U.S. Embassy Malta

Ta'Qali National Park Street
Attard ATD 4000
Malta
Telephone: +(356) 2561-4000
Email: ConsularMalta@state.gov

Malta and the United States have been treaty partners under the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Abduction Convention) since February 1, 2003.

For information concerning travel to Malta, including information about the location of the U.S. Embassy, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, entry/exit requirements, safety and security, crime, medical facilities and health information, traffic safety, road conditions and aviation safety, please see country-specific information for Malta.

The U.S. Department of State reports statistics and compliance information for individual countries in the Annual Report on International Child Abduction. The report is located here. 

The U.S. Department of State serves as the U.S. Central Authority (USCA) for the Hague Abduction Convention.  In this capacity, the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs, Directorate for Overseas Citizen Services, Office of Children's Issues facilitates the submission of applications under the Hague Abduction Convention for the return of, or access to, children located in countries that are U.S. treaty partners, including Malta.  Parents are strongly encouraged to contact the Department of State for assistance prior to initiating the Hague process directly with the foreign Central Authority.

Contact information:

U.S. Department of State
CA/OCS/CI
SA-17, 9th Floor
2201 C Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20522-1709
Telephone:  1-888-407-4747
Outside the United States or Canada: 1-202-501-4444
Website: 

The Maltese Central Authority (MCA) for the Hague Abduction Convention is the Department for Social Welfare Standards.  The MCA has an administrative role in processing Hague Abduction Convention applications. The MCA forwards completed Hague applications to the appropriate Maltese Family Court in the jurisdiction where the child resides. 

The MCA can be reached at:

Director for Social Welfare Standards
469, Vincenzo Bugeja Institute
St. Joseph High Road
St. Venera SVR 1012
Malta
Email: welfare.standards@gov.mt
Tele: +356 22788300  Fax: +356 22788355

To initiate a Hague case for return of, or access to, a child in Malta, the USCA encourages a parent or legal guardian to review the eligibility criteria and instructions for completing the Hague application form located at the Department of State website and contact the Department of State for assistance prior to initiating the Hague process directly with the MCA.  The USCA is available to answer questions about the Hague application process, to forward a completed application to the MCA, and to monitor its subsequent progress through the foreign administrative and legal processes.

There are no fees for filing Hague applications with either the U.S. or Maltese central authorities.  Attorney fees, if necessary, are the responsibility of the applicant parent.  Additional costs may include airplane tickets for court appearances and for the return of the child, if so ordered.

A parent or legal guardian may file an application under the Hague Abduction Convention for return to the United States of a child abducted to, or wrongfully retained in, Malta.  The U.S. Department of State can assist parents living in the United States to understand whether the Convention is an available civil remedy and can provide information on the process for submitting a Hague application.

A parent or legal guardian may file an application under the Hague Abduction Convention for access to a child living in Malta.  The criteria for acceptance of a Hague access application vary from country to country.  The U.S. Department of State can assist parents living in the United States to understand country-specific criteria and provide information on the process for submitting a Hague application.

Parents or legal guardians are not required to retain a private attorney in order to file a Hague Abduction Convention application with the Family Court in Malta. The MCA assigns a public prosecutor to present the case in the Maltese Court. Parents or legal guardians have the option to hire a private attorney at their own expense in Malta to join the state-appointed attorney in presenting the Hague Abduction Convention case. A privately hired attorney should contact the MCA as soon as possible after the MCA receives the Hague Abduction Convention application.

The U.S. Embassy in Valletta, Malta, posts a list of attorneys including those who specialize in family law.

This list is provided as a courtesy service only and does not constitute an endorsement of any individual attorney. The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the persons or firms included in this list. Professional credentials and areas of expertise are provided directly by the lawyers.

The USCA is not aware of any government or private organizations in Malta that offer mediation services in either abduction or access cases.