Malta

The island nation of Malta is a popular destination for expatriates as well as international businesses’ If your company is planning to expand operations to Malta, you’ll probably want to relocate a talented group of existing employees and hire some new team members abroad. While working in Malta certainly comes with its advantages, you’ll need to ensure that any foreign employees you hire have the appropriate visas and permits to do so legally. If you’re not sure how to get a work visa in Malta, you run the risk of operational delays and even fees if your company is noncompliant with the local laws and regulations. When you choose to work with a reputable global PEO like Globalization Partners, we’ll help you set your business up for success from day one of your expansion.

Work permits in Malta are employer-specific (although there can be exceptions), occupation-specific, and location-specific, and are normally valid for one year.A worker from a non-EU country must first obtain a visa to enter Malta and then apply for the residence/work permit once in Malta. The Employment and Training Corporation is at present the entity that processes applications for the issue of employment licenses (previously known as work permits) with regards to foreign nationals to be employed in Malta. ETC was delegated this responsibility in August 2005. If you are not a citizen of an EU country, you need an employment license in order to be able to work in Malta. EU nationals [except citizens of Croatia], EEA and Swiss nationals do not require an employment license to work in Malta.

Do you need a Work Permit to work in Malta?

As a result of Malta’s accession to the EU, citizens of EU/EFTA countries and their close family members (spouses and children), even if the latter are not EU or EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) citizens, do not require any employment licences to work in Malta. All other nationals, coming from non-EU and non-EFTA countries, and who are termed as Third Country Nationals (TCNs), must submit a single permit application to be able to work and reside in Malta.

What Types of Work Visas Are Available to Foreign Workers in Malta?

Malta offers a variety of visas for foreign nationals, including tourist visas, business visas, and visas for medical purposes. Foreign nationals who intend to travel to Malta to work have a few options when it comes to visas:

1. 1. Short-Stay Visa, or C Visa: The short-stay visa is a type of Schengen visa, which means it allows foreign nationals to enter multiple countries within the Schengen area. This visa is available in three forms to accommodate single entries, double entries, and multiple entries. The C visa allows the holder to remain in Malta for up to three months regardless of how many entries are allowed.

1. National Long-Stay Visa, or D Visa: The D visa allows foreign nationals to stay in Malta for more than three months. This is the visa foreign employees will need to live and work in Malta for an extended period of time. Individuals who are traveling to Malta to study will need a D visa as well.

What kind of work permit do you need to work in Malta?

Single Permit Procedure

As a result of Malta’s accession to the EU, citizens of EU/EFTA countries and their close family members (spouses and children), even if the latter are not EU or EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) citizens, do not require any employment licences to work in Malta. All other nationals, coming from non-EU and non-EFTA countries, and who are termed as Third Country Nationals (TCNs), must submit a single permit application to be able to work and reside in Malta.

1. A copy of a valid employment contract
2. A private medical insurance cover for 12 months
3. A position description signed by the employer
4. A covering letter from the prospective employer
5. A signed CV accompanied by references showing work experience covering at least a 3-year period These need to be submitted to Identity Malta. If the applicant does not have adequate work experience but is suitably qualified, the applicant must first obtain local MQRIC equivalence of the qualifications before the application is submitted. Read more about education qualifications recognition here.

The objective of the Single Permit Application, if successful, is the issue of a single document, which is commonly referred to as the e-residence card, which grants TCNs the authorization to both live and work in Malta. When submitting an application to Identity Malta, the applicant should ensure that s/he has a valid visa to be in Malta.

The application is normally processed in approximately two to three months. If successful, the residence card is valid for one year. Each residence card is tied to the employer whose contract of employment was included in the application process. Thus, the card would cease to be valid if the applicant no longer remains in employment with that particular employer. Single permit applications may also be submitted to Identity Malta by the employer on behalf of applicants who are still abroad. In such cases, once the application is approved, a document authorizing the applicant to come to Malta and work is received by the employer. At this stage, applicants requiring a visa to come to Malta can use the authorization document to obtain a visa and once they are in Malta they can complete the single permit process.

How do you get a work permit in Malta?

The process for obtaining single permits is long and takes time to be resolved. Employers have to prove, barring few exceptions, that they have tried to fill the vacancies with persons from Malta or EU/EFTA countries, before submitting an application for a prospective TCN employee. Each application must be accompanied by copies of vacancy adverts and a covering letter from the Employer who is required to state a reason for employing the TCN applicant. There are exceptions if the vacancies are for applicants in the areas mentioned below:

1. 1. Health Related Professionals (Personal Care Workers, Chemists, Doctors, Nurses, Veterinarians)
   2. Technical & Building Professionals (Architects and Civil Engineers, Engineers (Electronics), Geologists, Geophysicists, Engineers in aviation maintenance)
   3. IT and Gaming Professionals (Computer network professionals, Computer Programmers, IT Consultants, Computer Hardware & Software Engineers, Systems analysts, Gaming Developers, Games Presenters, Product Owners, Site Developers, Search Marketers, Tech Developers)
   4. Finance and Education Professionals (Accountants, Auditors, Tax Related Professionals, University and higher education teachers/lecturers)
   5. Culture and entertainment industry

For regulated professions, approval from the respective Regulatory Body needs to be submitted with the application, indicating that the TCN is authorized to practice the said profession.

What Are the Requirements to Obtain a Work Visa in Malta?

Typical Maltase Visa Requirements includes:

1. 1. A duly completed visa application form
   2. A cover letter stating the purpose of the applicant’s trip to Malta
   3. A valid passport with at least two blank pages
   4. Two passport photos
   5. Proof that the applicant has travel medical insurance coverage for the entire Schengen area
   6. An employment contract with a company based in Malta
   7. Proof of accommodations for the duration of the applicant’s time in Malta

Foreign nationals will also need an employment license to work in Malta. The requirements for a Maltese employment license include:

1. 1. A completed application form
   2. A copy of the applicant’s CV
   3. A copy of the applicant’s visa if they are already in Malta
   4. A cover letter from the applicant’s employer
   5. One passport photo
   6. References and testimonials of the applicant qualifications

The EU Blue Card

The EU Blue Card offers a one-track procedure for highly-skilled non-EU citizens to apply for a work permit which will be valid for at least one year, but may be renewed thereafter. These applications will be treated favourably, but certain conditions – including proof that the job in question requires highly-qualified individuals and that it involves the payment of at least 1.5 times the average annual gross salary paid in Malta – have to be met. It is also essential to note that an EU Blue Card is not withdrawn if the person falls out of employment, unless it occurs more than once or the unemployment period exceeds three consecutive months during the period of validity of the card.

Do I need to learn Maltese to get a job?

For most skilled positions in the private sector, you don’t need to speak Maltese. It is a bonus if you can learn it when you get here though – this might take your Maltese colleagues by surprise but if you persevere you’ll gain a lot of cultural brownie points. For white collar jobs, the business language is generally English.

Will I find a job easily?

If you work in IT (especially gaming), you’re golden. Legal, financial, pharmaceutical, medical and tourism experts are also likely to get their feet under the desk pretty quickly. Even outside of these sectors, the booming Maltese economy means there’s work available – it might just take a little longer to match your skills to a job, and at least initially, you might need to be less picky than normal. Here’s a bit more about sectors in demand in Malta.