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If you knew then what you know now.........?

itsnowornever

Hi everyone,

Well my flights booked and short term accommodation sorted and i'll be arriving in Malta on 24 Feb 2014.....woopee!

Just thought i'd pose the question to those that have made the move,

"If you knew then what you know now....what would you have done in your first week/month on the island?

Look forward to your views

Cheers!

Kerry.:)

See also

Living in Malta: the °µÍø½ûÇø guideMost common scams in MaltaHow to Deal With Medication PrescriptionsDeath certificateOnline postgraduate programs
Rocking Ken

Hi Kerry,

I asked the same same question a few months ago and it was a resounding YES..

Best of luck with the move.

Ken

tearnet

Don't fall in love with the first property you see and sign a long contract. You will want to move after a short time for various reasons (work, schools, friends, damp, cold, noise etc).
Don't wait to start your application for residency, it will take longer than you think.
Get any rental contract in writing and study it before signing, ask about water / electricity  bills and ask to see the last bill that is not an estimate then check it against current readings.
Take photos of the property before you move in for reference later.
Find the local bar, talk to the locals and enjoy a chisk!!

Terry

Toon

probably not made the mistakes we made initially.

itsnowornever

Thanks to all for the replies :)

Tearnet, that's great advice, thank you! :top:

Kerry

holgerMalta

If you are in the UK, set up a HSBC account for here (ie Malta) from there.

A colleague of mine managed to do that and this saves a lot of hassle (see the different threads on getting a bank account here on Malta)

itsnowornever

Thanks for that holger, that's something i'm planning to do, especially after reading the info on banking problems that some have experienced.

Rocking Ken

holgerMalta wrote:

If you are in the UK, set up a HSBC account for here (ie Malta) from there.

A colleague of mine managed to do that and this saves a lot of hassle (see the different threads on getting a bank account here on Malta)


I opened a BoV account from the UK...

GuestPoster566

This will seem arrogant to some but my answer is nothing different really, apart, perhaps, from staying where we did in Marsaskala. However, there was a purpose to that and we made some friends there. My advice is PPPPP, prior, planning, prevents, pretty poor, performance. We also had copies of our medical records made which we brought with us, came in useful, especially for me, recently.

And see if you qualify for an S1 certificate and don't waste any time in getting your medical Certificate of Entitlement, which you  will need for eid registration anyway.

Malta & UK have a Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement (RHA). That has to be done at the Entitlement Office and the application form may be found here:



...unless you can provide an S1 Certificate from DWP, Overseas Healthcare Team, Durham House, Washington, Tyne & Wear NE38 7SF UK, tel: 0191 2181999 to see if you are entitled as it will depend upon NHS Contributions paid.

Ricky, the ‘Malta Animator’ on the blog is an absolute mine of information and I suggest you contact him also.

Also, if you have need of medication, regularly then bring as much as possible over here with you and if you have certain conditions then there is a scheme to receive the medication free of charge. Otherwise all medication is paid for, from a pharmacy, no over the counter medicines available elsewhere here.

It is my experience that the best way to deal with Malta's bureaucracy is to be polite, passively assertive and ask lots of questions rather than insist on making a point.

Rocking Ken

redmik wrote:

PPPPP, prior, planning, prevents, pretty poor, performance.


That's an old military saying except there has been a word changed, very diplomatic of you RedMik :)

GuestPoster566

Rocking Ken wrote:
redmik wrote:

PPPPP, prior, planning, prevents, pretty poor, performance.


That's an old military saying except there has been a word changed, very diplomatic of you RedMik :)


Oh yes, where do you think I got it from? (23 years service)

itsnowornever

Thanks redmik, very useful info :top: