Skip to content

Independent Malta immigration reference · Verified against official guidance

Malta·Pathway

Malta Skills Pass 2026

For tourism and hospitality workers: who needs the Skills Pass, what Phase 1 and Phase 2 involve, what fees to expect, and where it fits before Single Permit issuance.

Verified against Skills Pass Malta · Identità Malta
Last checked 30 June 2026

Dedicated specialist guide available

For the complete Tourism and Hospitality Skills Pass guide — registration, certificate, assessment details, and login steps — visit maltaskillspass.org, the dedicated specialist guide for this programme.

What is the Skills Pass?

The Skills Pass is a sector-specific certification programme for third-country nationals working in Malta's tourism and hospitality industry. It adds additional preparation requirements on top of the standard pre-departure orientation course.

Skills Pass Malta Tourism and hospitality is currently the only sector with a publicly listed Skills Pass requirement.

Use this guide before opening the official Skills Pass Malta login or registration portal: it explains whether your role is likely covered, which phases matter, and which Single Permit step the certificate supports.

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.

Advisory tool

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?

How it relates to the pre-departure course

The Skills Pass is not a replacement for the pre-departure course. Workers in tourism and hospitality must complete both:

  • Pre-departure orientation course — the general mandatory course for all first-time third-country national applicants.
  • Skills Pass modules — additional sector-specific content covering tourism and hospitality standards, customer service, and sector-specific regulations.

What it covers

Based on the official Skills Pass Portal, the programme runs in two phases:

  • Phase 1 — online training and assessment: an English Proficiency Test plus short courses — Basic Customer Care, the Basic Maltese Tourism Product course, and Basic English for Hospitality — and an online skills assessment for your specific job. Candidates are typically given 42 days to complete it.
  • Phase 2 — verification interview: a scheduled online video interview (booked a few weeks ahead). Third-country nationals may be asked to attend at a VFS Global centre or the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS) in Malta, depending on their visa situation.

Skills Pass Malta Registration and assessment are handled on the Skills Pass Portal (skillspass.org.mt). The requirement has been phased in — mandatory from 28 May 2024, required for work-permit renewals from January 2025, and (under Subsidiary Legislation 409.22) extended to all tourism and hospitality workers, including EU and Maltese nationals, from January 2026.

Covers MTA-licensed tourism & hospitality roles

The Skills Pass applies to roles in establishments licensed by the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA). Exact occupational titles and the lesson-level syllabus can change — confirm the current list on the Skills Pass Portal.

Reviewed YouTube videos for tourism and work context

Public YouTube embeds for Malta work sectors and visitor-facing Malta context. These are supplementary videos, not official Skills Pass content.

Maltese tourism product overview

Heritage Malta and VisitMalta · EN

Open on YouTube

Will other sectors be added?

Currently, tourism and hospitality is the only sector with a published Skills Pass requirement. It is possible that other sectors may be added in the future, but there is no confirmed public timeline for this.

Good to know

If you are not working in tourism or hospitality, you do not need the Skills Pass. You still need the standard pre-departure course if you are a first-time applicant from 1 March 2026 onward.

Fees

Skills Pass Malta The Skills Pass pages show a fee of €245 plus a €5 Phase 2 booking fee. Note that this may overlap with or differ from the €250 fee shown on the Identità Malta pre-departure page.

Conflicting sources

See our pre-departure course guide for details on the fee inconsistency between Identità Malta and Skills Pass sources. Confirm the exact fee applicable to your case before paying.

Preparing for the Skills Pass?

Access free flashcards and quizzes covering all Skills Pass topics — hospitality law, food safety, customer service, and more.

Start studying free →

Frequently asked questions

Do I need the Skills Pass if I already completed the pre-departure course?+

Yes. The Skills Pass is an additional requirement on top of the pre-departure course — not a replacement for it. If you work in tourism or hospitality, you must complete both. The pre-departure course covers general workers' rights and integration. The Skills Pass covers sector-specific competencies.

What is the difference between Skills Pass Phase 1 and Phase 2?+

Phase 1 is the online learning module covering hospitality and tourism competencies. Phase 2 is the practical or live assessment component. The €5 booking fee applies to the Phase 2 assessment. Note: Skills Pass Phase 2 is separate from the pre-departure course Phase 2 (live interview) — they are different programmes.

Can I start working in hospitality before completing the Skills Pass?+

No. The Skills Pass must be completed as part of the Single Permit application process. Your permit will not be issued for a covered role until the Skills Pass requirement is met. Starting work without a valid permit would put your immigration status at risk.

How much does the Skills Pass cost?+

The Skills Pass pages show €245 plus a €5 Phase 2 booking fee. Note there is a known inconsistency with the Identità Malta pre-departure page which shows €250 as a combined fee. Verify the exact fee applicable to your case directly on the official Skills Pass or Identità Malta page before paying.

Which jobs in Malta require the Skills Pass?+

The Skills Pass currently applies to workers in tourism and hospitality roles. This includes hotel staff, restaurant workers, bar staff, and related positions. If you are unsure whether your specific role is covered, check with your employer or confirm with Jobsplus before applying.

Will the Skills Pass be required for other sectors in Malta?+

As of June 2026, tourism and hospitality is the only sector with a published Skills Pass requirement. There is no confirmed public timeline for expanding it to other sectors. Monitor official announcements from Jobsplus and Identità Malta.

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 Canvas

Build 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 kit

Get Skills Pass rule updates

We will send a short update if official Skills Pass fees, phases, or sector coverage changes.

Unsubscribe anytime. We never share your email.

Know someone in tourism or hospitality?

ShareWhatsAppFacebook

Next

Sources