How the I Belong Programme works

The I Belong Programme (Programm I Belong) is an integration programme for Third Country Nationals living in Malta. It is administered under Malta's integration framework and is designed to help TCN residents build the language skills, cultural knowledge, and civic understanding needed to participate fully in Maltese society.

The programme has two stages. Stage 1 introduces basic Maltese language and an orientation to Maltese culture and civic life. Stage 2 builds on this foundation with more advanced language skills and deeper cultural and civic knowledge.

Successful completion of both stages contributes to the integration requirements for long-term residence applications in Malta. The specific conditions and benefits that completion confers depend on the applicant's individual immigration pathway — the programme should be treated as a genuine integration commitment, not only as a bureaucratic requirement.

Stage 1 focuses on introductory Maltese language skills and cultural orientation. Language content at Stage 1 covers basic greetings, everyday vocabulary, simple sentence structures, numbers, days of the week, and basic conversational phrases. The level targeted is equivalent to A1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Cultural orientation in Stage 1 introduces participants to Maltese daily life, social customs, the role of religion, family structures, and civic expectations. The aim is functional orientation — understanding enough to navigate daily life in Malta respectfully and effectively.

Stage 1 assessment includes a written or online test of language and cultural content, and may include a spoken component. The specific format of assessment varies — consult the official programme documentation for the current requirements.

Stage 2 builds on Stage 1 with more developed Maltese language skills (targeting approximately A2 CEFR level) and expanded civic and cultural knowledge. Language content at Stage 2 includes more complex sentence structures, broader vocabulary, and the ability to conduct basic conversations about everyday topics.

Civic and cultural content in Stage 2 covers Malta's history (key periods, significant events, national identity), Malta's political and constitutional system (government structure, the role of the President and Parliament, key institutions), and integration-relevant topics such as the rights and responsibilities of residents.

Stage 2 assessment is more demanding than Stage 1. Participants who underperformed at Stage 1 often find Stage 2 a significant step up in difficulty. Consistent preparation between stages — not just revision in the final days before each assessment — is the most effective strategy.

This study hub provides a topic-by-topic preparation resource for both stages of the I Belong Programme. The seven topics cover the core assessed areas: Maltese language for Stage 1, cultural orientation for Stage 1, Maltese language for Stage 2, cultural orientation for Stage 2, Malta's history, Malta's civic institutions, and assessment strategy.

Begin with the Programme Overview (this topic) to understand the structure. Then work through the Stage 1 topics first, using those to prepare for Stage 1 assessment. After Stage 1, move to the Stage 2 topics for the deeper language and civic content that Stage 2 requires.

Each topic includes key facts, study tips, common pitfalls, and quick review questions. Use the quick review questions as self-tests — if you cannot answer them fluently, revisit the relevant sections.