How To Make & Lodge an Application
HOW TO MAKE A REQUEST FOR ASYLUM
The word “making” refers to the moment when you express your wish to apply for international protection. The determining authority competent to receive and process applications for international protection in Malta is the International Protection Agency. However, you may also express your wish to apply to other designated authorities who are obliged to refer such a request to the International Protection Agency. These are the Immigration Police, prison authorities (if you are in prison), the border police and detention services (if you are in detention).
If you express wish to apply for international protection with another government authority, other than the ones listed above, you will be referred directly to the IPA.
HOW TO LODGE AN APPLICATION FOR ASYLUM
Once you express your wish to apply for international protection, the IPA will give you the date and time for an appointment to lodge your application. It is very important that you arrive in time for your scheduled lodging.
If you have documents relevant for your application, like a passport or other documents proving your identity, or documents substantiating your need for international protection, you need to bring them with you to your appointment.
On the same day of the appointment, but prior to the lodging of your application, an IPA officer will explain your rights and obligations to you. If you have any questions regarding your rights and obligations as an asylum seeker in Malta or on the asylum procedure, do not hesitate to ask the IPA officer.
If you require the services of an interpreter, you will be provided with one.
The IPA officer will ask you several questions to fill out the Application Form, including questions on:
Your country of origin
Your family and whether you have family members in the European Union
Your educational background
Your work in your country of origin
How you travelled to Malta
Why you are asking for international protection
On the same day of the appointment, but prior to the lodging of your application, an IPA officer will explain your rights and obligations to you. If you have any questions regarding your rights and obligations as an asylum seeker in Malta or on the asylum procedure, do not hesitate to ask the IPA officer.
If you require the services of an interpreter, you will be provided with one.
The IPA officer will ask you several questions to fill out the Application Form, including questions on:
Your country of origin
Your family and whether you have family members in the European Union
Your educational background
Your work in your country of origin
How you travelled to Malta
Why you are asking for international protection
The interpreter will be your voice during the lodging, so it is important that you understand each other well. If you have any problems understanding the interpreter, please inform the IPA officer as soon as possible. Do not wait until the end of your meeting to report a problem. If there is no suitable interpreter available, the appointment may be rescheduled to another day.
As part of the lodging of your application for international protection, an IPA officer will take your fingerprints for the Visa Information System (VIS) database to verify if you were ever issued with a visa by a European country. The IPA officer will also ask you questions in order to fill out an Application Form. You will also need to take your fingerprints with a EURODAC officer in order to determine whether you have ever entered and applied for asylum in another EU Member State.
The interpreter will be your voice during the lodging, so it is important that you understand each other well. If you have any problems understanding the interpreter, please inform the IPA officer as soon as possible. Do not wait until the end of your meeting to report a problem. If there is no suitable interpreter available, the appointment may be rescheduled to another day.
As part of the lodging of your application for international protection, an IPA officer will take your fingerprints for the Visa Information System (VIS) database to verify if you were ever issued with a visa by a European country. The IPA officer will also ask you questions in order to fill out an Application Form. You will also need to take your fingerprints with a EURODAC officer in order to determine whether you have ever entered and applied for asylum in another EU Member State.
Failure to provide your fingerprints may lead to your asylum application being discontinued.
Once your application has been lodged, you will be issued with an Asylum Seeker’s Document with your photo on it. This document is proof that you are an asylum seeker in Malta and that you are entitled to all the rights emanating from this status, including the right to remain in Malta pending a decision on your application for international protection.
FEATURED
Rights and obligations of an asylum seeker
This video explains the rights and
obligations of an asylum seeker.
Rights and obligations
of an asylum seeker
This video explains the rights and obligations
of an asylum seeker.
Rights and
obligations of an
asylum seeker
This video explains the rights
and obligations of an asylum
seeker.
