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1. EU programmes

2. Other programmes

3. Legal framework applying to foreign volunteers

EU programmes

Malta participates actively in European Union youth programmes, particularly the Erasmus+ Programme and the European Solidarity Corps. These programmes provide opportunities for young people and youth workers in Malta to engage in mobility, volunteering, non-formal learning, and cross-border cooperation.

Under Erasmus+, Malta takes part in activities within the Youth sector of Key Action 1 – Learning Mobility of Individuals. This includes Mobility of Young People (Youth Exchanges) and Mobility of Youth Workers, which support international cooperation between youth organisations and the professional development of youth workers. Youth exchanges bring together groups of young people from different countries to participate in short-term projects based on non-formal learning, intercultural dialogue, and civic engagement. These activities aim to strengthen young people’s competences, foster European values, and encourage active participation in democratic life. 

Mobility projects for youth workers support training, networking, and exchange of practices among youth work professionals and organisations. These activities contribute to the development of quality youth work at local, national, and European levels and support the objectives of the EU Youth Strategy and the European Youth Work Agenda. 

Malta also participates in the European Solidarity Corps, which offers young people opportunities to engage in volunteering, solidarity projects, and humanitarian activities addressing societal challenges across Europe.

At national level, the implementation and management of these programmes is carried out by the European Union Programmes Agency (EUPA). The Agency is responsible for organising calls for proposals, evaluating applications, allocating EU funding, and monitoring the implementation of projects. In addition, it maintains contact with organisations hosting volunteers and participants in Malta in order to ensure proper implementation of programme activities. 

While the Agency maintains records on the number of projects and participants involved in EU programmes, it does not collect detailed personal data on individual volunteers. Instead, monitoring focuses on participation levels and the organisations involved in programme implementation.

Participation in these programmes has increased over recent years, reflecting Malta’s growing engagement with EU-funded mobility initiatives. In 2025, Malta was allocated approximately €17 million across Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps projects, supporting nearly 200 initiatives in education, youth, training, and volunteering. 

Overall, EU programmes play an important role in supporting youth participation, mobility, and volunteering opportunities for young people in Malta, complementing national youth and volunteering policies while strengthening international cooperation and learning.

Other programmes

Voluntiera Malta is the national volunteering platform in Malta that aims to promote and facilitate volunteering across the voluntary sector, including youth volunteering. The platform was launched in 2018 as a national initiative to strengthen participation in voluntary activities and to provide a central access point connecting individuals with voluntary organisations and volunteering opportunities.

Voluntiera Malta operates as an online portal through which individuals can access information about volunteering opportunities, register as volunteers, and connect with organisations seeking volunteers. At the same time, voluntary organisations can publish volunteering opportunities, recruit volunteers, and promote their initiatives. The platform therefore serves as a coordination tool that facilitates cooperation between volunteers and registered voluntary organisations.

A key objective of Voluntiera Malta is to encourage greater participation in volunteering among young people and to support active citizenship. Through the platform, young people can access opportunities across a wide range of sectors, including social welfare, environmental protection, culture and heritage, community development, health, and humanitarian activities.

In addition to matching volunteers with organisations, the platform also provides preparatory training and briefings for volunteers. Prospective volunteers are invited to an introduction session facilitated by volunteer managers, where they receive guidance on what to expect and their responsibilities. For specific events or activities, organisers provide additional training or briefings immediately before the activity to ensure volunteers understand their tasks, safety considerations, and event procedures. The platform also aims to increase awareness of the benefits of volunteering, including personal development, skills acquisition, and social engagement. Voluntiera Malta promotes volunteering as a form of non-formal learning that can contribute to young people’s employability, civic participation, and social inclusion.

Since its launch, the platform has also supported the development of cultural volunteering initiatives, particularly in relation to cultural heritage activities, festivals, and community events. This has broadened the range of volunteering opportunities available to young people and contributed to increased participation in non-traditional volunteering sectors.

Voluntiera Malta complements other national initiatives that support youth volunteering, including programmes and schemes implemented by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector, which aim to encourage young people to engage in voluntary service both locally and internationally.

Through its digital platform, training provisions, and promotional activities, Voluntiera Malta contributes to strengthening the visibility, accessibility, and coordination of volunteering in Malta and supports the broader development of the voluntary sector.

Youth Voluntary Service Programme

The Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) established the Youth Voluntary Service (YVS) programme to support young people’s participation in voluntary activities and to strengthen the involvement of youth within the voluntary sector. The programme aims to help young people develop skills, gain experience through non-formal and informal learning, and foster a sense of community engagement and active citizenship. It also supports voluntary organisations by facilitating the recruitment of young volunteers and strengthening their organisational capacity through the involvement of new participants and ideas . 

The Youth Voluntary Service includes both local and overseas volunteering opportunities. Under the overseas component of the programme, young people may participate in international voluntary projects coordinated by locally registered voluntary organisations. These projects are typically implemented in regions such as Africa, Asia, and South America, although projects in other regions may also be considered where they cannot be supported through other European programmes. 

Young volunteers participating in the overseas programme must generally be between 18 and 30 years of age, and the voluntary placement may last between two weeks and three months. Participation is organised through Maltese voluntary organisations that are registered with the Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations and that have experience in managing international volunteering projects. 

Financial support is provided to facilitate participation in overseas voluntary service. The programme may cover:

• a per diem allowance of €15, intended to contribute towards accommodation, food, and local transport;
• 80% of travel expenses (including flights);
• travel and health insurance for the duration of the volunteering activity.

The maximum financial allocation per volunteer may reach up to €2,500, depending on the project and duration of the volunteering placement. 

In addition to financial support, youth volunteers participating in the programme are covered by travel and health insurance for the duration of their volunteering activity.

The Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector also collects data related to the implementation of the programme. This includes quantitative information on the number of participating voluntary organisations, youth volunteers involved, projects implemented, and annual programme expenditure. Qualitative information is gathered through reports submitted by participating volunteers and host organisations at the conclusion of each volunteering project. This monitoring process supports programme evaluation and contributes to the ongoing development of youth volunteering initiatives in Malta.

Legal framework applying to foreign volunteers

It is important to note that should a volunteer be a national of a visa-free country, and the volunteer scheme is less than 3 months, the third country national may enter and reside Malta without applying for a visa or a residence permit, provided that the visa exemption covers the whole period of residence in Malta.

Alternatively, if the volunteer scheme is longer than 3 months, or if the third-country national is required to obtain a visa to enter Malta, the following documents are required:

• Copy of a valid passport (period of validity to cover at least the duration of the planned stay)
• where the applicant is a minor:
  • parental authorisation
  • a copy of the minor’s birth certificate
  • a copy of the parents’ passports
• Evidence of comprehensive sickness insurance covering the period of one year or the duration of the voluntary work whichever is shorter. The TCN may choose to present a declaration by the Entitlement Unit indicating their exemption from being in possession of medical insurance, as well as the duration of the exemption.
• Evidence that any fee that may be applicable has been paid
• Proof of sufficient financial means for the year or at a pro-rata basis if the duration of voluntary work is shorter
• Proof of accommodation covering the period of one year or the duration of the voluntary work, whichever is shorter
  • where the applicant cannot provide his future address at the time of application, the CEO shall accept a temporary address and the applicant shall provide his permanent address upon application of a residence permit
• Provide an agreement with the host entity or, another body responsible for the voluntary service scheme in which he is participating. The agreement shall contain:
  • a description of the voluntary service scheme;
  • the duration of the voluntary service;
  • the placement and supervision conditions of the voluntary service;
  • the volunteering hours;
  • the resources available to cover his subsistence and accommodation costs and a minimum sum of money as pocket money throughout the stay;
  • where applicable, the training he will receive to help perform the voluntary service;
• Provide proof that the voluntary scheme is recognised as a Mobility Project for Young People: Voluntary Projects scheme
• Provide evidence that if he is accommodated throughout the stay by the host entity, the accommodation meets the conditions as required by law
• Flight ticket for entry and exit out of Malta. 

Young volunteers who are either EU nationals or Third Country Nationals legally resident in the EU, are covered by the provisions of Regulation (EC) 883/2004.  Persons coming to Malta to complete a period of voluntary work shall provide document A1 issued by the Member State which is competent to determine the relative insurability position. The A1 document exempts the person from social security obligations in Malta.