Migrants in Malta

Abstract

This chapter will introduce some of the key concepts and categories used in migration studies through an overview of migration trends and policy developments in Malta in the last half century. Migrants are today a constitutive element of the social reality of contemporary Malta. They are also highly heterogeneous, and differ in nationality, age, gender, length of stay, connection to the country and legal status, among others. Different groups of migrants can have varied motivations for migrating and expectations, and their experiences in Malta can be worlds apart. Commensurate with this diversity is the complex institutional structure that services the spectrum of needs of different migrant groups. This chapter aims to contribute to a better understanding of the ways in which migration is a constitutive element of society, and to some of the main challenges to the wellbeing and inclusion of migrants into Maltese society.