I Belong Programme — common questions and access problems

First: Stage 1 is currently paused

New Stage 1 applications are not currently being accepted. If you arrived here looking to register for the first time, the programme is not open for new Stage 1 enrolments while a restructuring process is underway. There is no confirmed reopening date as of the date on this page — see what the pause means for the full picture of what official information says.

If you have already completed Stage 1, or are looking for Stage 2 information, continue below.

If you are already enrolled in Stage 1

If you were mid-course when the restructuring pause began, the only reliable source of information about what happens to your specific enrolment is the Human Rights Directorate itself. What to have ready when you contact them:

• Your full name and residence details
• The course name and the provider you were enrolled with
• How far through the course you were (hours completed, if known)
• Any enrolment reference number or documentation you received

Email: ibelongcourses@gov.mt

Stage 2 access

Stage 2 — the longer integration course stage that connects to Long-Term Residence status — is intended only for people who have already completed Stage 1. If you have a Stage 1 completion record, contact ibelongcourses@gov.mt to ask how to proceed to Stage 2 and whether it is currently accepting applications. The public-facing materials do not fully describe the current Stage 2 application process, so direct contact is the only reliable route.

For a breakdown of what Stage 2 involves, see the Stage 2 guide and the full course table.

Certificate for Long-Term Residence

If you have completed the I Belong programme and need your certificate for a Long-Term Residence application at Identità, there is an important discrepancy to be aware of: Identità’s published guidance describes the requirement as “100 hours / 75% pass mark,” while the Human Rights Directorate describes Stage 2 as two courses totalling 170 hours with two separate pass-mark conditions. This discrepancy is documented in full at the Long-Term Residence page.

To obtain or confirm your certificate, contact ibelongcourses@gov.mt with your name, the stage(s) you completed, and what documentation you need. This guide cannot issue, retrieve, or verify certificates.

Course schedule and timing questions

Course start dates, schedules, and venue information are published by the Human Rights Directorate and the course providers they work with. Because Stage 1 is currently paused, course-schedule information is not published for that stage at present. For Stage 2 timing, the most reliable approach is to contact the Directorate directly — the public materials do not include a live calendar.

Frequently asked questions

I was partway through Stage 1 when the pause was announced. What happens to my progress?

This is exactly the kind of question only the Human Rights Directorate can answer for your specific situation — they administer the programme and hold records of who was enrolled and at what stage. Email ibelongcourses@gov.mt with your full name, the course you were enrolled in, and how far through it you were. Do not rely on this guide for a definitive answer about your individual case.

I completed Stage 1. How do I apply for Stage 2?

Official sources confirm that Stage 2 is intended for individuals who graduated from Stage 1 — it is not open as a standalone entry point. The official process for Stage 2 applications is not fully detailed in the public materials this guide has access to. Contact ibelongcourses@gov.mt directly and state that you have completed Stage 1 and want to know how to proceed to Stage 2.

I need my I Belong certificate for a Long-Term Residence application. How do I get it?

The I Belong certificate is issued by the Human Rights Directorate. If you completed the required courses and were issued a certificate, the Directorate holds the record. Contact ibelongcourses@gov.mt with your full name and the details of what you completed. Be aware that there is a documented discrepancy between what Identità's Long-Term Residence guidance says the certificate must show (100 hours, 75% pass mark) and the actual Stage 2 course structure (170 hours across two courses) — see the dedicated page for a full breakdown before your application.

When will Stage 1 reopen?

No official reopening date has been published. The Human Rights Directorate's published information describes the pause as being for restructuring purposes. This guide will update the relevant pages the moment an official date is announced — see the updates page. Do not rely on unofficial estimates for something as time-sensitive as a Long-Term Residence application.

Contact the Human Rights Directorate directly

For any question about your specific enrolment, certificate, Stage 2 access, or the current restructuring — the Directorate is the only authority that can give you a reliable answer.