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Employment & Work Authorisation in Malta

We help you hire employees in Malta and set up your team: contracts, payroll and social security, and work-authorisation support for EU and non-EU staff.

Timeframe2–6 weeks
Legal basisEmployment & Industrial Relations Act
First stepHiring assessment

What is included

Contract drafting, payroll and social-security set-up, and coordination on work and residence authorisation for EU and non-EU employees.

Who it is for

Companies establishing or growing a Maltese team, and employers relocating international talent.

Documents you will typically need

Frequently asked questions

Do non-EU nationals need authorisation to work in Malta?
Yes. Non-EU nationals generally need combined authorisation to work and reside in Malta; EU nationals do not need authorisation but must register.
How long does Malta work authorisation take?
Timelines vary by nationality and route, typically from 2 to 6 weeks once the required information is complete.
Can we employ staff without a Malta company?
In most cases you need a Maltese employing entity; we can advise on the fastest compliant route for your situation.

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Guides

The Single Permit: employing a non-EU national in Malta

Related services

Hiring in Malta touches four other things at once: the payroll that pays the employee, the residence permit that lets a non-EU hire stay, the company that employs them, and the contract they sign. Each is a service of its own.

Outsourced payroll in Malta as part of the accounting service

Once the employee is hired, somebody has to run payroll every month: compute tax and social security under the Final Settlement System, pay them to the tax administration, and file the annual FS forms. Outsourced payroll is part of the accounting service, so hiring and paying staff are one engagement.

Residence permits for employees and their families

A Single Permit gives a non-EU employee the right to live and work in Malta; their spouse and children need residence permits of their own, and a senior hire may want a tax status decision. Residence services take the family's position from the point where the work permit ends.

Forming the Maltese company that will be the employer

A work permit is applied for by a Maltese employer, so a business that is not yet registered here has to be before it can hire. Company formation creates the employer of record, with the tax and Jobsplus registrations an employment relationship requires.

Employment contracts, service agreements and contractor terms

Maltese law sets minimum terms for an employment contract, and the difference between an employee and a contractor is decided by the contract and the facts, not by the label. Contract drafting covers the employment agreement, the consultancy agreement, and the non-compete and confidentiality clauses that go with them.