The Government of Malta has 45 missions overseas, spread across 6 continents and 34 countries. There are 6 types of missions, which can be sub-divided mainly into bilateral, multilateral and consular missions, and others being a mixture between them.

The traditional type of mission is an Embassy which is located in the capital city of the host country. Another type of mission is a High Commission, which is like an Embassy but located in a country of the Commonwealth. Embassies and High Commissions are bilateral missions, which are focused in particular on the political, commercial, cultural and economic relations amongst others, between Malta and the host country.

Multilateral Missions are called Permanent Missions or Permanent Representative and are accredited to an international organization in the host country, such as the United Nations in New York, the OSCE in Vienna, or to the European Union in Brussels.

Consulates or Consulates General are primarily focused on consular matters such as the provision of passports or the registration of foreign life events of Maltese residents or the visa process to enable third country nations to travel to Malta. Consular work is also performed by the consular section in our bilateral missions.