How to apply for Malta's I Belong 100-hour Cultural Orientation course: what you must hold, the Directorate's registration link, and the older servizz.gov timeline.
Direct answer
How do I apply for the I Belong programme?
Use the registration link on the Human Rights Directorate’s I Belong page. It is for the 100-hour Cultural Orientation course, the one course the programme runs since 15 June 2026. Before you apply, you need a valid Maltese residence document and a Stage 1 or New Course certificate. Applying is a request, not a booking.
Step by step
- Check you have both documents. A “Valid Residence Permit/Asylum Seeker Document/CIO Document” issued by the Maltese authorities. And either an I Belong Stage 1 Cultural Orientation certificate or a New Course on Maltese Language and Culture certificate.
- No certificate yet? Stage 1 has ended. Take the New Course on Maltese Language and Culture first. The Directorate says it “remains a requirement for participation in I Belong Cultural Orientation at 100-hours course.”
- Open the Directorate’s I Belong page and use its registration link. We link to the page, not to the form, so you always reach the form the Directorate is using now.
- Wait to be contacted. The Directorate says: “Submission of this form does not guarantee eligibility, acceptance, enrolment, or access to any course.” Places, dates and costs are “subject to the applicable legislation, availability of course places, and programme arrangements in force at the time of course delivery.” You are told the conditions before your place is confirmed.
- Plan for cost. No fee is published. That does not mean the course is free. Ask the programme before you budget.
Other ways to apply, and how long it takes
An older servizz.gov service page lists two more ways to apply: in person at “Human Rights Directorate, A3 Tower, Level 0, Triq L Arkata, Paola”, or at a Servizz.gov hub. That page has not been updated since 15 June 2026, so ask the Directorate before you go.
No current page gives a waiting time. The same older page lists four steps:
Older servizz.gov processing steps (read 2026-10-01)
Vetting of application
8 days
Assessment of application
5 days
Approval of application
5 days
Delivery of service
5 days
Treat these as indicative, not as a commitment. They are processing steps, not a course start date.
The same older page says only “I Belong Stage 1 Graduates” can apply. Follow the Directorate’s page, which also accepts the New Course certificate.
If something goes wrong
- You hear nothing. Write to the programme using the contacts on the Directorate’s page. Keep a note of the date you applied.
- You are told you are not eligible. Check that your residence document is valid and that your certificate is a Stage 1 Cultural Orientation or New Course certificate. Ask the Directorate which document was the problem.
- You need the certificate for Long-Term Residence. Apply early. Do not plan as if you already have a place.
- A site asks you to pay or upload documents to “apply”. It is not this guide. Go back to the Directorate’s page by typing its address yourself.
Common questions
What do I need before I can apply?
A valid Residence Permit, Asylum Seeker Document or CIO Document issued by the Maltese authorities, and either an I Belong Stage 1 Cultural Orientation certificate or a New Course on Maltese Language and Culture certificate. Stage 1 ended on 15 June 2026, so new learners take the New Course first.
How long does the application take?
No current page says. An older servizz.gov page lists vetting 8 days, assessment 5 days, approval 5 days and delivery 5 days. It has not been updated since 15 June 2026, so treat these as indicative. They are not a course start date.
Does applying guarantee me a place?
No. The Directorate says the form "does not guarantee eligibility, acceptance, enrolment, or access to any course". Treat your application as a request, not a booking.
How much does it cost to apply?
No fee is published. The Directorate says costs depend on the arrangements when the course runs, and you are told the conditions before your place is confirmed. That does not mean the course is free. Ask before you budget.
Can I apply through this website?
No. This is an independent guide. It cannot receive, submit or track an application, and it does not collect documents or personal details. Apply through the Human Rights Directorate's page.
Official sources for this page
These are the official pages this guide depends on. Open them directly before acting on a time-sensitive requirement.
- 01Human Rights Directorate (opens in a new tab)
Official I Belong Programme overview: the current programme structure (as restructured from 15 June 2026), eligibility, registration conditions, and discontinued courses.
Source last checked:
- 02Jobsplus (opens in a new tab)
The list of delivering institutions for the New Course on Maltese Language and Culture that the Human Rights Directorate's I Belong page links to.
Source last checked:
- 03Government of Malta — servizz.gov.mt (opens in a new tab)
Older servizz.gov service description of I Belong Stage 2: application channels, the required document and a processing timeline. Its eligibility and course text pre-dates the 15 June 2026 restructuring.
Source last checked:
We never collect official login details, documents, or payment data. Use this guide for context, then take action only on the official portal. Full citations are listed at the end of this page.
Read the official I Belong Programme pageOpens the official website