relevant Identità unit if your status or travel position is unclear.
If the passport belongs to a child
For a Maltese child, use the Maltese passport application process—not the foreign-national emergency-document route. Identità requires parental consent and a recommender, with the application documents varying by age. At least one parent submits the application; children under six do not need to attend the office, while older children have age-specific attendance and identity-document requirements. If the lost passport was still valid, Identità requires the original Maltese Police report, signed and stamped.
For a foreign child, contact the child’s issuing country about its passport replacement process. Identità has separate emergency-document pages for foreign minors, with routes depending on whether the country has representation in Malta and whether it issues travel documents. The current pages call for both parents’ involvement and give different checklists; for example, the no-representation route requires confirmation from the accredited representation abroad. Ask Identità which page and requirements apply before attending.
Passport Office location and hours
Identità lists the Malta Passport Office at Onda Building, Aldo Moro Road, Marsa, and gives its hours as Monday to Friday, 07:30–14:00; Wednesday also 15:00–18:00; and Saturday, 07:30–11:00. Its Passport Office FAQ and main page show the same hours. Check current arrangements before travelling, especially if you need an urgent service.
Questions people ask
Can Identità replace my foreign passport?
Identità does not replace a foreign country’s passport. Contact your embassy or consulate about a replacement. Separately, Identità offers emergency travel documents or a Document of Identity in certain cases; ask which route, if any, fits your nationality and circumstances.
Can I travel while waiting for a replacement passport?
Do not assume a receipt or pending application is enough to travel. Confirm what document can be issued and when, then check with your airline and destination that it is accepted for boarding, transit and entry.
What if I lost a Maltese child’s passport?
Apply through Identità’s Maltese passport process for minors. Requirements differ by age and include parental consent; if the passport was still valid, an original signed and stamped Maltese Police report is required.
Does losing my passport cancel my Maltese residence card?
The passport and residence card are separate documents. If the card is also lost, report it to Maltese Police and follow the replacement route for your nationality and residence-permit category.
Sources
- Identità — Passport FAQs
- Identità — Foreign Travel Documents
- Identità — Emergency Travel Document, Adults with Representation in Malta
- Identità — Emergency Travel Document, Adults without Representation in Malta
- Identità — Emergency Travel Document, Minors with Representation in Malta
- Identità — Emergency Travel Document, Minors without Representation in Malta
- Identità — Passport Office FAQs
- Identità — Passport Office main page
- Identità — Visa FAQs
- Identità — Expatriates General Queries
- Identità — Expatriates Non-EU Employment FAQs
- Identità — Passport Office service guide, April 2024
General information, not individual immigration or legal advice. Confirm your own status and current requirements with the relevant authority.