How much alcohol can be brought into Malta depends on where guests are from. Persons over 18 years of age arriving from countries outside the EU customs area (including Greenland, Aland, Canary Islands, Channel Islands and Faroe Islands) may import up to 1 liter of spirits (alcohol content over 22%) and up to 1 liter of wine; small quantities of personal perfumes. In addition, up to 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos (not more than 3 grams each), or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco may be imported duty-free.
But when entering from the territory of EU member states, persons over 18 years of age are allowed duty-free import: up to 10 liters of strong alcoholic beverages (alcohol content over 22%), or 20 liters of fortified wine, or 90 liters of table wine (but not more than 60 liters of sparkling wine), or 110 liters of beer. Up to 800 cigarettes or 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars and up to 1 kilogram of tobacco may be carried.
How much alcohol you can take out of Malta depends on the customs regulations of the country you are entering.
Among the things that can be brought to Malta by airplane, we can mention personal use goods at the rate of 175 EUR per adult and 90 EUR per child under the age of 15 years. Import and export of currency is not limited. When entering from the territory of non-EU countries, cash amounts over 10 000 EUR are subject to mandatory declaration for subsequent export from the country.
Among the things that are prohibited to import to Malta, we can mention drugs and narcotic drugs, medicines, firearms and ammunition, explosives, pornography, plants, flowers, soil, animals and birds, as well as radio transmitting devices and counterfeit products.
Since May 1, 2009 it is forbidden to import products containing meat or milk, including sausage, canned food, lard and even chocolate candies to the territory of the European Union countries. The ban does not apply to baby food and special preparations necessary for people with certain chronic diseases (in this case products must be carefully packed and their weight must not exceed 2 kilograms). If meat and dairy products are found, they will be confiscated and the passenger will have to pay a fine.
Pets must have a vaccination certificate and a veterinary certificate issued no earlier than 10 days before departure. Further information is available on the Malta Veterinary Department website.
Among the things that are prohibited to take out of Malta are objects and things of historical or artistic value.
There is Tax Free in Malta. True, to get it, you need to know a lot of subtleties. And many visitors say that the Maltese try to do everything not to return this money. Nevertheless, tourists living outside the EU countries who visit Malta and go to a non-EU country are entitled to claim a refund of the VAT they paid on goods purchased in Malta by filling out an application form. VAT can be refunded for goods purchased for personal or family use while in Malta (the price of which included VAT).
The completed application for VAT refund must be stamped by Customs before leaving the EU zone. This application must be sent in an envelope to the VAT Collection Department.
VAT cannot be refunded for goods which were used in whole or in part during the tourist's stay in Malta or in other EU countries, nor for goods exported for business purposes.
Goods for which a VAT refund has been claimed must be taken out of the EU in the tourist's accompanying luggage within 3 months from the date of purchase.
VAT will be refunded only for goods with a total value of at least 55 EUR, which were purchased at a single point of sale (a corresponding sales receipt must be presented). However, the value of all goods taken out of Malta at the time of departure to a country outside the EU must be at least 315 EUR.
The VAT refund application form, filled out in accordance with all the rules, must also be accompanied by the sales receipts.
Completed applications, purchased goods and corresponding goods receipts must be presented to customs officials at the exit from the EU zone for inspection and certification. If the goods are not in hand luggage, the customs officer must be informed in advance. The stamped application and receipts should be folded in an envelope and sent to the VAT Department, Centre Point Building, Ta' Paris Road, Birkirkara, Malta.
The money will be refunded in the currency specified by the applicant in the application. Administrative costs of 23 EUR or 4% of the VAT refund requested (whichever is higher) will be deducted from the refunded amount.
