Getting a Malta work visa or receiving approval to work in Malta is an important milestone—but visa approval should not be treated as the final step of the journey.
For third-country nationals (TCNs), Malta has introduced several important labour-migration measures in 2025 and 2026. These include the Pre-Departure Course, strengthened health-screening procedures, requirements for workers in tourism and hospitality, and changes to the Single Permit process.
As of August 2026, anyone preparing to travel to Malta for employment should make sure that their documentation and mandatory requirements are completed before departure.
This guide explains the main steps.
Important: Requirements can differ according to nationality, occupation, permit type and individual circumstances. The information below is based primarily on official Maltese government and Identità sources available as of August 2026.
1. First, Understand What Your Malta Work Permission Actually Is
For many non-EU workers, the main employment route is Malta’s Single Permit.
Identità describes the Single Permit as a temporary residence permit that allows a third-country national to legally reside and work in Malta for a defined period of more than six months, subject to the applicable conditions and renewal rules. The application combines the employment licence and residence-permit process.
The permit is also job- and employer-specific.
A Malta residence permit does not give a worker the right to simply move to another EU country and start working there. Identità specifically states that employment must be located in Malta and that holding a residence permit does not give the holder the right to employment movement within the EU.
Before departure, therefore, check:
- Your employer’s name
- Your job title
- Your employment contract
- Salary and employment conditions
- Permit validity
- Your passport details
- The conditions attached to your work authorisation
Do not assume that a Malta work permit is a general European work permit.
2. Complete the Malta Pre-Departure Course
One of the most significant changes for new foreign workers in Malta in 2026 is the introduction of the Pre-Departure Course.
The course was officially launched on 5 January 2026.
From 1 March 2026, Identità began formally verifying Pre-Departure Course certificates as part of the work-permit process for new and still-abroad third-country nationals.
The official Maltese government describes it as a requirement for first-time Single Permit applicants.
What does the course involve?
According to Identità, the process is completed online through the Skills Pass Portal and is followed by an in-person verification interview at a designated assessment centre.
The course covers important information intended to prepare workers for life and employment in Malta, including areas such as:
- Living and working in Malta
- Rights and obligations at the workplace
- Practical information about the country
- Integration and responsible participation in Maltese society
💶 Course fee
The official fee is currently €250.
Why is this important?
If you are a first-time applicant who is still abroad, completing the course is not something that should be left until the last moment.
Your Pre-Departure Course certificate is now formally verified as part of the work-permit process.
Practical advice
Do not simply pay for a course and assume that the requirement is complete.
Make sure you:
- Register through the official process.
- Complete the online course.
- Complete the required assessment/interview.
- Obtain the relevant certificate.
- Keep evidence of completion for your immigration documentation.
3. Working in Tourism or Hospitality? Check Your Skills Pass
If your Malta job is in the tourism and hospitality industry, there is an additional requirement that candidates need to understand.
Identità states that applicants for a Single Permit to work in Malta’s tourism and hospitality sector must submit a Skills Pass issued by the Malta Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS) as part of their supporting documentation.
This is particularly relevant for positions such as:
- Chef
- Cook
- Waiter/Waitress
- Restaurant staff
- Hotel staff
- Room attendants
- Other qualifying tourism and hospitality positions
The exact Skills Pass requirements depend on the applicable occupation and sector rules.
Important 2026 distinction
The Skills Pass should not be confused with the new Pre-Departure Course.
They are separate requirements.
For qualifying tourism and hospitality workers, candidates may need to satisfy both:
Pre-Departure Course + Tourism/Hospitality Skills Pass
The Maltese government has also confirmed that the Skills Pass remains obligatory for third-country nationals in the sectors where it applies. A planned expansion to Maltese and EU nationals was deferred to 1 January 2027; this does not remove the requirement for applicable third-country nationals.
4. Complete the Required Health Screening
Health screening is another area that changed significantly in 2026.
From 4 May 2026, Malta introduced a new automated health-screening system for work-permit applications.
Identità states that:
Paper-based health-screening submissions are no longer accepted for new applications, renewals or changes of job.
The authority also states that health screening is now required for all third-country nationals, including nationals from low-risk tuberculosis countries undertaking “other” job categories, as part of the work-permit process.
This means candidates should not rely on older information about whether their nationality or occupation was previously exempt from particular screening requirements.
Before travelling:
Check that:
- Your required health screening has been completed.
- The process was completed through the current official system.
- Any required approval/documentation has been received.
- Your employer or authorised representative has the relevant confirmation.
Identità’s current still-abroad Single Permit checklist specifically includes Health Screening Approval among the documentation required in the process.
5. Make Sure Your Single Permit Process Is Properly Completed
A third-country national generally does not submit the Malta Single Permit application independently.
Identità states that where a third-country national receives a job offer from a company registered and operating in Malta, the prospective employer applies online on the worker’s behalf, and the employer must be registered with Jobsplus.
For applications submitted while the worker is still abroad, Identità states that the applicant and employer receive an Approval in Principle (AIP) letter by email.
The applicant can then follow the instructions in the AIP to apply for an entry visa, where applicable, and arrange biometric capture.
This means candidates should keep copies of:
- Approval in Principle letter
- Employment contract
- Passport
- Work-permit documentation
- Entry visa, where applicable
- Pre-Departure Course certificate
- Health-screening approval
- Skills Pass documentation, where applicable
6. Check Whether You Need a Malta National Long-Stay Visa
Receiving work authorisation and receiving an entry visa are not necessarily the same thing.
Identità states that a visa may also be required, depending on the applicant’s nationality and circumstances.
For those who require a national long-stay visa, the Central Visa Unit’s requirements include employment-related documentation such as:
- Proof of employment
- Employment licence or Approval in Principle letter
- Other required supporting documents
The AIP must be valid when the visa application is made.
Before departure, verify:
Is my entry visa required?
If yes:
Has it been issued and is it valid for my intended travel?
Do not purchase non-refundable travel arrangements based only on the expectation that a visa will be issued.
7. Check Every Detail on Your Documents
Before boarding the flight, carefully compare your documents.
Check:
Passport
✔ Name
✔ Passport number
✔ Date of birth
✔ Expiry date
Visa
✔ Name
✔ Passport number
✔ Validity dates
✔ Number/type of entries where applicable
Employment documents
✔ Employer name
✔ Position
✔ Salary
✔ Contract duration
✔ Place of employment
Immigration documents
✔ Approval in Principle
✔ Single Permit information
✔ Pre-Departure Course certificate
✔ Health-screening confirmation
✔ Skills Pass, where applicable
A small error in a document can create unnecessary problems during travel or after arrival.
8. Keep Both Digital and Physical Copies
Before travelling, create a secure folder containing copies of your important documents.
We recommend keeping:
📁 Passport copy
📁 Visa copy
📁 Employment contract
📁 AIP letter
📁 Work-permit documents
📁 Pre-Departure Course certificate
📁 Health-screening documentation
📁 Skills Pass certificate, if applicable
📁 Accommodation details
📁 Employer contact details
📁 Emergency contact information
Keep copies in more than one secure location.
For example:
Phone + secure cloud storage + printed copies
This can be extremely useful if your luggage or phone is lost.
9. Do Not Start Working Before You Are Legally Authorised
Getting to Malta does not automatically mean that you can immediately start working.
Identità states that a worker can only start employment after receiving official documentation in the form of an Interim Receipt or the actual eResidence document.
Therefore, workers should follow the instructions given by Identità and their employer regarding:
- Biometric registration
- Residence documentation
- Employment commencement
- Any remaining immigration formalities
Never assume:
“I have entered Malta, therefore I can start work.”
Your legal right to work depends on your immigration and employment authorisation.
10. Do Not Change Jobs Informally
Your Malta work authorisation is connected to your employment situation.
If you want to change employers or your employment circumstances change, follow the appropriate legal procedure.
Do not rely on advice such as:
“Just start working for another company and change the permit later.”
Immigration and employment permissions need to be handled through the appropriate authorities and procedures.
This is particularly important because Malta’s Single Permit is an employment-related residence permit and the employment must be located in Malta.
11. Understand That Malta Is Not a Shortcut to Work Anywhere in Europe
This point deserves special attention.
Malta is a member of the Schengen Area, but a Malta work permit does not give a non-EU worker unrestricted employment rights throughout Europe.
Identità explicitly states that holding a Maltese residence permit does not give the holder the right of movement within the EU in terms of employment.
You may have certain short-term travel rights under applicable Schengen rules, but:
Travel rights ≠ employment rights.
For example, a person legally employed in Malta cannot simply travel to Germany, France or Italy and begin working there without obtaining the appropriate legal authorisation.
12. Be Careful With Agents Promising “Guaranteed” Jobs
A visa or work permit should never be treated as permission to ignore Maltese immigration rules.
Be particularly cautious if someone tells you:
❌ “You can work for any company once you arrive.”
❌ “You don’t need the Pre-Departure Course.”
❌ “The Skills Pass is not necessary for hospitality.”
❌ “You can start work immediately without the required documentation.”
❌ “Your Malta permit automatically lets you work anywhere in Europe.”
❌ “We can guarantee permanent residence.”
Immigration rules are legal requirements, not optional procedures.
Always compare information received from an intermediary with official information from Maltese authorities.
13. A Simple Malta 2026 Pre-Departure Checklist
Before leaving for Malta, a new worker should ask:
🛂 Immigration
- Do I have the correct work authorisation?
- Do I have my Approval in Principle documentation?
- Do I require an entry visa?
- If required, has my visa been issued and is it valid?
📚 Pre-Departure
- Have I completed the Malta Pre-Departure Course?
- Have I completed the required verification interview?
- Do I have my certificate?
🏨 Tourism & Hospitality
- Is my occupation covered by the Skills Pass requirement?
- If yes, have I completed the required Skills Pass stages?
🩺 Health
- Have I completed the required health screening?
- Do I have the required approval/confirmation?
📄 Employment
- Do I have a copy of my employment contract?
- Do I know the employer’s name and address?
- Do I understand my salary and working conditions?
- Do I know where I will report for work?
✈️ Travel
- Is my passport valid?
- Are my visa and travel dates correct?
- Do I have printed and digital copies of my documents?
- Do I have accommodation and employer contact information?
14. What Has Changed in Malta in 2026?
For candidates who remember Malta’s older procedures, the following changes are particularly important:
| Requirement / Procedure | 2026 Position |
|---|---|
| Pre-Departure Course | Officially launched January 2026 |
| Pre-Departure Certificate verification | From 1 March 2026 |
| Pre-Departure Course fee | €250 |
| Tourism & Hospitality Skills Pass | Required for applicable third-country applicants |
| Health screening | New automated system from 4 May 2026 |
| Paper health-screening submissions | No longer accepted from 4 May 2026 |
| Single Permit | Employer-led application process |
| Entry visa | Required for applicable nationalities |
| Employment in other EU countries | Not authorised simply by holding Malta residence/work permission |
The dates and requirements above are based on current official Maltese government sources.
Malta Work Visa in 2026: Preparation Is Part of the Process
Obtaining a Malta job offer is an important achievement, but the journey does not end with recruitment.
In 2026, Malta has introduced and strengthened several procedures designed to ensure that third-country workers understand their rights and responsibilities, meet health requirements, and are properly prepared before entering the Maltese labour market.
For a new worker, the key message is simple:
Do not wait until the day before your flight.
Complete the required procedures early, keep your documents organised, verify your immigration status, understand your employment contract, and make sure you know exactly what you are authorised to do in Malta.
A successful move to Malta is not just about getting a visa.
It is about arriving legally, being properly prepared, understanding your rights and responsibilities, and starting your employment in compliance with Maltese law.
Official Sources & Further Reading
🇲🇹 Identità — Malta’s official immigration authority
Pre-Departure Course:
Identità – Pre-Departure Course
Pre-Departure Course verification from 1 March 2026:
Identità – Pre-Departure Course verification notice
Malta Government – Pre-Departure Course:
Home Affairs Malta – Pre-Departure Course
Single Permit application:
Identità – Single Permit Application
Single Permit eligibility:
Identità – Who is eligible for a Single Permit?
Tourism & Hospitality Skills Pass:
Identità – Skills Pass Requirement
Health-screening changes effective 4 May 2026:
Identità – Mandatory Health Screening Change
Long-stay employment visa requirements:
Identità – National Long-Stay Visa
Employment-related residence permits:
Identità – Employment-Related Permits
Still-Abroad Single Permit checklist:
Identità – Still Abroad Single Permit Checklist (PDF)
Final Note
This article is intended for general information and awareness, not individual legal advice. Malta’s immigration and employment requirements can change, and additional requirements may apply depending on the applicant’s nationality, occupation, employer and immigration category.
Before travelling, applicants should verify their individual requirements with Identità, the relevant Maltese authorities, their employer, and/or a qualified immigration professional.
Last reviewed: 25 August 2026.
