Hiring Non-EU Workers in Malta: Permits, Routes and Steps for 2026

Anyone who is not a national of an EU or EEA country or Switzerland needs authorisation to work in Malta, normally a Single Permit. In Maltese practice these workers are called third-country nationals, or TCNs.

EU, EEA and Swiss nationals can start work without a permit. They register their residence with Identità, the agency responsible for residence and work permits, and the employer files the Jobsplus engagement form within 4 working days of the start date.

UK nationals who are not covered by the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement are TCNs and follow the same routes as other non-EU workers. Our guide on UK companies hiring in Malta covers the social security side of those hires.

A non-EU national who lives in Malta while working for an employer abroad may fit the Nomad Residence Permit instead, which is run by Residency Malta Agency and requires gross income of at least €42,000 a year. That permit is designed for people employed outside Malta, so it does not suit a hire onto a Maltese payroll. For a Maltese employment contract, the Single Permit or one of its fast-track routes applies.

The Single Permit is a combined residence and work permit issued by Identità’s Expatriates Unit under S.L. 217.17, and it is tied to one employer. The employer and the worker apply together, and the worker cannot start work until the permit is authorised.

Malta’s Labour Migration Policy, in force since 1 August 2025, set the fee for a first application or a change of employer at €600, and €150 for a renewal. The policy also introduced a quota that limits the number of TCNs a company may employ as a share of its workforce, and it tightened the rules on hiring TCNs through staffing agencies.

Because the permit is tied to one employer, a worker whose job ends has a grace period of 30 days, which can extend to 60, to find a new one. The new employer then files a fresh application and pays the change-of-employer fee.

Identità does not publish a standard processing time for ordinary Single Permit applications, and the time taken depends on the role and on how complete the file is. Plan in weeks rather than days, and avoid promising a fixed start date until authorisation arrives. Current requirements are on the Identità Single Permit page.

The labour market test requires an employer to show that it looked for a suitable candidate in the local and EU labour market before applying for a Single Permit. Under the 2025 policy, the vacancy must be advertised for 3 weeks within the 2 months before the application is filed.

Jobsplus, Malta’s public employment service, is the usual channel for these adverts. Keep a copy of the advert, the dates it ran and a record of the applications received and how each was assessed, because the file may be reviewed.

Some routes are exempt. Applications under the Key Employee Initiative and the Specialist Employee Initiative do not need a labour market test, and neither do health roles. For every other role, build the 3-week advert into the hiring plan from the start, and file the permit application within 2 months of running it.

Salary transparency is also moving up the agenda. The EU Pay Transparency Directive was due to be transposed by 7 June 2026, and salary ranges are expected in job adverts. Check the final Maltese rules before you publish.

The Key Employee Initiative (KEI) and the Specialist Employee Initiative (SEI) are faster Single Permit routes for skilled, well-paid roles, and neither requires a labour market test.

The KEI is aimed at managerial and highly technical roles with a salary of at least €45,000 a year. The threshold was previously €35,000, so older articles quoting lower figures are out of date. Identità processes a complete KEI application within 5 working days, which makes it the quickest employment route for most senior non-EU hires.

The SEI covers specialist roles paid at least €30,000 a year. It suits experienced professionals whose pay sits below the KEI threshold but whose skills are hard to find locally.

Both fast-track routes still depend on complete evidence of qualifications and experience, and a missing document delays the result. For roles paying €65,000 or more in a qualifying sector, also check whether the employee could use the 15% flat tax rate under the Highly Skilled Individuals rules, which replaced the old HQP scheme from 1 January 2026.

The EU Blue Card is an alternative route for highly qualified workers in Malta, giving a permit valid for 2 years with a maximum processing time of 90 days.

The salary threshold is updated from time to time. The most recent figure we can confirm is €34,956, which dates from 2024, so check the current threshold with Identità before relying on it. Many employers choose the KEI when the salary is high enough, because of its shorter processing time, and look at the Blue Card when the employee places more weight on the rights it carries across the EU.

Whichever route applies, the permit is linked to the employing entity. When you hire through an Employer of Record, that entity is the EOR’s Maltese company, which must meet the conditions of the chosen route, including the company quota.

Since 1 March 2026, new Single Permit applicants who are still outside Malta must hold a Pre-Departure Course certificate before their application can be verified. This is a new step, so add it to your hiring checklist, because a missing certificate holds up the whole file.

Applicants for tourism and hospitality roles also need the Skills Pass, and they must complete both of its phases. Build the time this takes into the start date for hotel, restaurant and similar roles.

Some applicants are exempt from the new requirement: current and former Single Permit holders, and TCNs who have lived in Malta for 8 years or more. Everyone else should begin the course as soon as the offer is accepted. The Identità notice on the pre-departure course sets out the current rules.

Hiring a non-EU worker in Malta follows a set order: choose the route, meet its conditions, apply, wait for authorisation, then start the employee and complete the registrations.

• Confirm the route: KEI at €45,000 or more, SEI at €30,000 or more, the EU Blue Card, or a standard Single Permit.
• Run the 3-week labour market test, unless the route or role is exempt.
• Ask the candidate to complete the Pre-Departure Course, plus the Skills Pass for tourism and hospitality roles.
• Issue the employment contract and file the application with Identità, paying the €600 fee.
• Wait for authorisation before the employee does any work.
• Submit the Jobsplus engagement form within 4 working days of the start date and add the employee to the FSS payroll.

Our guide to hiring an employee in Malta covers the contract and payroll stages in more detail.

With Employer of Record Malta, our own Maltese company acts as the employer on the application where the route allows it, prepares the contract and runs payroll once the permit is granted. EU nationals can typically be onboarded within 1–2 days once we have their details. For non-EU hires the permit sets the pace, so speak to our team early and we will confirm which route fits and what the candidate needs to prepare.

Q01How long does a Single Permit take in Malta?+

A.Identità does not publish a standard processing time for ordinary applications, so plan in weeks. A complete Key Employee Initiative application is processed within 5 working days, and the EU Blue Card has a maximum processing time of 90 days.

Q02How much does a Malta Single Permit cost?+

A.Since 1 August 2025 the fee is €600 for a first application or a change of employer, and €150 for a renewal.

Q03Can an Employer of Record sponsor a non-EU worker in Malta?+

A.In many cases the EOR’s Maltese company can act as the employer on the application. Eligibility depends on the route, the company quota and the 2025 rules on staffing agencies, so we confirm each case before the candidate applies.

Q04Do UK citizens need a work permit in Malta?+

A.Yes, unless they are covered by the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. Other UK nationals are third-country nationals and need a Single Permit, a Key Employee Initiative permit or an EU Blue Card.

Q05What is the Skills Pass in Malta?+

A.It is a requirement for non-EU applicants in tourism and hospitality roles. Applicants must complete both phases, alongside the Pre-Departure Course certificate required from 1 March 2026 for new applicants still abroad.