Privacy Policy
By visiting the Portal, https://dvisa.identita.gov.mt/(the “Portal”), logging in with the passcode provided by the Central Visa Unit, submitting online the: Travel Insurance, Flight tickets, Approval letter from the local host/authority and sending a payment via the Online Payment Services Portal (“PSP”), you ( the “User” or the “Data Subject”) provide Identità ( “the Agency”, “we” or “us”) with personal data.
We commit to processing the personal data you submit through the Portal in a highly responsible manner and in observance of the applicable legislation. The aim of this policy is to comply with our transparency and fairness obligations under GDPR and to inform you about who will be processing your data, for what purpose, for how long it will be kept, with whom it will be shared and about your rights as a data subject under GDPR.
Identità is the data controller, meaning the entity that defines the purposes and means for collecting and processing your personal data. We are an Agency pertaining to the Government of Malta and we deliver public services related to Identity Cards, Passports, Visas, Expatriate affairs, and Public Registry in Malta. Our Data Protection Officer is the individual responsible to attend any query related to this Policy and in general to data protection, and may be contacted at:
Postal Address:
Data Protection Officer,
Identità Head Office,
Valley Road,
Msida, – MSD9020,
Malta.
Email address: dataprotection.identita@gov.mt
2. Purposes and legal basis
i. Visiting the Portal
When you visit the Portal, we collect your personal data in order to enable you to have access to the Portal, improve the content, functionality, and services we offer you through the Portal, and better understand our categories of visitors. Personal data collected when you visit the Portal includes cookies. Cookies are small files that are placed on your device in order to help the Portal keep track of your visits and activity. For ease of reference, we have created a dedicated Cookie Policy accessed through this same Portal.
The legal basis for processing is the legitimate interest pursued by the Agency. A balance test was conducted in this regard. The legitimate interest is not overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which requires the protection of personal data.
ii. Submitting an Online application and sending payments
When you submit the required documents and payment, the Agency collects personal data in order to deliver a public service that is receiving and processing applications for Long-Stay National Visa and to populate its databases. The legal basis for processing is the performance of a task in the public interest pursued by the Agency. You may submit the personal data of individuals other than yourself when submitting an application. The Agency has assessed that, in said cases, informing these individuals proves impossible and would involve a disproportionate effort. The Agency will still take appropriate measures to protect the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of these individuals.
3. Recipients of Personal Data
i. The recipients of Personal Data are:
Transfers of personal data will be done in line with applicable laws, and arrangements are in place to guarantee the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of personal data within these transfers.
Under certain conditions outlined in law, we may disclose your information to third parties (such as other Government entities or law enforcement authorities) if necessary and proportionate for lawful, specific purposes.
Personal data is not transferred to third countries or international organizations.
ii. Storage periods
Personal data is retained as follows:
iii. Your rights
You have a number of rights under data protection legislation, which are listed below and may be invoked by contacting our Data Protection Officer.
You have the right to obtain confirmation from us as to whether we are processing your Personal Data or not, and, where that is the case, access to the personal data, obtain information about the processing, and a copy of it.
You have the right to obtain from us without undue delay the rectification of inaccurate personal data concerning yourself. Taking into account the purposes of the processing, you shall have the right to have incomplete personal data completed, including by means of providing a supplementary statement.
In certain cases, you may have the right to have your personal data deleted.
In case any of the conditions of the law apply, you have the right to restrict the processing of your personal data.
You do not have the right to port your personal data because we do not process it on the basis of your consent or on the basis of a contract. However, you can always request to access your personal data.
You have the right to object to the processing of personal data at any time, on grounds relating to your particular situation. In the said case, we will no longer process your personal data, unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override the interests, rights, and freedoms of the data subject or for the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims.
You can lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority of the Member State of your habitual residence or place of work, or of an alleged infringement of data protection legislation.
Personal data is not the object of automated decision-making or profiling.
4. Changes to this Privacy Policy
This Policy is subject to change.
Please visit this page regularly to be aware of any changes which may occur from time to time.
Last updated date: 18/09/2023.