665 per cent increase in Russian visa applications

Maltese diplomatic missions and consular posts witnessed a dramatic increase of 665 per cent in visa applications from Russia since the beginning of the year, The Sunday Times has learnt.

The number of visa applications received by Maltese diplomatic missions and consular posts around the world has shot up after Malta's entry into the Schengen area.

Maltese diplomatic missions and consular posts received 15,355 visa applications in 2007 and 15,169 in 2006. Between January and July this year, nearly 25,000 visa applications were received, an increase of nearly 63 per cent over the whole of last year.

Malta opened a new consulate office in Moscow last year, which led to several more visas being processed via the consulate rather than at the borders, which is no longer permissible.

Visa applications lodged at Malta's consulate in Tripoli amounted to 5,100 in the first seven months of this year.

Malta subscribed to the Schengen agreement at the end of last year. Sea borders were lifted on December 21, enabling passport-free sea travel between Malta and Sicily. Air borders between Malta and most other EU member states were abolished on March 30.

As a result, people from several countries outside the Schengen area needed a visa to visit Malta and therefore, the number of applications shot up.

Anyone planning to visit Malta for a holiday, for business or to study English, first has to check if he requires a visa and is requested to lodge an application through Malta's diplomatic mission or consular post in his country.

Of the 24,977 visa applications received, 23,551 were issued and the rest were declined. In 2006, a total of 1,076 applications were declined, a decrease of nearly 30 per cent over the previous year. Last year, 848 visa applications were refused.

Contacted for his comments on the figures, the Foreign Affairs Ministry's spokesman said that, as had been predicted, Schengen membership brought about an increase in demand.

He said this increase was due to ongoing migratory pressures and changes in immigration policy, but even more so due to the importance being given by the ministry in ensuring that Malta's consular posts were able to process such large numbers of applications.