Work / Employment in Malta
2 documented routes of this kind in Malta, each with its conditions, documents, official government fees and process.
Single Permit (combined work + residence)
The Single Permit is Malta's primary combined work-and-residence authorisation for third-country nationals, applied for online by the employer via the Expatriates Unit platform.
- Processing time
- Variable; standard route weeks to months (KEI fast-track 5 working days, SEI 15 working days)
- Validity
- Typically 1 year, renewable
- Language requirement
- None for the permit itself; English widely used in administration
- Permanent residence
- 5 years of continuous legal residence enables EU Long-Term Residence
- Citizenship
- Naturalisation after broadly 12 continuous months plus 4 aggregate years in the previous 6 years
Requirements
- Valid job offer / signed employment contract from a Malta employer
- Proof the vacancy was advertised (Jobsplus/EURES 3 weeks, or local media 2 weeks)
- Health insurance with minimum EUR 100,000 coverage (Malta + Europe)
- Recognition of qualifications (MQRIC) where applicable
- Accommodation (lease/purchase) with Housing Authority approval
Required Documents
- Valid passport (original + full PDF copy, valid at least 8 months from application date) required
- Signed Europass CV required
- Health insurance policy with minimum EUR 100,000 coverage (Malta + Europe) required
- Employment contract signed by both parties required
- Position description signed by both parties required
- Proof of vacancy advertisement (Jobsplus/EURES 3 weeks, or local media 2 weeks) required
- Lease/rent agreement with landlord declaration, lawyer/notary attestation and Housing Authority approval letter required
- MQRIC qualification recognition certificate
- Signed privacy policy required
- Health screening certificate (some applicants)
Official fees
- First-time application 600 EUR
- Renewal (per year) 150 EUR
- Live-in carer 27.5 EUR
Process Steps
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1
Employer initiates application
Employer registers/logs in with e-ID at singlepermit.gov.mt and initiates the application online.
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2
Applicant confirms
The third-country national receives a link to confirm the application and validate submitted data.
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3
Pay fee and submit
Employer pays the fee online and completes final submission.
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4
Entry visa (if abroad)
Applicants abroad obtain the Approval in Principle letter, then apply for the entry visa and book the biometric appointment.
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5
Biometrics and card
Attend biometrics; residence card issued on approval.
Official Sources
- Identita - Single Permit Application Official
- Identita - Single Permit Documents Required Official
- Single Permit online portal Official
Highly Qualified Individuals - Key Employee Initiative (KEI) & Specialist Employee Initiative (SEI)
Fast-track Single Permit routes for highly skilled and specialist third-country nationals, with guaranteed short processing windows.
- Processing time
- KEI: 5 working days; SEI: 15 working days (from a complete application)
- Validity
- Initially 1 year, renewable up to 3 years
- Language requirement
- None for the permit; English widely used
- Permanent residence
- Counts toward EU Long-Term Residence at 5 years
- Citizenship
- Naturalisation after broadly 12 continuous months plus 4 aggregate years in the previous 6 years
Requirements
- KEI: highly skilled third-country national with complete application and KEI checklist
- SEI: skilled third-country national not eligible for KEI, under Single Permit Regulations (S.L. 217.17)
- Same fee structure as the Single Permit
Required Documents
- Completed KEI or SEI checklist (Checklist-New-Application-for-Single-Permit-KEI.pdf / -SEI.pdf) required
- Employment contract and qualifications required
- Valid passport and health insurance required
Official fees
- First-time application 600 EUR
- Renewal (per year) 150 EUR
Process Steps
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1
Submit with checklist
Employer submits the application online with the relevant KEI or SEI checklist.
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2
Fast-track assessment
Identita processes within 5 working days (KEI) or 15 working days (SEI) from a complete application.
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3
Renewal
Initially valid 1 year, renewable up to 3 years.
Official Sources
- Identita - Key Employee Initiative Official
- Identita - Specialist Employee Initiative Official