Dedicated specialist guide available
What applies to me?
Answer three questions to choose the safest starting guide. This does not replace official confirmation, but it helps you avoid reading the wrong route first.
Is this your first Malta Single Permit application?
Is the job in tourism, hospitality, hotels, restaurants, or bars?
Are you already in Malta with a valid residence or work permit?
Alex in Malta videos for pre-departure prep
Public YouTube embeds for daily life, arrival expectations, and practical Malta context before the official course.
Living in Malta for 11 Years (Honest Reality)
Alex in Malta · EN
20 essential tips about Malta you need to know
Alex in Malta · EN
Asking people How Much Rent they Pay in Malta
Alex in Malta · EN
Study Hub preparation
Worried about the Phase 2 interview? Practice the exact topics it tests.
MaltaPathway's Study Hub starts with a free sample and offers full 30-day or 15-day prep plans for pre-departure topics: worker rights, employment law, health & safety, and life in Malta. Your free account also includes a step-by-step permit pathway and deadline reminders.
No card needed to create an account. Paid prep plans unlock inside Study Hub.
Next steps after arrival
Do not stop at the course certificate.
First-time workers also need to understand employer changes, sector rules, housing pressure, and the Study Hub topics that can come up in onboarding or interviews.
What is the Malta pre-departure course?
The pre-departure orientation course is a mandatory online programme that first-time Single Permit applicants from third countries must complete before travelling to Malta. It was introduced in January 2026; Identità began verifying completion certificates on 1 March 2026.
Identità Malta The course is designed to prepare applicants for life and work in Malta by covering legal rights, obligations, cultural orientation, and practical information.
Course structure
According to published Identità Malta information, the course consists of:
- Two online modules — Living and Working in Malta and Rights and Obligations in the Workplace. Each module includes 10–12 hours of learning (about 20–24 hours in total). Candidates have up to 42 days to complete Part 1 and can revisit course materials before the final interview.
- Assessments — Each module ends with an assessment you must pass before moving on.
- Live interview — A roughly 20-minute live interview after both modules, checking your English and your understanding of the course. It is conducted by the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS) in Malta or an authorised Global Assessment Centre (often co-located with VFS Global).
Identità Malta / Skills Pass The course is delivered through the Skills Pass Portal. The portal opened on 5 January 2026, and Identità began verifying completion certificates as part of the Single Permit process from 1 March 2026.
Official pages describe the interview differently: Identità says a live online interview held at ITS Malta or an authorised Global Assessment Centre; the Skills Pass site says a short in-person interview at your nearest VFS centre, or an online face-to-face interview at ITS or VFS. Confirm the format when you book.
What the course covers
Identità names two modules, Living and Working in Malta and Rights and Obligations in the Workplace. It does not publish a lesson-by-lesson syllabus.
Two named modules — lesson-level detail still light
Fees
Confirm the published fees
Identità Malta The published fee on the Identità pre-departure page is €250.
Skills Pass Skills Pass pages show €245 plus a €5 Phase 2 booking fee.
Phase 1 and Phase 2 — what's the difference?
The pre-departure course is structured in two phases, sometimes referred to as Phase 1 and Phase 2:
- Phase 1 — Online modules: Two online modules, each approximately 10–12 hours. You complete these before the live interview. Covers Maltese law, worker rights, cultural orientation, and practical information.
- Phase 2 — Live interview: A 20-minute live interview conducted after both modules are passed. This is the final step before your pre-departure course completion certificate is issued.
Identità's own page calls these Part 1 (the course, including the interview) and Part 2 (sector-specific skills, for tourism and hospitality). The Skills Pass portal calls the online exams Phase 1 and the interview Phase 2.
The Skills Pass booking fee of €5 applies specifically to Phase 2 (the live interview booking). This is separate from the Phase 1 module fee.
One Phase 2 interview for tourism and hospitality
Who needs to complete it?
The course applies to first-time Single Permit applicants from third countries. Workers in tourism and hospitality have additional requirements through the Skills Pass programme on top of the pre-departure course.
Identità exempts people who currently hold or previously held a Single Permit (unless they apply again as first-time applicants after leaving the Schengen area, or through a Still Abroad application) and third-country nationals who have lived in Malta for eight years or more.
How to register for the pre-departure course
Registration and completion happen through the official Identità Malta pre-departure portal. Follow these steps:
- Register on the Pre-Departure Portal at skillspass.org.mt. The Skills Pass site says all prospective third-country national employees apply there.
- Pay the course fee and start Phase 1.
- Complete Phase 1 (online modules) — Log in to the portal and complete both online modules. Each module takes approximately 10–12 hours. Assessments must be passed before proceeding.
- Book Phase 2 (live interview) — Once both Phase 1 modules are passed, book your 20-minute live interview through the portal. A €5 booking fee applies (per Skills Pass published fees).
- Complete the live interview — Attend your scheduled Phase 2 interview. If passed, you receive your pre-departure course completion certificate.
- Certificate: Identità checks it as part of your first Single Permit application.
Where the course actually lives
Tourism & hospitality workers: you need both
Free account — no payment needed
Track your pre-departure course progress, practice with flashcards, and get deadline reminders.
Good to know
In-country course for existing workers
Malta has also introduced a new in-country integration course for workers already in Malta, tied to longer renewal periods in some cases. This is separate from the pre-departure course. We could not open the official announcement when we checked on 9 October 2026; confirm on identita.gov.mt.
In-country course details evolving
How to prepare
While waiting for the course to become available to you, you can prepare by familiarising yourself with Malta's employment laws, your rights as a worker, and practical aspects of daily life in Malta. Our Study Hub starts with a free sample and offers full prep plans with lessons, flashcards, and quizzes based on published course topics.
Turn this into your document checklist
Build a checklist for your own situation, so nothing is missing when your employer files — and you can see what is still on you.
Open Trip CanvasBuild a free prep kit before you travel
Use the practical kit for first-time workers: study plan, document checklist, interview prompts, fee tracker, and reminders. No payment, no approval claims, and no hidden checkout.
This is preparation support only, not immigration advice or an approval guarantee.
Open the prep kitFrequently asked questions
Do I need the pre-departure course if I am renewing my permit?+
No. The mandatory pre-departure course applies only to first-time Single Permit applicants. If you are renewing an existing permit, you are not required to complete it. However, Malta has introduced a separate in-country integration course for some renewal cases — check the renewal guide for details.
Can I work in Malta before completing the pre-departure course?+
Not by completing the course after you arrive. The certificate is required for the first-time Single Permit application and must be completed before you come to Malta for work.
How long does the Malta pre-departure course take?+
The two online modules (Phase 1) take approximately 10–12 hours each, for a total of around 20–24 hours of study. The Phase 2 live interview is 20 minutes.
What happens if I fail the pre-departure course interview?+
Official pages do not say what happens if you fail the interview. Ask the Skills Pass team (contact details on tourism.skillspass.org.mt) before booking.
Is the Skills Pass the same as the pre-departure course?+
No — they are separate requirements. The pre-departure course is mandatory for all first-time TCN Single Permit applicants regardless of sector. The Skills Pass is an additional requirement specifically for workers in tourism and hospitality. If you work in those sectors, you need both.
Is the Malta pre-departure course free?+
Identità lists EUR 250; the Skills Pass site lists EUR 245 plus a EUR 5 Phase 2 booking fee. The pages do not say whether these are the same total, so confirm on the portal before paying.
Where do I register for the Identità Malta pre-departure course?+
Registration is through the Pre-Departure Portal at skillspass.org.mt. The Skills Pass site says employers must check that workers hold valid certificates before applying for a Single Permit.
What is Phase 1 of the Malta pre-departure course?+
Phase 1 consists of two online modules, each approximately 10–12 hours. You must pass the assessments in each module before moving on. Phase 1 must be completed before you can book the Phase 2 live interview.
What is Phase 2 of the Malta pre-departure course?+
Phase 2 is a 20-minute live interview after both Phase 1 modules are passed. A €5 booking fee applies when you schedule the interview. Passing Phase 2 gives you the completion certificate. Identità checks it as part of your first-time Single Permit application.
What language is the Malta pre-departure course in?+
Identità does not publish the course language. It says the live interview verifies English language proficiency.
Sources
- Single Permit - Pre-Departure Course
Identità Malta (identita.gov.mt) · Verified
- Skills Pass – Tourism & Hospitality
Skills Pass Malta · Verified