Foster Care Malta: How the System Works and How to Become a Foster Parent

Over 50 children in Malta are waiting for a foster family right now. That number has stayed stubbornly consistent for years, even as the island's child protection services process more than 2,100 abuse and neglect reports annually. Malta has roughly 500 children in alternative care at any given time, split almost evenly between foster families and residential institutions. The system needs more foster parents, and the government knows it -- which is why financial support, training, and legal protections for foster carers have been steadily expanding.

If you've been thinking about fostering, here's how the system actually works.

Who Can Foster in Malta

The eligibility criteria are broader than most people expect. You can apply to become a foster carer if you are:

• At least 18 years old
• Married, in a civil union, cohabiting, or single
• A same-sex couple (civil unions have been recognized since 2014, and marriage equality places same-sex couples on equal footing with heterosexual couples for fostering)

There is no upper age limit written into law, though the Fostering Board will assess your physical and psychological capacity to care for a child. You'll need a clean police conduct certificate (the Fedina Penali), clearance against the Protection of Minors (Sex Offenders) Register, medical certificates confirming your physical and mental health, and proof of financial stability and adequate housing.

Everyone in your household over 18 gets checked -- not just the applicants.

The Licensing Process: What to Expect

Becoming a licensed foster parent in Malta follows a structured path managed by the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS) through its Directorate for Alternative Care.

Step 1 -- Initial Contact. You call the FSWS Fostering Service helpline at 1778 or visit their offices. A social worker explains the framework and answers your questions.

Step 2 -- Documentation. You submit your police conduct, medical certificates, financial records, and housing details. All adult household members go through the same vetting.

Step 3 -- The 7-Week Training Course. This is mandatory and non-negotiable. The curriculum covers childhood trauma, attachment theory, separation anxiety, positive parenting strategies, and how to manage challenging behaviors. If you're a kinship carer (a relative taking in a family member's child), you attend a modified version focused on navigating changed family boundaries.

Step 4 -- The Home Study. A social worker visits your home multiple times and conducts office-based interviews. They assess your personal history, relationship stability, parenting philosophy, the physical safety of your home, and your willingness to collaborate with the child's biological family and social services. This results in a comprehensive Home Study Report.

Step 5 -- Board Review. The independent Fostering Board reviews your Home Study Report and decides whether to issue a foster care license.

Step 6 -- Matching and Placement. A matching board aligns a child's specific needs with your strengths and circumstances. Social workers then coordinate a gradual transition -- the child and your family meet several times before full placement begins.

Types of Foster Placements

Not all foster care looks the same. Malta recognizes four main categories:

• Emergency fostering -- immediate, short-term care (days to weeks) while child protection services investigate a family crisis
• Planned short-term fostering -- placements focused on rehabilitation, with the goal of returning the child to their biological family
• Long-term fostering -- placements lasting six months or more, used when family reintegration isn't viable and the child needs permanent stability
• Kinship care -- placements with relatives or extended family members, a common arrangement in Malta that reflects traditional community-based care values

Financial Support for Foster Parents

The Maltese government has been increasing financial support for foster carers year over year. In the 2026 national budget, the basic Foster Care Allowance rose by EUR 520 annually, bringing the rate to EUR 6,760 per year per child -- that's EUR 130 per week. This allowance continues until the young person turns 21.

On top of the base allowance, foster parents can access:

• A Special Student Allowance of EUR 500 per year (paid over three years) for foster youth aged 16-20 who remain in full-time post-secondary education
• Free therapeutic support including government-subsidized counseling, play therapy, pediatric reviews, and 24/7 on-call crisis intervention

If you later choose to adopt your foster child, Malta offers a tapered benefit scheme so you don't lose your allowance overnight. The transition works like this: 80% of the full allowance in Year 1, 60% in Year 2, 40% in Year 3, and 20% in Year 4.

The Honest Challenges

Fostering in Malta comes with real difficulties that are worth understanding before you apply. The Family Court has a significant backlog of care order cases -- approximately 44 cases have been pending for over a year, with some unresolved for more than three years. This judicial gridlock creates uncertainty for foster families who may not know whether a placement is temporary or permanent.

You'll also be required to maintain contact with the child's biological family, which can be emotionally complex. And while social workers within FSWS are widely regarded as committed professionals, they operate under heavy caseloads and institutional pressures.

None of this should discourage you -- but going in with realistic expectations makes you a better foster parent.

Getting Started

If you want a complete picture of Malta's fostering system -- the legal framework under Chapter 602, the full assessment timeline, financial entitlements, and practical strategies for managing the Home Study and biological family contact -- our Foster Care and Adoption Guide for Malta walks you through every step. It's written specifically for Maltese families navigating this system, not a generic international overview.

The 50-plus children waiting for foster homes on this island aren't a statistic. Each one needs a stable, caring adult willing to step forward. The process is demanding, but the support structures -- financial, therapeutic, and professional -- are stronger than they've ever been.

Foster Care & Adoption Guide for Malta →