Malta Corrects an Anomaly and Recognises Israeli Travel Documents

Israeli citizens holding ordinary Israeli passports were already able to enter Malta subject to the normal Schengen entry rules. The issue concerned the Israeli Travel Document in Lieu of a National Passport, commonly called Teudat Ma’avar or a laissez-passer. Israel officially issues this document to certain Israeli citizens, including in circumstances where an ordinary passport is not issued. Israeli government guidance itself warns holders that acceptance varies from country to country. 

The significant point in the announcement is therefore that Malta has now agreed to recognise this document for travel purposes. Until this change, Malta had been the exception among Schengen countries regarding the Teudat Ma’avar. Contemporary background material likewise records Malta as the remaining Schengen/EU exception before the change. 

Therefore, Malta’s decision to correct this anomaly was positively reported by the Israeli media. What follows is how the Jerusalem Post reported this good news. 

Malta has decided to recognize all Israeli travel documents, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced Wednesday following a discussion with his Maltese counterpart.

“This important step will enable all Israelis who wish to travel to beautiful Malta to do so,” said Sa’ar.

“Israel warmly welcomes this decision, and I thank Minister Chris Fearne for his efforts in making it possible.”

Israelis have, until now, been able to travel to the European nation with a passport. Now, Israelis with an alternative to a passport can also travel to Malta.

Malta was the one Schengen country that did not recognize Teudat Ma’avar

The Teudat Ma’avar – the Israeli Travel Document in Lieu of National Passport – is not automatically treated by every country as equivalent to an Israeli passport.

For years, Malta was the one Schengen country that did not recognize this Israeli travel document.