Do I need a work permit to work in Malta as a non-EU citizen?

Yes. Third-country nationals need a residence permit that allows work before starting work in Malta. The Single Permit, a combined work and residence permit, is the most common. The application is submitted by your employer to Identità Malta; you cannot file it yourself.

How long does it take to get a work permit for Malta?

Identità Malta and Jobsplus state that a Single Permit application may take up to four months to process. Since 1 March 2026, Identità also checks a pre-departure course certificate for first-time applications (some people are exempt).

Can I work in Malta while my permit application is being processed?

No. It is illegal to start work before your Single Permit or the relevant approval has been issued. Do not make irreversible decisions, like quitting your current job, based only on an expected approval date.

What if I want to change employer or my permit is about to expire?

Since 1 August 2025, a third-country national whose employment is terminated is granted 30 days to remain in Malta and seek new work, extendable by a further 30 days — 60 in total — on proof of sufficient financial means. The change of employer application is submitted by your NEW employer, not by you; Identità may consider an application filed within 60 days of your termination date. Renewals should be started well before your permit expires. Identità’s Change of Employer page says your status is treated as irregular during that 60-day window; ask Identità how this applies to you.

Third-country nationals

Work in Malta

The permit, the courses, the renewals, and your rights once you are here. Every number on these pages carries the official source it came from — and where the official source is unclear, we say so instead of inventing certainty.

AI illustration · MaltaPathway

Where are you?

Before you payIs your job offer real?Before you pay an agent anything. Before applying for a new worker from abroad, most employers must have advertised the vacancy on Jobsplus and EURES for three weeks (two for some skilled routes) in the two months before applying. Some jobs, including health and care roles, are exempt. Ask your employer for proof of the advertisement.
Start here2026 Worker Requirements TrackerUnsure which of the Single Permit, pre-departure course, Skills Pass, renewal or employer-change rules apply to you? Start here.
Most commonSingle PermitThe combined work and residence permit. Filed by your employer, confirmed by you — never the other way round.
Stuck?What your portal status meansAll 14 statuses, quoted from Identità's own guide, with who has to act next — and when the honest answer is nobody.
RequiredPre-Departure CourseRequired for first-time applications; Identità checks the certificate from 1 March 2026. Two modules, assessments, and a live interview.
Sector-specificSkills Pass — tourism & hospitalityAn extra, sector-specific requirement on top of the pre-departure course. Phase 1 is the easy one.
Changing jobsChange of employerYour job ended: 30 days to stay and look for work, extendable to 60. Your new employer files, not you.
RenewingPermit renewalRenewing before your permit expires: Identità says to apply up to 90 days before expiry and while your current permit is still valid.
TransitioningStudent to work permitAlready in Malta on a student permit? Switching to a Single Permit after you graduate.
Remote workNomad vs Single PermitRemote work from Malta and employment in Malta are different routes. Compare before choosing the wrong one.

Once you are working

By sector

By nationality

The process is the same whatever your passport. What changes is the consulate, the visa requirement, and the paperwork your own country wants before you leave.

Before you land

If your job starts on or after 1 October 2025, your wages must be paid by bank transfer to an account in your name, or by electronic transfer through a licensed and accredited financial institution. Ask your employer which account or licensed electronic transfer service they will pay into before your first payday.

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