I Belong study notes

What long-term residence asks for

• Since 15 June 2026 the I Belong programme offers only the 100-hour Cultural Orientation course (previously Stage 2). Stage 1 and the I Belong language courses are discontinued.
• To join, you need a residence document issued in Malta and either an old Stage 1 certificate or a certificate from the New Course on Maltese Language and Culture. Approved providers in Malta teach the new course.
• For long-term residence, the regulations ask for a course of at least 100 hours, attended in the 12 months before you apply and passed with at least 75%. They also ask for Maltese at MQF Level 2, passed with at least 65%.
• You normally also need five years of legal and continuous residence in Malta. Identità decides the application.

Sources: Human Rights Directorate · Identità Malta (identita.gov.mt) · Legislation Malta. Full guide: I Belong programme · Long-term residence · Budget 2027 and residents without long-term status.

History of Malta

Prehistoric temples, the Knights, British rule, independence and the republic.

• Malta became independent on 21 September 1964, now marked as Independence Day, one of the five national holidays. (Legislation Malta)
• On 13 December 1974 the Constitution was amended and Malta became a republic with a Maltese President as head of state. The date is Republic Day. (Legislation Malta)
• Freedom Day, Jum il-Ħelsien, marks 31 March 1979, when the last British forces left Malta. (Legislation Malta)
• Sette Giugno remembers the riots of 7 June 1919, when British soldiers fired on protesters. It is a national holiday. (Legislation Malta)
• Emperor Charles V granted Malta to the Order of St John in 1530, after the Knights lost Rhodes. (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
• The Knights and the Maltese resisted the Ottoman Great Siege in 1565. It ended on 8 September. (VisitMalta (Malta Tourism Authority))
• Victory Day on 8 September recalls the end of the Great Siege in 1565 and later wartime events. (Legislation Malta)
• Valletta takes its name from Grand Master Jean de Valette, who led the Knights during the Great Siege. Building began in 1566. (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
• UNESCO lists the Megalithic Temples of Malta as World Heritage. They are prehistoric, built thousands of years before the Knights arrived. (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
• The Hypogeum is a prehistoric underground complex cut into rock and used as a burial place. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
• Malta became a member of the European Union on 1 May 2004. (European Union)
• Malta adopted the euro on 1 January 2008, replacing the Maltese lira. (European Union)

Government and democracy

The Constitution, President, Parliament, elections and local councils.

• Article 1 of the Constitution: Malta is a democratic republic founded on work and on respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual. (Legislation Malta)
• The President is head of state. The Prime Minister leads the government. (Legislation Malta)
• Under the Constitution the President is appointed by a resolution of the House of Representatives. (Legislation Malta)
• The President holds office for five years. (Legislation Malta)
• The Parliament of Malta is the President and a single chamber, the House of Representatives. (Legislation Malta)
• The Constitution provides for proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (STV). Voters rank candidates 1, 2, 3 and so on. (Legislation Malta)
• Parliament continues for five years from its first sitting unless dissolved earlier, and then an election is held. (Legislation Malta)
• Act IV of 2018 lowered the voting age for general and European Parliament elections to 16. (Parliament of Malta)
• Malta has 68 local councils: 54 in Malta and 14 in Gozo. They sit under the Local Government Act. (Legislation Malta)
• The Prime Minister heads the government. The President appoints as Prime Minister the member most able to command a majority in the House. (Legislation Malta)
• The Constitution is the supreme law. A law inconsistent with it is void to the extent of the inconsistency. (Legislation Malta)

National identity and culture

Flag, anthem, languages, holidays, religion and World Heritage sites.

• Article 3 of the Constitution describes the flag: white and red vertical stripes, with a representation of the George Cross edged in red on the white stripe. (Legislation Malta)
• Article 5: the national language is Maltese. (Legislation Malta)
• Maltese and English are official languages, with Maltese as the national language. (Legislation Malta)
• The national anthem is L-Innu Malti, named in Article 4 of the Constitution. (Legislation Malta)
• Article 2 names the Roman Catholic Apostolic Religion. The Constitution also protects freedom of conscience and worship for everyone. (Legislation Malta)
• There are five national holidays: Freedom Day, Sette Giugno, Victory Day, Independence Day and Republic Day. Together with religious and other public holidays there are 14 public holidays. (Legislation Malta)
• 13 December is Republic Day, marking the republic of 1974. (Legislation Malta)
• The City of Valletta has been on the World Heritage List since 1980. (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
• Malta, Gozo and Comino are the inhabited islands. Comino has very few residents. (European Union)
• Valletta is the capital. (European Union)
• The Feast of the Assumption, Santa Marija, is a public holiday on 15 August. (Legislation Malta)

Rights, duties and services

Fundamental rights, schooling, emergencies and Malta in the European Union.

• 112 is the European emergency number and works in Malta free of charge from any phone. (European Commission)
• Chapter IV of the Constitution protects fundamental rights and freedoms, including protection from discrimination, freedom of expression and freedom of worship. (Legislation Malta)
• Compulsory school age in Malta runs from 5 to 16. (Legislation Malta)
• Article 40 protects freedom of conscience and worship for all persons. (Legislation Malta)
• Article 45 protects from discrimination on grounds including race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity. (Legislation Malta)
• Malta joined Schengen on 21 December 2007. Airport checks were lifted in March 2008. (European Union)
• Malta has been an EU member since 2004 and in the euro area since 2008. (European Union)
• Identità decides long-term residence and the Human Rights Directorate runs I Belong. Confirm a change on their own pages before acting. (Identità Malta (identita.gov.mt))

Maltese basics

Greetings, polite phrases, numbers and days of the week.

Vocabulary practice only. It is not a Maltese MQF Level 2 course and does not replace an approved provider.

• “Bonġu” is the usual morning greeting.
• “Grazzi” means thank you. “Grazzi ħafna” means thank you very much.
• “Jekk jogħġbok” means please.
• “Iva” is yes and “le” is no.
• “Kif inti?” means how are you? A common reply is “Tajjeb, grazzi” (fine, thanks).
• “Skużani” is used for excuse me or sorry.
• Wieħed (1), tnejn (2), tlieta (3), erbgħa (4), ħamsa (5).
• Sitta (6), sebgħa (7), tmienja (8), disgħa (9), għaxra (10).
• “Il-Ħadd” is Sunday. “Is-Sibt” is Saturday.
• “It-Tnejn” is Monday; it also means “two”. Then It-Tlieta, L-Erbgħa, Il-Ħamis, Il-Ġimgħa.
• “Il-Ġimgħa” is Friday. The same word also means “week”.
• “Bonswa” is good evening. “Il-lejl it-tajjeb” is good night.
• “Merħba” means welcome, and is also used as hello.
• “Ma nifhimx” means I don’t understand. “Tista’ tirrepeti, jekk jogħġbok?” asks someone to repeat.