Malta Esports Association welcomes 2025 Budget Measures

Republished from https://esports.org.mt/malta-esports-association-welcomes-2025-budget-measures/

The Malta Esports Association welcomes the measures announced during the 2025 budget speech on the 28th October 2024 by the Minister of Finance, Clyde Caruana, in Parliament.

The budget measures announced include the introduction of an esports visa. This important measure, proposed by the Malta Esports Association in its 2022 launch manifesto document, marks a significant step forward in positioning Malta as a premier destination for esports, not only within Europe but on the global stage.

The esports visa will facilitate international players’ travel to Malta, streamlining their access and participation in esports tournaments, events, and training camps. This initiative directly addresses challenges players and teams have faced, notably in terms of logistical and visa-related hurdles, which often complicate participation and planning. By making this process more straightforward, Malta will become a more attractive and accessible choice for international teams.

The esports visa will also offer substantial benefits for Malta’s economy and cultural landscape. As a developing hub for esports and digital entertainment, Malta can become a desirable destination for esports competitions, resulting in increased visitor numbers, with players, coaches, support teams, and fans all potentially spending time—and money—on the islands. This influx can stimulate sectors like hospitality, tourism, and retail.

Moreover, establishing Malta as a go-to destination for esports events will catalyze further investment and create opportunities for local talent. Maltese players will benefit from increased access to top-tier competition, exposure to international standards, and the chance to network with leading figures in the industry.

The Malta Esports Association also welcomes the increased budget earmarked for esports in 2025, and amounting to €3.5 million. This shows an increased commitment by the Maltese Government for further development of the esports sector. The Malta Esports Association augurs that it will be consulted with regards to the distribution of the fund, in order to ensure that the funds are implemented in the most effective way possible for the benefit of the sector, including the local esports community.

The Malta Esports Association acknowledges the success achieved by the country in attracting international esports teams such as Furia and Talon Esports to the country. The Malta Esports Association is proud to have contributed to the facilitation of the move for these international esports teams.

While we celebrate the announcements made, the Malta Esports Association strongly believes there are additional measures that could bolster Malta’s esports ecosystem, particularly through investment in infrastructure necessary for esports. For instance, further investment in specialized training facilities, continued financial incentives for esports startups, and fostering partnerships between educational institutions and esports organizations would build a more sustainable, inclusive framework for esports in Malta.

Changes to VISA categories for sports persons - Australia

Overview 

There are many visa options available for visiting Australia. This fact sheet is a general guide to the most common visa options for those travelling to Australia to participate in sporting events. The information contained in this fact sheet is current as at 23 November 2016. Australian law may change after this time resulting in a change in visa options.

Please check the Department of Immigration and Border Protection’s website for further information: www.border.gov.au/

New Zealand citizens should refer to the Department’s website: www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/444- Visa Options

Visitor visas 

An amateur sports person is defined as a person who does not derive their main income from their sport. If you are an amateur sports person or a person that supports an amateur player or team on a genuine unpaid volunteer basis (for example: a coach, team official, or referee), you may be eligible for one of the following

• Visitor visas: - Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) (subclass 601) - eVisitor (subclass 651) - 
• Visitor visa (subclass 600) in the tourist stream 

You must not be paid for participating in the event, or for supporting an amateur player or team.

However, you may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses such as accommodation and meals.

Amateur players may generally receive small amounts of prize money for their participation in the event. Spectators and family members of amateur players may also be eligible for a Visitor visa.

Further information about the specific requirements of Visitor visas is available on the Department’s website: www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa/Appl/Visitor

Japan accepted as member of IeSF

Photo from left: Akihito Furusawa (Auditor, JPeF), Nobuyuki Umezaki (JPeF, Director), Alex Lim (Secretary General, IeSF), Yoshio Urushibara (Acting President, Federation of Diet Members from Online Game), Byung Hun Jun (President, IeSF), Jin Matsubara (Executive Director, Federation of Diet Members from Online Game), Fumio Suzuku (JPeF, Director), Yoshihito Mizunaga (Advisor, JPeF), Hiromi Mizunaga (Manager, JPeF)

On 1 November 2016, Japan Pro e-Sports Federation (JPeF) took its first step to vitalizing its domestic e-Sports market by getting approval to be affiliated into International e-Sports Federation (IeSF) as the representing National Federation for e-Sports in Japan. JPeF was established on 18 March 2016 and aims to invigorate e-Sports culture in Japan by, as the main focus, enhance the welfare of currently active e-Sports athletes.

JPeF’s membership approval process was accompanied by President. Jun’s visit to Japan during September this year. Hosted by JPeF, the meeting involved Mr Yoshio Urushibara (President) and Jin Matsubara (Executive Director) of the Federation of Diet Members for Online Game (an organization composed of 56 congressmen) and officials of both IeSF and JPeF. The meeting’s agenda included discussions on the direction needed to reinforce the momentum of Japanese e-Sports.

All parties agreed that Japan has an enormous and advanced gaming market in which e-Sports can flourish. The three parties involved in the meeting agreed to join its forces to reinforce the e-Sports foundation in Japan and to broaden the spectrum to develop the structure of e-Sports in the future. Moreover, the organizations agreed to work as a triad, to voice for e-Sports to be recognized as an official sports in Japan, and also look for potential opportunities for e-Sports to be engaged with the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

JPeF has already a history of expanding and forming the e-Sports foundation in Japan by supporting e-sports players in obtaining a “Sport Athlete VISA” within the territory of Japan. To obtain a Sport Athlete VISA is a colossal step, for it shows the willingness for the Japanese community to perceive e-Sports as a true sport, and also secures the welfare of international players in the Japan. IeSF will be supporting JPeF with necessary resources to be connected in the global e-Sports industry, and looks forward to open a new chapter in the e-Sports history of Japan.