Country Report: Overview of the legal framework
Last updated: 30/07/26
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Main legislative acts and policies relevant to asylum procedures, reception conditions, detention, and content of protectio
| Title | Abbreviation | Link | Amendments with links |
| Cap. 420 International Protection Act | IP Act | https://legislation.mt/eli/cap/420/eng | Amended by Act VIII of 2004 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2004/8 Amended by Legal Notice 40 of 2005 – https://legislation.mt/eli/ln/2005/40 Amended by Legal Notice 426 of 2007 – https://legislation.mt/eli/ln/2007/426 Amended by Act VII of 2008 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2008/7 Amended by: Act VI of 2015 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2015/6 Amended by: Act VII of 2015 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2015/7 Amended by: Act XX of 2017 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2017/20 Amended by: Act XXI of 2020 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2020/21 Amended by Legal Notice 198 of 2020 – https://legislation.mt/eli/ln/2020/198 Amended by Act XL of 2020 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2020/40 Amended by: Act XIX of 2022 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2022/19 Amended by: Act XXXV of 2023 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2023/35Amended by Legal Notice 104 of 2024 – https://legislation.mt/eli/ln/2024/104/eng Amended by Act III of 2025 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2025/3/eng |
| S.L. 420.01 International Protection Appeals Tribunal (Procedures) Regulations | IPAT Regulations | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/420.1/eng | Amended by Legal Notices 426 of 2007and 426 of 201 |
| S.L. 420.04 International Protection Appeals Tribunal (Chambers) Rules | IPAT Chambers Regulations | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/420.4/eng | Amended by Legal Notice 46 of 2014 |
| S.L. 420.05 Temporary Protection for Displaced Persons (Minimum Standards) Regulations | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/420.5/eng | Amended by Legal Notice 188 of 2022 | |
| S.L. 420.06 Reception of Asylum-seekers Regulations | Reception Regulations | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/420.6/eng | Amended by Legal Notices 417 of 2015,487 of 2021 and 2 of 2023 and 87 of 2024 |
| S.L. 420.07 Procedural Standards for Granting and Withdrawing International Protection Regulations | Procedural Regulations | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/420.7/eng | Amended by Act XL of 2020 and Legal Notices 488 of 2021, 273 of 2022 and 104 of 2024 |
| S.L. 420.08 Fees Payable for Lost or Destroyed Documents Regulations | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/420.8/eng | ||
| Cap. 217 Immigration Act | Immigration Act | https://legislation.mt/eli/cap/217/eng | Amended by Act VIII of 2004 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2004/8 Amended by Legal Notice 248 of 2004 – https://legislation.mt/eli/ln/2004/248 Amended by Act XIII of 2005 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2005/13 Amended by Act XVII of 2005 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2005/17 Amended by Legal Notice 274 of 2007 – https://legislation.mt/eli/ln/2007/274 Amended by Legal Notice 411 of 2007 – https://legislation.mt/eli/ln/2007/411 Amended by Act VII of 2008 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2008/7 Amended by Act XV of 2008 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2008/15 Amended by Act XVIII of 2009 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2009/18 Amended by Legal Notice 20 of 2013 – https://legislation.mt/eli/ln/2013/20 Amended by Act XXVI of 2015 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2015/36 Amended by Act XV of 2022 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2022/15 Amended by Act XXXV 2023 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2023/35 |
| S.L. 217.01 Fees payable for Residence Permits and Employment Licences Regulations | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/217.1/eng | Amended by Legal Notices 32 of 1995,233 of 1997, 267 of 2006, 254 of 2009 2 of 2013 and 84 of 2021; and Act XIII of 2015 | |
| S.L. 217.02 Detention of a Person at Savio College Regulations | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/217.2/eng | ||
| S.L. 217.03 Places of Detention Designation Order | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/217.3/eng | ||
| S.L. 217.05 Status of Long-term Residents (Third Country Nationals) Regulations | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/217.5/eng | Amended by Legal Notices 370 of 2010,197 of 2014, 366 of 2015 and 84 of 2021 and Act XXIX of 2019 | |
| S.L. 217.06 Family Reunification Regulations | Family Reunification Regulations | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/217.6/eng | Amended by Legal Notice 148 of 2017and 166 of 2018 |
| S.L. 217.07 Permission to Reside for Victims of Trafficking or Illegal Immigration who co-operate with the Maltese Authorities Regulations | Trafficking Regulations | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/217.7/eng | Amended by Legal Notice 220 of 2025 |
| S.L. 217.08 Monitoring Board for Detained Persons Regulations | MBDP Regulations | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/217.8/eng | Amended by Legal Notices 251 of 2012 and 425 of 2015 |
| S.L. 217.11 Agency for the Welfare of Asylum-seekers Regulations | AWAS Regulations | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/217.11/eng | Amended by Legal Notice 170 of 2025 |
| S.L. 217.12 Common Standards and Procedures for returning Illegally Staying Third-Country Nationals Regulations | Returns Regulations | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/217.12/eng | Amended by Legal Notice 15 of 2014,410 of 2020 and 43 of 2021 |
| S.L. 217.13 Immigration Appeals Board (Division) Regulations | IAB Divisions Regulations | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/217.13/eng | Amended by Legal Notice 82 of 2023 |
| S.L. 217.14 Minimum Standards on Sanctions and Measures against Employers of Illegally Staying Third-Country Nationals Regulations | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/217.14/eng | Amended by Legal Notice 169 of 2025 | |
| S.L. 217.16 Immigration Appeals Board (Additional Jurisdiction) Regulations | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/217.16/eng | Amended by Legal Notice 133 of 2017 | |
| S.L. 217.19 Detention Service Regulations | Detention Service Regulations | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/217.19/eng | |
| Cap. 36 Prevention of Disease Ordinance | https://legislation.mt/eli/cap/36/eng | Amended by Act XVIII of 2025 – | |
| Cap. 465 Public Health Act | https://legislation.mt/eli/cap/465/eng | ||
| Cap. 602 Minor Protection(Alternative Care) Act | Minor Care Act | https://legislation.mt/eli/cap/602/eng | Amended by Act XXXIX of 2020 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2020/39/eng/pdf Amended by Act XXIII of 2021 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2021/23/eng Amended by Act XI of 2023 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2023/11/eng |
| S.L.602.01 Children’s House Regulations | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/602.1/eng | ||
| Cap. 595 Public Administration Act | https://legislation.mt/eli/cap/595/eng | ||
| S.L. 595.36 International Protection Agency (Establishment) Order | IPA Order | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/595.36/eng | |
| S.L. 595.45 Detention Services Agency (Establishment) Order | DSA Order | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/595.45/eng | |
| Cap. 318 Social Security Act | https://legislation.mt/eli/cap/318/eng | ||
| S.L. 318.16 Social Security (U.N. Convention relating to the Status of Refugees) Order | Refugees Social Security Regulations | https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/318.16/eng | |
| Cap. 188 Maltese Citizenship Act | Citizenship Act | https://legislation.mt/eli/cap/188/eng | Amended by Act II of 1970, Act XXXI of 1972, Act LVIII of 1974, Act XXXI of1975, Act IX of 1977, Act XIII of 1983 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/1983/13/eng/pdf Act XXIV of 1989 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/1989/24/eng/pdf Act IV of 2000 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2000/4/eng/pdf Act X of 2007 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2007/10/eng/pdf Legal Notice 410 of 2007 – https://legislation.mt/eli/ln/2007/410/eng/pdf Act XV of 2013 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2013/15/eng/pdf Act XXIV of 2017 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2017/24 Act XXVI of 2017 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2017/26/eng/pdf Act XV of 2020 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2020/15/eng/pdf Act XXXVIII of 2020 – https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2020/38/eng/pdf |
| National Action Plan Against Racism 2025-2030 | Anti-Racism Strategy | https://tinyurl.com/8jss28s | |
| Policy regarding Specific Residence Authorisation | Specific Residence Authorisation |
https://tinyurl.com/432x46m3 | |
| Strategy for the Reception of Asylum-seekers and irregular migrants (2015) | 2015 Strategy Document | https://tinyurl.com/6ppyhw5k | |
| Integration Strategy and Action Plan 2025 – 2030 | Integration Strategy 2025 | https://tinyurl.com/55yyh6yn |