Category: Malta

Visas, Immigration & Nationality

EU Commission Proposes Digital Passports and IDs to Simplify Schengen Travel

The European Commission is taking steps to revolutionise travel within the Schengen zone by proposing digital versions of passports and identity cards.  Announced on 08 October, this initiative aims to make travel easier and more efficient by providing digital credentials that can be accessed via mobile phones, complementing the traditional physical documents. These digital IDs…
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Malta’s Golden Passport Scheme Survives EU Legal Challenge

Malta‘s controversial “golden passport” scheme, which allows wealthy individuals to buy EU citizenship through a large financial investment, has long stirred debates across Europe.  While critics argue it threatens the security and integrity of the EU, a recent legal opinion might just keep it alive. The European Court of Justice (CJEU) suggests that every state…
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EU’s Entry/Exit System Faces Fresh Delays Ahead of November 2024 Launch

The European Union’s much-anticipated Entry-Exit System (EES), which aims to revolutionise the way non-EU travellers enter and exit its borders, is once again under scrutiny as doubts grow over its readiness for the November 10 launch. EES, a cutting-edge biometric system designed to streamline border crossings, will use digital photographs and fingerprints to register travellers…
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EU Citizens Required to Get UK Travel Authorisation in 2025

The UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will soon apply to visitors from Europe, Australia, the US and Canada. The Home Office began rolling out the scheme last November for nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. From April 2, 2025, EU citizens travelling to the UK without a…
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UK Invests £10.5 Million to Prepare for New EU Entry/Exit System

The UK government has announced a £10.5 million investment to prepare for the upcoming EU Entry/Exit System (EES), a new digital border control system set to launch in November 2024. Under the EES, travellers from the UK and other non-EU countries will need to register their fingerprints and facial biometrics when they first cross the…
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