Guide
Malta single permit application fee and process
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.
Question 1
What passport do you hold?
Nationality decides whether a work authorisation is needed at all, before anything else is considered.
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What it is
The single permit is regulated by Subsidiary Legislation 217.17. Identità describes a renewable temporary permit for third-country nationals to reside and work in Malta for a defined period of over six months. The single application includes 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 explicit that a residence permit does not give the holder the right of movement within the EU in terms of employment. The permit ceases to be valid once the holder no longer holds the specific employment on the card, including on termination or resignation.
The single permit application fee
| 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Identità states plainly that fees are non-refundable even when an application is refused, withdrawn, revoked or deemed inadmissible.
Malta single permit processing time
S.L. 217.17 allows four months to process a single permit application. Identità says the average is closer to two months from submitting an application with all required documents.
Renewals are generally annual and should start 90 days before expiry, or 30 days before if a health screening is required. Renew while the current permit is still valid, or the third-country national may fall into an irregular migration status.
The pre-departure course, new for 2026
As of January 2026 Malta requires a mandatory Pre-Departure Course for all third-country nationals applying for a single permit for the first time. It has two parts.
First, national integration modules on Living and Working in Malta and Rights and Obligations in the Workplace, each 10 to 12 hours. A 20 minute live online interview then verifies English proficiency and understanding.
Second, 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.