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Cars 4 Rental Information on Malta

General

Area: 316 sq km (122 sq miles).

Population: 399,867 (2003).

Population density: 1224 sq km.

Capital: Valletta. Population: 7173 (2002).

GEOGRAPHY: The Maltese archipelago is situated in the middle of the Mediterranean, with the largest inhabited island, Malta, lying 93km (58 miles) south of Sicily and 290km (180 miles) from North Africa. Gozo and Comino are the only other inhabited islands. The landscape of all three is characterised by low hills with terraced fields. Malta has no mountains or rivers. Its coastline is indented with harbours, bays, creeks, sandy beaches and rocky coves. Gozo is connected to Malta by ferry and is more thickly vegetated, with many flat-topped hills and craggy cliffs. Comino, the smallest island, is connected to Malta and Gozo by ferry and is very sparsely populated.

Government: Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1964. Head of State: President Fenech Adami since 2004. Head of Government: Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi since 2004.

Language: Maltese (a Semitic language) and English are the official languages. Italian is also widely spoken.

Religion: 91 per cent Roman Catholic.

Time: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50Hz. UK-style three-pin plug are in use.

Communications:

Telephone

IDD is available. Country code: 356. There are no area codes. Outgoing international code: 00. Public telephone booths are widely available.

Mobile telephone

GSM 900 and 1800 networks exist, with extensive coverage of land and sea. Network providers include GoMobile (website: www.go.com.mt) and Vodafone Malta (website: www.vodafonemalta.com.mt).

Fax

Maltacom PLC provides an international service through its offices and branches. Also available at hotels.

Internet

ISPs include Maltanet (website: www.maltanet.net). There are a few Internet cafes.

Telegram

Can be sent from Maltacom PLC, St Georges Road, St Julian’s.

Post

Good postal services exist within the island.

Press

Maltese dailies include In-Nazzjon Taghna and L’Orizzont. The daily English-language newspapers published on the island are The Malta Independent and The Times. The Malta Business Weekly, The Malta Independent on Sunday and the Sunday Times are also available.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

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Money

Currency: Maltese Lira (Lm) = 100 cents = 1000 mils. Notes are in denominations of Lm20, 10, 5 and 2. Coins are in denominations of Lm1, and 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. A number of gold and silver coins are also minted.

Currency exchange: Money can be changed at banks, bureaux de change, some hotels, and larger shops and restaurants. Automated foreign exchange machines and ATMs are available at various locations on the islands.

Credit & debit cards: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travellers cheques: Exchanged in the normal authorised institutions.

Currency restrictions: The import of local currency is limited to Lm1000. The export of local currency is limited to Lm1000. The import and export of foreign currency is unlimited, subject to declaration if contemplating re-export up to amount imported.

Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Maltese Lira against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Date Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May ’04 Aug ’04
£1.00= 0.62 0.62 0.63 0.63
$1.00= 0.36 0.34 0.35 0.34

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1230 and 1430-1600, Sat 0830-1130.

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Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required
Yellow Fever No 1
Cholera No No
Typhoid and Polio No N/A
Malaria No N/A

1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over nine months of age arriving from infected areas. If indicated on epidemiological grounds, infants under nine months of age are subject to isolation or surveillance if arriving from an infected area.

Food & drink: Mains water is normally chlorinated and, whilst safe, may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of the stay. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat.

Health care: There is a UK/Malta reciprocal health agreement. UK passport-holders staying less than 30 days will receive free emergency hospital treatment at a state-run hospital. The principal hospitals are St Luke’s, Guardamangia in Malta and Gozo General Hospital in Gozo. Health insurance is nevertheless advised.

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Climate

Warm most of the year. The hottest months are between July and September, but the heat is tempered by cooling sea breezes. Rain falls for very short periods, mainly in the cooler winter months.

Required clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens are worn between March and September, although warmer clothes may occasionally be necessary in spring and autumn and on cooler evenings. A light raincoat is advisable for winter.

Passport

Passport Required Visa Required Return Ticket Required
British Yes No Yes
Australian Yes No Yes
Canadian Yes No Yes
USA Yes No Yes
OtherEU 1 No Yes
Japanese Yes No Yes

PASSPORTS: Valid passport required by all except the following:
(a) 1. nationals of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland in possession of valid national ID card who are visiting as tourists for stays of up to three months;
(b) nationals of Germany in possession of a passport that expired within the last year;
(c) nationals of Austria, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland in possession of a passport that expired within the last five years.

VISAS: Required by all except the following for stays of up to three months:
(a) nationals of countries referred to in the chart above;
(b) nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Korea (Rep), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela;
(c) nationals of UK Overseas Territories;
(d) nationals of Macau, provided in possession of passports bearing ‘Regio Administrativa Especial de Macao’;
(e) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same of first connecting airport within 24 hours provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.

Note: Citizens of countries who are visa-exempt must still apply for an entry or transit visa before proceeding to Malta.

Types of visa and cost: Entry: £23.50 (single-entry); for Algerian and Moroccan nationals: £15.50; for Libyan nationals: £11.50. Transit: £17.50. Multiple-entry visas for one year are issued only by the Immigration Police in Malta. Sudanese nationals en route for Libya via Malta require a transit visa and a valid residence permit for Libya.
All visa applicants, except nationals of Tunisia and Turkey (for whom there is no visa processing fee), are subject to an administrative charge of Lm4 (except nationals of Libya who must pay Lm10), even if a visa is not issued.

Note: Visitors requiring an entry visa to Malta and undertaking day trips of less than 24 hours to another country do not need to pay for another entry visa on their return to Malta.

Validity: Single-entry visa: one month; Transit visa: 24 hours. For renewal, apply to the High Commission or Embassy. For extension, apply to the Principal Immigration Officer at the Immigration Office, Police Headquarters, Floriana, Malta.

Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy or High Commission); see Contact Addresses section. If there is no embassy/consulate in the applicant’s country of residence, the applicant must contact either an Honorary Consul or directly contact the Immigration Police in Malta.

Application requirements: (a) Valid passport with at least one blank page. (b) Application form. (c) Two recent passport-size photos. (d) Fee (payable in cash or by postal order only). (e) £3.75 is required to cover postage costs, if not collecting visa in person. These can be handed in at the High Commission or Embassy. (f) Self-addressed envelope for applications by post. (g) Other documents may be required in certain cases, including invitation from host, proof of financial means, proof of means of transport and valid health insurance.

Working days required: 15.

Temporary residence: Apply to Principal Immigration Officer, Immigration Office, Police Headquarters, Floriana, Malta.

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