Working & Residing in Malta

Your Guide to Working & Residing in Malta

Identità is here to assist and guide you on the procedures you need to follow to legally work and reside in Malta. The Expatriates Unit administers the legal migration process, handling the processing and issuing of residence documents, in accordance with applicable European directives and national legislation.

Identità carries out this work in conjunction with its various stakeholders, primarily the Malta Police Force and Jobsplus, Malta’s Public Employment Service.

Who Needs a Residence Document in Malta?

EU, EEA, and Swiss Nationals:

If you are an EU citizen, you may reside in Malta for up to three months without a registration certificate. If your stay exceeds three months, you need to provide proof that you are exercising your Treaty Rights and have an obligation to apply for an eResidence Document. This obligation applies to EU Nationals exercising their freedom of movement for the purposes established by the Freedom of Movement Directive, i.e. employment, study, family reunification, or being economically self-sufficient.

EEA (Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland), British, and Swiss Nationals enjoy some similar favourable conditions to EU Nationals.

Non-EU Nationals:

You are required to hold a valid Residence Permit to lawfully work and reside in Malta. The eResidence Document indicates the legal basis and scope of your residence.

Employment Residence Permit

The Single Permit is the most common employment residence permit. It is regulated by the EU Directive on a single application procedure, transposed into Maltese law under S.L. 217.17.

Basic Requirements

The applicant must be outside Schengen or already holds a legal migration status in Malta. Applicants outside Schengen must apply before entering Malta.

The applicant must have a confirmed job offer from a Maltese employer.

The application is initiated and submitted online by the employer and endorsed by the applicant before payment. Applications are only accepted through the online system.

An application is only considered submitted once all required supporting documents have been provided.

A visa may also be required. A list of visa-exempt countries may be obtained from here . The visa process is handled by Identità’s Central Visa Unit.
The applicant can only start employment after receiving official documentation in the form of an Interim Receipt or the actual eResident document.

Further details on all Employment-Related Residence Permits can be found at this link.

Highly qualified workers’ schemes

The Highly Qualified Workers’ scheme is designed for third-country nationals employed in specialised roles, offering attractive tax incentives to encourage skilled professionals to work in Malta.

There are three main schemes are the EU Blue Card, the Key Employee Initiative (KEI), and the Specialist Employee Initiative (SEI).

The EU Blue Card allows highly qualified non-EU nationals to live and work in an EU country if they hold advanced professional qualifications and a high-salary job offer or contract.
For more information, please click here.

The Key Employee Initiative and Specialist Employee Initiative are two distinct fast-track routes.

The Key Employee Initiative (KEI): This process is open to third-country nationals offered managerial or highly technical roles in Malta that require the right qualifications or proven experience.
- Eligibility criteria: annual gross salary of at least €45,000 and certified copies of qualifications, warrants, or evidence of relevant work experience.
- For more information about the eligibility criteria, please click here.
SEI: This pathway is for highly skilled third-country nationals who do not qualify for the Key Employee Initiative but have the academic, vocational, or technical skills required for their job offer in Malta.
- Eligibility criteria: annual gross salary of at least €35,000 and hold either an MQF Level 6+ qualification related to the job, or a lower-level qualification with at least 3 years’ directly relevant experience. Proof of experience must be shown through contracts, certified employment history, or reference letters from former employers.
- For more information about the eligibility criteria, please click here.

Benefits for Holders of a Single Permit in Malta

All third-country nationals who are lawfully residing and employed in Malta shall be entitled to a common set of rights, ensuring equal treatment with Maltese nationals, in respect of:

Working conditions, including pay, dismissal and health and safety at work;
Freedom of association and union/employer organisation membership, with related benefits (subject to public policy and security rules);
Access to education and vocational training applicable to third-country nationals who were admitted to Malta for the purpose of employment;
Recognition of diplomas, certificates, and professional qualifications under Maltese law.
Tax benefits, provided they are tax-resident in Malta and in comparable circumstances to Maltese nationals.
Equal access to goods, services, and any special rights granted by law.

Obligations

Holders of eResidence Permits in Malta are obliged to:

Ensure that they continue to hold a legal migration status at all times.
Inform Identità immediately if the scope of residence no longer applies, as the permit will not regularise the stay in Malta.
Comply with all national laws and regulations, including employment and health regulations.

Fees & Permit Duration

First time Single Permit: €600
Single Permit Renewal: €150 per year
Change of Employer: €600
Most permits are issued for 1 year, though some cases may qualify for 2–3 years.
Renewal applications should be submitted up to 90 days before expiry.

Decision & Appeals

A decision on a single permit application may take up to 4 months, in line with the Single Permit Regulations (SL 217.17 of the Laws of Malta)
Decisions are subject to public policy, security checks, and labour market testing.
In the case of a refusal, the applicant may lodge an appeal with the Immigration Appeals Board within 3 days.

Family Reunification

Persons who qualify under the conditions stipulated in Subsidiary Legislation 217.06 are issued with a residence permit for family reunification with the sponsor, who has already been issued a residence permit in Malta.

Visa Requirements and Application Process

A visa is an authorisation that authorises the bearer to stay in or travel through Malta during a limited and specified period of time. The possession of a visa does not give the third-country national the automatic right of entry, as bearers must prove that they meet entry requirements.

Malta mainly issues two (2) types of visas:

The Schengen Visa (short stay), which is issued for a period not exceeding 90 days and is regulated by the EU’s harmonised provisions; and

The National Visa (long stay / D-Visa), which is issued for a period exceeding 90 days, but no longer than 365 days, and in accordance with national rules.

Identità’s Central Visa Unit processes National (D) Visa Applications through the VFS Global network.

Applying for a National (D) Visa

To apply for a National (D) Visa, you may access this link, and then choose your country. Book an appointment online by creating an account and logging in with your credentials. On the appointment day, attend the VFS office with your appointment letter, the required documents (see checklists) and a valid passport.

Applicants must also pay the VFS service fee.

Processing time is approximately eight weeks from the date the application is submitted.

Visa Appeals Procedure

When a Visa application is refused, annulled or revoked, the applicant has a right to appeal within fifteen (15) days of this notification. When lodging the appeal, a copy of the refusal letter is attached, as well as any documents the applicant may deem relevant.

The Appeal may be lodged through this link, or else in person, or through a representative, by visiting the offices of the Immigration Appeals Board at the following address:

Immigration Appeals Board,