Work Permits

Are you thinking of moving to Malta? Numerous residents are attracted to the tiny island state every year. These include freelance professionals who can work remotely as well as retirees from Northern Europe, with a good number of them from the UK. The attraction lies in the relatively relaxed way of living, affordable cost of living, as well as the country’s historical links to Britain.

Within this section you will find all you need to know about moving to this island steeped in history, surrounded by the deep, blue Mediterranean Sea and where the sun shines for the majority of days throughout the year.

Who needs an employment license?

Jobsplus processes applications related to the issue of employment licences (previously known as work permits) with regards to third country nationals to be employed in Malta.

Following the transposition of the Single Permit Directive (S.L.217.17 of 2014), third country nationals wishing to reside and work in Malta need to apply for a Single Permit (including Residence and Work) at the Department for Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs (Identity Malta).

Jobsplus is a stakeholder in this process and whenever an application is submitted at Identity Malta, this is referred to Jobsplus to provide guidance on labour market testing. These licences are to be applied for by the prospective employee.

The following employment licences guidelines are intended to act as a guide to applicants and to third country nationals (with the exception of EU Member States undergoing a transitional phase) wishing to work in Malta. These are subject to regular updates and thus, it is important that applications must comply with the guidelines applicable at the date of application.

The current exemptions can be accessed here.

The checklist for those applying for the Single Work Permit can be find here.

More information can be found here.

Contact details:

Telephone of person responsible: 22201282

Email address of person responsible: [email protected]

Generic telephone numbers: 22201281, 22201287, 22201290, 22201291

Generic email address: [email protected]

Who does not need an employment license?

Posted workers, that is, workers who are usually based in another country (EEA/Switzerland) and who have an employment relationship with an employer in that country, but who are being ‘posted’ for a stipulated period to Malta, do not need an employment licence. Although no employment licence is necessary, the firm in Malta to which the employee will be posted must notify the Department of Industrial and Employment Relations of this posting, within twenty-four hours of commencement of work. You may contact the Department or see the contact details from here.

Employment licences are not issued in respect of workers who will not normally or habitually be carrying out work in Malta. Employers wishing to employ a worker to carry out work primarily in another country need not apply for an employment licence. At present, for the purpose of employment licence considerations, ‘normally and habitually working and residing in Malta’ means, half the requested duration of the licence. Employment licences are not issued in the case of foreign national non-resident and non-executive directors (that is, directors who do not ordinarily reside in Malta, who do not have an employment relationship with the company and who may be in receipt of a director’s remuneration but not in receipt of a salary).

In the case of European Union, European Economic Area and Swiss citizens and their family members, who are third country nationals, the process shall not apply in their respect in view of their right to work.

Find Out More