A Maltese translator is needed not only when a document is entirely in Malti. Maltese administrative practice is bilingual: a heading may be in Maltese, the main fields in English and the seal in Maltese again. The translation must cover every legally significant element and show clearly which body issued the certificate, what it proves and its status.
Maltese documents often show a personal identification number, a birth act reference, residence status, a company registration number, a professional qualification or an electronic signature. We check both the language and the consistency of data, and before ordering we establish which parts are already in English and which need full translation from Maltese.
Maltese into Georgian and Georgian into Maltese
We handle personal, civil, immigration, employment, education, business, banking, medical and legal documents. From Maltese we keep headings, numbers, dates, authority names and notes; into Maltese, text is shaped to the recipient's purpose so terminology never slips into everyday style.
Official documents
- Public Registry certificates
- Identità identity and residence papers
- MBR company documents and Jobsplus records
- MFHEA/MQRIC education files
Bilingual forms
- Maltese-English text checked side by side
- No seal, heading or extra field missed
- Legally leading version identified
- Differences between versions noted
Certified translation
- Prepared for notarization in Georgia
- For submission to official bodies
- Apostille page translated
- Paper or electronic delivery
Why Maltese differs from other European languages
Maltese is Semitic in origin but written in the Latin alphabet, and over centuries absorbed strong Italian and English influence. One document may contain a Maltese word with an Arabic root, a legal term from Italian and an English administrative abbreviation, so we must recognise which word is an official name and which a general explanation.
The letters Ċ, Ġ, Għ, Ħ, Ż and Maltese Q matter especially - dropping them or using plain Latin letters can change a surname, street or authority name. In a poorly made PDF Ħ may turn into H, Ġ into G, and Għ may vanish altogether, so text is checked visually rather than trusting automatic recognition. X in Maltese often sounds like "sh", and Q has its own phonetic role, but official names are never rendered by pronunciation alone - the passport, ID card, established international form and consistency between documents come first.
Maltese-English bilingual documents
Maltese forms often give the same field in both languages - "Isem / Name", "Data tat-Twelid / Date of Birth", "Indirizz / Address". There is no need to translate such text twice artificially, but the translation shows that the bilingual heading refers to one data point. If the Maltese and English versions differ, the document's legal context and issuing body take priority.
Seals, signatories' positions, electronic confirmation phrases and footer notes are often in one language only - and those small parts may contain the validity period, certificate type or a restriction on use, so they are translated in full. If a part appears only in Maltese, it must be translated fully for submission in Georgia even when the rest is in English.
Public Registry: birth, marriage and other certificates
Malta's Public Registry records civil status acts and issues birth, marriage, civil union, cohabitation, death and free status certificates. We first establish whether the document is a full certificate, a short extract, a copy of registration or an electronically ordered form - an extract and a full certificate differ in scope and detail, and the difference appears in Georgian too. Parents' names, maiden name, place of birth, act number and later annotations - a marginal note on change of name, divorce or another status - are part of the main text and never omitted. See birth certificate translation.
For marriage matters, a Free Status Certificate proves the family status recorded in the register, while a Marriage Certificate reflects a registered marriage; their titles are never swapped. Civil Union and Cohabitation records also exist, and the recipient may need exactly the form describing the relevant legal relationship. A birth, marriage or death abroad may later be registered with the Public Registry; the original foreign act and the Maltese registry certificate concern one event but have different issuers and legal forms. See marriage certificate translation.
e-ID card, residence documents and Identità
Identità's Identity Cards Unit issues electronic ID cards to Maltese citizens and registers e-ID accounts. The card number usually combines digits with a final letter that may have administrative meaning, so it is copied in full as part of the number, never translated or changed. We check name, surname, date of birth, nationality, sex, validity and address where shown; a screenshot of an online account replaces an ID card only if the recipient explicitly agrees.
Residence documents are handled by Identità's Expatriates Unit: EU citizens receive an eResidence Document, while third-country nationals have permits linked to work, study, family reunification and other grounds. The Single Permit combines work and residence authorisation in one process with various supporting documents. The permit category, application status, sponsor or employer, address and validity period are exact, and "residence card", "residence permit" and "eResidence document" keep their source form. Maltese passports, citizenship certificates and naturalisation or registration documents are used to prove origin of citizenship or family ties, where historical name forms matter.
Certificate of Conduct, Jobsplus, education and business
Certificate of Conduct. Issued by the Criminal Records Office, it appears as Form A or Form B, so a generic "criminal record certificate" is not enough - the form and exact text are rendered. For electronic copies the full page, date, recipient data, reference number and verification elements are checked. See criminal record certificate translation. Jobsplus. Malta's public employment service keeps an important labour register. Employment History, Engagement and Termination forms, job offers and job descriptions each prove different things; the employer's legal name, start and end dates, position and registration entry are exact. A payslip or contract may supplement but does not replace a Jobsplus extract. Education. The Malta Qualifications Recognition Information Centre (MQRIC) compares academic and professional qualifications against the Malta Qualifications Framework and the European framework. A foreign diploma may need the final certificate, official transcript, programme description and translation. "Certificate", "Diploma", "Award" and "Degree" are never treated as synonyms. See diploma translation. Business. The Malta Business Registry registers companies and other legal entities and issues certified documents including the Certificate of Good Standing, partly through the BAROS electronic platform. Registration number, registered office, authorised and issued share capital, directors, company secretary, shareholders and beneficial ownership are kept; the Memorandum and Articles of Association, Annual Return and Good Standing Certificate are different documents, never merged under a single "company extract". See registry extract translation.Maltese apostille and consular legalization
In Malta, apostilles and legalization are handled by the relevant Legalisation Unit of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The apostille confirms the official origin of the signature and seal on a public document between Hague Convention countries; elsewhere a longer consular legalization chain may be needed. For a Maltese document used in Georgia, check the recipient's requirement, obtain the apostille, then translate the main document and apostille sheet together - an apostille never removes the need for a translation. See apostille and legalization.
In Georgia, notarization concerns the form of the translator's signature, not automatic confirmation of the document's authenticity. Establish in advance whether the translation will be attached to the original, a copy or the apostilled document.
Legal, medical, financial documents and names
Legal. Maltese legal language mixes English common-law terms, continental influence and Maltese official wording. A power of attorney, affidavit, declaration, court decree, deed or notarial act needs a targeted translation - one wrong term can change whether a document creates authority, proves a fact or conveys a court decision. Notarial documents keep the title, parties, basis of representation, scope of authority, date, notary data and certification text. See legal translation. Medical. Discharge summaries, medical certificates, lab results, prescriptions, insurance and specialist reports often have Maltese only in form headings and administrative parts, with English clinical content; both are processed together, and diagnoses, medicines, doses, allergies, procedures and dates are double-checked. See medical translation. Financial and property. Bank statements, source of funds documents, tax certificates, leases, property contracts and search results keep amounts, currency, account numbers and periods exact. Property terms such as transfer, causa mortis, hypothec or privilege are never replaced with everyday words. Names and addresses. Maltese surnames may be Italian, Arabic, English or other in origin; the passport's Latin form is the anchor. Address elements such as Triq, Pjazza, Sqaq, Ħal, San and Santa keep their form, with a Georgian transcription alongside where helpful.How a Maltese translation order runs
Send the file
Full pages, including backs, seals and annexes.
Define the purpose
Where the document will be submitted and what certification it needs.
Translation and checking
Terminology and personal data are double-checked.
Delivery
An electronic scan or a certified paper version, as agreed.
Price, turnaround and quality control
Price depends on pages, word volume, subject, tables, handwriting, poor scans, comparing bilingual text and notarization - a short e-ID or one-page certificate is not a multi-page company charter or judgment. The price is by agreement. See translation prices. Fast turnaround is possible only when every page is supplied from the start and the name form is settled; an apostille added later may mean updating a finished translation, so the right order saves time and money.
The document is first classified - civil status, residence, education, business, court or other - and a working list of names, numbers and special terms is made. After translation every date, figure, page number, seal and repeated datum is checked, then the structure is compared with the source, including any small Maltese note beside English text. Electronic certificates with QR codes, verification links, reference numbers or digital signatures keep codes unchanged; a screenshot may do for a quote, but the full file is best for an official translation.
Have a Maltese or Maltese-English document? Send the full PDF or a clear photo and get an exact assessment of the translation, deadline and certification.
Call: 501 113 200Frequently asked questions about Maltese translation
A Maltese document is often also in English - do I still need a Maltese translation?
It depends on the recipient. Many official forms are issued in English or bilingually, but if a part is only in Maltese, it must be translated in full for submission in Georgia.
Can a Maltese translation be notarized?
Yes, for official use in Georgia it can be prepared with notarization of the translator's signature. Establish first whether the original, a copy or the apostilled document will be attached.
Is a Public Registry extract the same as a full certificate?
No. A short extract and a full certificate differ in scope and detail, so find out which form the recipient requires before ordering.
Is the final letter in a Maltese ID card number translated?
No. The final letter is kept exactly as part of the number, with the document type and full number shown in the translation.
Can I send a Maltese document online from Georgia?
Yes, a clear photo or PDF is enough for assessment, with page edges, seals, QR code and every entry legible. The physical document may be needed at the certification stage.
Is the Maltese apostille done before or after translation?
If a Maltese document needs an apostille, the safe route is to obtain it first and then translate the document and apostille together. The final order is checked with the recipient.
Can you translate an official Georgian document into Maltese?
Yes, according to its purpose. It helps to know whether the Maltese text is for Identità, MBR, MQRIC, a court, an employer or another body.