The Single Permit: employing a non-EU national in Malta
A third-country national needs a Single Permit to work in Malta, and the employer drives the application. This guide covers the process, the fast track and the timing.
A citizen of a country outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland may not work in Malta without authorisation, and the authorisation is the Single Permit: one document, issued by Identità, that combines the residence permit and the right to work for a named employer. It is applied for by the employer on the employee's behalf and it is tied to that job. An EU citizen needs none of this and simply registers.
The employer's application
The employer submits the application with the employment contract, the employee's passport and qualifications, proof of accommodation in Malta, health insurance, and a police conduct certificate. Before the permit is issued, Jobsplus, the national employment agency, considers whether the vacancy could be filled from the local and EU labour market. For skilled roles where the shortage is evident the test is a formality; for others the employer must show the vacancy was advertised.
The employee may not start work until the permit is approved. Applications from abroad are lodged before the employee travels; applications from an employee already legally in Malta on another basis can be lodged locally.
The Key Employee Initiative
For senior and highly skilled roles there is a fast track. The Key Employee Initiative applies to managerial and technical posts above a salary threshold set by Identità, and to holders of the relevant qualifications; the permit is issued within about five working days of a complete application, valid for a year and renewable for longer periods. A parallel Specialist Employee Initiative covers technical roles below the KEI threshold. Both remove the labour-market test.
Timing and validity
An ordinary Single Permit application takes several weeks to a few months from a complete file, depending on the volume Identità is handling. The permit is issued for one year and renewed annually while the employment continues. After five years of continuous legal residence the holder may apply for long-term residence status, which is no longer tied to an employer.
Changing employer
The permit names the employer. An employee who changes job needs a new application from the new employer, and the old permit lapses. An employer who ends the employment must notify Identità and Jobsplus.
The employer's other duties
The employer registers the engagement with Jobsplus, operates payroll under the Final Settlement System, pays social security contributions, and must apply Maltese employment law, including the minimum conditions on hours, leave and termination, in the same way as for any other employee.
Frequently asked questions
- Who applies for the Single Permit, the employer or the employee?
- The employer, on the employee's behalf. The permit names the employer and is tied to that employment.
- How long does a Malta work permit take?
- Weeks to a few months for an ordinary application, depending on Identità's workload. The Key Employee Initiative issues a permit in about five working days for qualifying senior and technical roles.
- Does an EU citizen need a work permit for Malta?
- No. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens work in Malta under free movement and register as residents after three months.