Expatriates Unit
Third-country nationals may apply for admission for the purpose of conducting research with a recognised research organisation, in accordance with Subsidiary Legislation 217.22 – Conditions of Entry and Residence of Third-Country Nationals for the Purposes of Research and Studies Regulations.
This regulation is aligned with EU Directive 2016/801 and facilitates the mobility and residence of qualified researchers in Malta.
This permit is issued to third country nationals who hold a higher education qualification that gives access to doctoral programmes (typically a Master's degree or higher), and who have been selected by a recognised research organisation in Malta to carry out a research project.
Application Process:
Accredited Research Organisations may apply on behalf of a third-country national through the Single Permit Online Portal.
Follow these guidelines to apply and gain access to the online application portal. Once access is approved by Identità, the Research Organisation can log into the Single Permit Online Portal. Guidelines to submit and manage existing applications can be found here.
Once the Research Organisation submits an application, the third-country national receives a link to confirm the application and validate the information submitted. Once the TCN confirms, the employer will receive a notification for the final submission of the application.
Once payment is submitted, the Research Organisation may submit the application to Identità.