Guide
Malta single permit: cost, process and the 2026 pre-departure course
Updated
The single permit is one application that produces two things: an employment licence and a residence permit. It is also the one the worker cannot file.
What it is
The single permit is regulated by Subsidiary Legislation 217.17. Identità describes it as a temporary permit authorising third-country nationals to legally reside and take up employment in Malta for a defined period of over six months, renewable, and states that the single application procedure incorporates an employment licence and a residence permit (Identità's single permit gov.mt page).
An application may be submitted while the third-country national is still abroad, that is outside the Schengen area, or while legally staying in Malta or another Schengen state.
What a single permit does not allow
- Carrying out paid duties assigned by parties other than the identified employer.
- Carrying out unauthorised work not related to the specific employment activity indicated in the application.
- Being assigned duties outside Maltese territory.
Identità is also explicit that holding a residence permit does not give the holder the right of movement within the EU in terms of employment, and that the permit ceases to be valid as soon as the holder no longer holds the specific employment on the card, including on termination or resignation.
The fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| First-time single permit | €600 |
| Single permit renewal | €150 per year |
| Authorised live-in carers, all application types | €27.50 |
| Pre-Departure Course, first-time applicants | €250 |
Identità states plainly that fees are non-refundable even when an application is refused, withdrawn, revoked or deemed inadmissible.
Timing
S.L. 217.17 allows four months for the processing of a single permit application, and Identità says the average is closer to two months from the date of submission of an application accompanied by all required documents. Renewals are generally annual, and the renewal process should start 90 days before expiry, or 30 days before if a health screening is required. A renewal must be submitted while the current permit is still valid: if it is not, the third-country national may fall into an irregular migration status.
The pre-departure course, new for 2026
As of January 2026 Malta introduced a mandatory Pre-Departure Course for all third-country nationals applying for a single permit for the first time. It runs in two parts: national integration modules covering Living and Working in Malta and Rights and Obligations in the Workplace, each 10 to 12 hours, followed by a 20 minute live online interview verifying English proficiency and understanding of the content; and, for sectors with their own subsidiary legislation such as tourism and hospitality, a sector-specific component alongside the Skills Pass.
- Candidates have up to 42 days to complete Part 1.
- Interviews are conducted at ITS Malta or an authorised Global Assessment Centre.
- The course fee is €250.
- The Pre-Departure Portal opened on 5 January 2026, and Identità started verifying certificates as part of the work permit process on 1 March 2026.
Both the Pre-Departure Course and the Skills Pass are required for eligibility in tourism and hospitality roles. Budget the €250 and the calendar time into any first hire from outside the EU.