The bulk of these were from the United Kingdom – 1,825. This was followed by 1,534 from Australia, 688 from the United States and 535 from Canada. A total of 999 returned from other destinations.

Meanwhile, although the NSO does not have complete figures, between 1993 and 2003, 552 Maltese emigrated to the UK. Between 1993 and 1999, 248 people left for Australia. Between 1993 and 1995, 83 people went to the US, 14 to Canada and 11 to other countries.

The NSO said Malta had a long tradition of international migration which, for many years, was regarded as a necessary “safety valve” to ease population pressure. The 1950s and 1960s were two decades when thousands of Maltese left to settle in Australia, Canada, the USA and the UK. Since the mid-70s Malta has received back thousands of former emigrants.

Migration statistics in the case of inflows posed problems, whereas the outflow statistics were more complete because emigrants could apply for a subsidised passage, hence the records were more accurate. However, since the mid 1980s and up to the present, outflows were very low, the NSO said.

Again, data on outgoing migrants has undergone some changes since the Labour Department dismantled its section of Emigration in January 1995, said the NSO.

In the last Census of Population in 1995, a migration module was included in the questionnaire. The findings of the census provided a good database for annual adjustments concerning stocks and flows of migrants.The NSO had – more than 20 years ago – introduced a new methodology for the estimation of returning migrants, in collaboration with the Customs Authorities. Inflows – in the form of returned migrants and foreigners settling in the Maltese Islands – have been (and still are) analysed from forms filled in with statistical details. Prospective settlers, both foreign and returning Maltese, have to be recorded at the Customs since they have to declare their personal effects. The system has proved very satisfactory. The Immigration Act

The Immigration Act (Chapter 217 of the Laws of Malta) is the legal instrument regulating the movement of foreigners onto the island.

The act provides for:

• The exemption from periodical permission from the Immigration Authorities, in respect of the foreign spouses of citizens of Malta and their dependents under 21 years of age, to enable them to reside and to work in Malta.

• The authorisation of temporary periods of stays by foreigners on the island.

• The issue of residence permits for indefinite stays in Malta and

• The issue of employment licenses to foreigners enabling them to work in Malta.

With its limited land area and resources, Malta obviously has adopted a protective position to immigration movements onto the island.

Permanent residence permits

The settlement of foreigners in Malta goes back to the early 1960’s.

Permanent Residence Schemes provide certain conditions, which when satisfied, the person or persons were or are granted a residence permit that enables them to remain indefinitely on the island.

The total number of people currently holding such permits is about 1,300.

Work permits

The employment of overseas nationals helps to attract investment, creates new jobs and enables employers to access and recruit the best people from around the world.

A Work Permit Scheme, which is part of the immigration control, is intended to allow for employment of overseas nationals, while protecting the long term interest of the resident work force.

Employment licences, issued by the Department for Citizenship and Expatriates Affairs, in respect of expatriates are only granted in exceptional cases.

As already mentioned, such licenses are issued for a determined period and for a specific purpose.

It must also be ascertained that efforts to engage a suitable Maltese citizen for the job in question were fruitless.

Licences are issued valid for one year, but there are cases where a foreign investor in manufacturing or financial sectors, holding substantial shareholding, may be granted a work permit on an indefinite basis.

The number of work permit holders fluctuated over the past 10 years, but has nearly remained constant during the last three years; the number at the end of 2003 being of 2,928, of which 813 were females.