Childcare and After-School Care in Malta: Options and Costs

Malta has childcare for under-threes, free state kindergarten from the year a child turns three, school-day services and subsidised after-school/summer programmes. Availability is local and applications have windows, so secure the place before relying on it for a work start date.

Options by age and time

Need	Main option	Cost/eligibility snapshot
Baby or child under 3 while parent works/studies	Licensed childcare centre; qualifying place under the Free Childcare Scheme	Scheme hours relate to eligible work/study. Both provider and parent must meet current conditions. A TCN studying without an employment licence may be excluded. Private hours outside entitlement are charged by the centre.
Age 3–5 school day	State, Church or independent kindergarten	State kindergarten has no tuition fee; uniforms, transport, meals and activities can still cost money.
Before school	Breakfast Club at participating state schools	Normally free for registered pupils; hours and registration are school-specific.
After school, age 3–16	Klabb 3-16	Current published rate is €0.20 per 15 minutes with a minimum booking of 2.5 hours per week; registration and late-collection rules apply.
Summer holidays	SkolaSajf	For 2026, the published core programme fee is €25 for 08:30–12:30; extended hours and eligibility conditions must be checked in the year's application.
Flexible/late/evening care	Private childminder, centre or nanny	Market rate; verify licence/registration, insurance, references and payroll obligations.

Free childcare does not mean unlimited free hours. It is tied to approved centres, the parent's eligible activity and the child's attendance. Ask how shifts, leave, job changes, siblings and notice affect the allocation.

Application checklist

• Parent and child identity/residence documents
• Child's birth certificate and custody/consent evidence if relevant
• Malta address and contact details
• Jobsplus employment history/engagement, study enrolment and timetable as required
• Child's vaccination, allergy, medication and additional-needs plan
• Emergency contacts and authorised collectors
• Bank/payment mandate for chargeable services

Apply through the current provider/service portal, then obtain written confirmation of the start date and approved hours.

Questions to ask before accepting a place

• Is the centre/service officially licensed or operated under the government programme?
• Which hours are covered and which are charged?
• What are the registration, deposit, meal, late-pickup and notice fees?
• What happens during school holidays, staff training days and a child's illness?
• How are allergies, medication, toileting and additional needs managed?
• Which language is normally used with children?
• Is school transport included, available separately or the parent's responsibility?

For an independent school, add published tuition, registration, transport, meals, uniforms, devices and activities to the family budget. Compare the education routes in Schools in Malta, then use moving to Malta with children for location planning.

Last reviewed: 9 August 2026. Programme fees and application windows change each school year; use the linked service page before applying.