Malta set to recognise all Israeli travel documents

Malta has decided to recognise all Israeli travel documents, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar has announced on Thursday.

He said this comes following a discussion with Malta's Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Chris Fearne.

"This important step will enable all Israelis who wish to travel to Beautiful Malta to do so," Sa'ar said, highlighting that Israel warmly welcomes this decision.

Until now, Israelis travelling without a standard passport, using the Teudat Ma'avar, an alternative Israeli travel document, could not enter Malta on that document alone.

Malta had been the only country in the Schengen area that did not accept it as equivalent to a passport.

The Teudat Ma'avar, also known as the Provisional Passport or Provisional Travel Document in Lieu of National Passport, is issued by Israel's Ministry of Interior to citizens and permanent residents who do not meet the criteria for a standard national passport, the Darkon.

It is commonly held by new immigrants during their first year in Israel, before they become eligible for a full passport, by Israeli citizens whose primary residence is outside Israel, and by those who have lost or damaged a passport or had one stolen.

According to the Public Register of Travel and Identity Documents Online (PRADO), the database maintained by the European Council, Malta was the only Schengen area member state that did not accept the Teudat Ma'avar as valid proof of identity at its borders, meaning holders could not enter regardless of whether they held a visa or not.

The recognition brings Malta in line with the rest of the Schengen area on this point, and means Israeli holders of the Teudat Ma'avar can now enter Malta on the same basis as those travelling with a full passport. Fearne has not issued a separate public statement on the decision.