Single permit in Malta: work and residence for non-EU
A national of a country outside the European Union who wants to work for an employer in Malta normally needs a single permit: one administrative act that combines a residence permit and a work authorisation. The procedure is set out in the Single Application Procedure for a Single Permit Regulations (S.L. 217.17), made under the Immigration Act (Cap. 217). Under article 11 of that Act, a foreigner may not take up employment in Malta without a licence, and the single permit is the way that licence is granted to most third-country employees.
The application is made by the worker but must be endorsed by the employer, and it can be filed from abroad, from Malta or from another Member State where the applicant is legally present. The Director for Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs, whose applications are handled in practice by the Identity Malta Agency (Identità), decides within four months of a complete application after the labour-market assessment. A refusal can be appealed to the Immigration Appeals Board, but the time limit is very short: three working days.
This guide is for non-EU employees and for employers recruiting them. It covers who needs the permit and who is excluded, the documents, the fees under the 2025 fee regulations, what happens during processing, the rights the permit gives, changing employer, and what to do after a refusal.
Key facts
Deadline
The Director must decide within four months of a complete application, extendable only in exceptional circumstances (regulation 12 of S.L. 217.17); an appeal against refusal must be filed within three working days of the decision (article 25A(7) of Cap. 217), with written submissions within ten working days (regulation 4(2) of S.L. 217.28).
What to do
Check whether the single permit applies to you. It applies to third-country nationals applying to reside in Malta to work, and to those already admitted for other purposes who are allowed to work (regulation 3 of S.L. 217.17). It does not apply, among others, to family members of EU citizens exercising free movement, posted workers, intra-corporate transferees, seasonal workers and au pairs, beneficiaries or applicants for international protection, EU long-term residents from another Member State, self-employed persons and seafarers (regulation 4).
Part II, the application procedure, also does not apply to students, persons authorised to work for not more than six months, or those allowed to work on the basis of a visa (regulation 5). EU, EEA and Swiss nationals do not need a single permit at all; they register under the free movement rules.
Secure a job offer and the employer's endorsement. The application is submitted by the worker to the Director, but it must be endorsed by the employer and supported by all relevant documentation (regulation 7(1)). On request, the Director must tell both the worker and the employer which documents make the application complete (regulation 7(2)).
In practice the file includes a signed employment contract or offer showing the job, wage and hours, a valid passport, health insurance, proof of accommodation, qualifications and a police conduct certificate; the exact list depends on the category (ověřit the current checklist published by Identità). The wage offered must respect Maltese employment law, at least the national minimum wage under S.L. 452.71.
Submit the application and pay the fee. You may apply from outside the EU, from Malta, or from another Member State where you are legally present (regulation 8). The single procedure does not remove the need for an entry visa where one is required (regulation 10).
The fees are set by the Fees payable for Residence Permits and Employment Licences Regulations (S.L. 35.39), in force since 1 August 2025, which replaced S.L. 217.01. A single permit valid for up to one year costs €600 on application; a renewal for up to three years costs €150 for every year; a new application on change of employer costs €600 and on change of designation €300. Health care professionals and carers pay €150 for each year and €50 per year on renewal.
Follow the processing and answer requests quickly. The Director consults the pertinent authorities, which assess the application against labour market requirements, established volumes of admission and any exceptional circumstances (regulation 12). The decision on a complete application must be taken as soon as possible and in any event within four months; the period may be extended only in exceptional circumstances linked to the complexity of the case.
If documents are missing, the Director notifies you in writing, sets a reasonable deadline and the four-month period is suspended until the documents arrive (regulation 16(1)). If they are not provided in time, the application may be rejected (regulation 16(2)). The Director may also declare an application inadmissible on grounds of the volumes of admission (regulation 13).
Collect the permit and check its details. The single permit is issued in the uniform EU residence permit format and shows the permission to work; the Director may add the employer's name and address, place of work, type of work, working hours and remuneration (regulation 17). You need no additional permit for the employment it authorises (regulation 18).
Check that the employer, job title and other details match your contract. Working for another employer or in a different role without a new authorisation breaches the condition of your leave to remain under article 11 of Cap. 217, and an employer who employs an illegally staying third-country national commits an offence under S.L. 217.14.
Know your rights as a single permit holder. During its validity you may enter and reside in Malta, move freely within its territory, exercise the employment authorised, and be informed of your rights (regulation 22). You are entitled to equal treatment with Maltese nationals as regards working conditions, including pay, dismissal and health and safety; freedom of association; recognition of qualifications; social security under Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 within the limits stated; tax benefits if tax-resident; and access to goods and services excluding housing (regulation 23).
All the protections of the Employment and Industrial Relations Act (Cap. 452) apply to you: minimum wage, annual leave, the four-month time limit for unfair dismissal claims at the Industrial Tribunal and complaints to the Director (DIER) about unpaid wages.
Plan renewals and changes of employer in advance. A renewal is made through the same single application procedure (regulation 6), so apply well before the card expires. Under S.L. 35.39, a renewal can be granted for up to three years if you are eligible, at €150 for every year.
A change of employer is treated as a new single permit application, with a fee of €600, and a change of designation with the same employer as an application costing €300. Do not start with the new employer until the new authorisation is granted. The 2014 regulations in the corpus predate the recast Single Permit Directive (EU) 2024/1233, which was due to be transposed by May 2026 and eases changes of employer and periods of unemployment; check whether Malta has amended S.L. 217.17 (ověřit).
If the application is refused, appeal immediately. The Director must give written reasons for a refusal to issue, amend or renew a permit, or for withdrawing it, and you have a right of appeal to the Immigration Appeals Board (regulation 20). If the Director fails to decide within the four-month period, the application is automatically passed on for appeal to the Board (regulation 14).
The appeal must be filed in the Board's registry within three working days of the decision (article 25A(7) of Cap. 217). You or your advocate then file written submissions within ten working days; Identità has ten working days to reply, the Board communicates its decision within ten working days after that, and the whole procedure should not exceed sixty days (regulation 4 of S.L. 217.28). The Board's decision is generally final (article 25A(8)).
If you were employed without a permit, claim what you are owed. When an employer is convicted of employing an illegally staying third-country national, the court orders it to pay any outstanding remuneration, presumed to be at least the national minimum wage, together with the taxes and social security contributions that would have been due (regulation 5(1) of S.L. 217.14). The employment is presumed to have lasted at least three months unless proved otherwise (regulation 5(3)).
A contractor may be liable for its subcontractor's illegal employment unless it exercised due diligence (regulation 6). Report exploitation to the Director (DIER) or the police, and seek advice before signing any statement, because your own residence position may be affected.
What to watch out for
- Missing the three-working-day appeal deadline in article 25A(7) of Cap. 217. Count working days from the decision and file at once, even with short grounds.
- Starting work, or moving to a new employer, before the permit or the change is authorised. It breaches the condition in article 11 of Cap. 217.
- Letting the card expire before applying to renew. A renewal follows the same procedure and processing can take months.
- Ignoring a request for further documents. The Director may reject the application if they are not provided within the deadline set (regulation 16(2)).
- Paying recruitment agents for the permit itself. The official fees are in S.L. 35.39; keep receipts for any payment.
- Accepting a wage below the contract shown on the permit. Equal treatment in pay and working conditions applies (regulation 23(a) of S.L. 217.17).
- Relying on old guidance after the 2025 changes: S.L. 217.01 was repealed and replaced by S.L. 35.39, and S.L. 217.28 introduced new appeal steps.
Legal basis
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a single permit in Malta?
The Director must decide on a complete application as soon as possible and in any event within four months of lodging, with an extension only in exceptional, complex cases (regulation 12 of S.L. 217.17). The clock stops while the Director waits for documents you were asked to supply (regulation 16(1)).
How much does a single permit cost in Malta?
Under S.L. 35.39, in force since 1 August 2025: €600 on application for a permit valid up to one year, €150 for every year of renewal, €600 for a change of employer and €300 for a change of designation. Health care professionals and carers pay €150 a year, and €50 a year on renewal.
Can I apply for a single permit while I am already in Malta?
Yes. Regulation 8 of S.L. 217.17 allows the application to be submitted from a third country, from Malta, or from another Member State in which you are legally present. You must still hold a valid basis for your current stay, and the procedure does not replace any visa required for first entry (regulation 10).
Can I change employer on a single permit in Malta?
Only with a new authorisation. A change of employer is processed as a fresh single permit application, with a €600 fee under S.L. 35.39. Working for the new employer before approval breaches article 11 of Cap. 217. Check whether the recast Directive (EU) 2024/1233 has introduced simpler rules in Maltese law.
What can I do if my single permit is refused?
Appeal to the Immigration Appeals Board within three working days of the decision (article 25A(7) of Cap. 217). Written submissions follow within ten working days, and the whole appeal should take no more than sixty days (regulation 4 of S.L. 217.28). The refusal must state reasons (regulation 20 of S.L. 217.17).
Who is not covered by the single permit procedure?
Among others, family members of EU citizens, posted workers, intra-corporate transferees, seasonal workers, au pairs, persons under international or temporary protection, self-employed persons and seafarers (regulation 4 of S.L. 217.17). Students and people authorised to work for six months or less are outside the application procedure (regulation 5).
Do I have the same employment rights as Maltese workers?
Yes, for working conditions, including pay, dismissal and health and safety, and for trade union membership, recognition of qualifications, certain social security branches and access to services other than housing (regulation 23 of S.L. 217.17). The Employment and Industrial Relations Act protects you like any other employee.
What happens if the Director does not decide in time?
Under regulation 14 of S.L. 217.17, if no decision is given within the period in regulation 12, the application is automatically passed on for appeal to the Immigration Appeals Board. Keep proof of the date you lodged the complete application so you can show when the four months expired.
What if my employer made me work without a permit?
If the employer is convicted, the court orders it to pay your outstanding remuneration, presumed to be at least the national minimum wage for at least three months, plus the taxes and contributions due (regulation 5 of S.L. 217.14). Seek advice before giving statements, because your own status may be in question.
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