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Why Malta?
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Why Malta?

on 30 November 2020

​Why Malta? Why are people relocating to the Maltese islands?

Malta, a European country located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and Africa, has been on the spotlight in recent years.

Let’s dive in and find out what has turned the Maltese islands into a melting pot for expats to relocate to! The Maltese are well known for their hospitality and friendliness. The people are generous and always try to make guests feel at home. A very common trait for most of the people is the willingness to help should you need assistance especially when travelling around the islands.

What is Malta like?

Malta’s population stands at around 400,000, making it one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Most Maltese live in the satellite towns around Valletta, Malta’s capital and the country’s political and commercial centre, Sliema and the Grand Harbour, with only around 10 per cent in rural areas.

Malta was a British colony for around 160 years (gaining independence in 1964), which shaped the country and its people. Therefore, the official languages in Malta are two: Maltese and English. The fact that English is Malta’s second official language noticeably helps a lot and takes away a language barrier that many tourists face when on a holiday destination. English language has also welcomed an entire industry for expats: English language teaching. It is has become a main factor to tourism on the Maltese Islands. Language schools have a wealth of experienced teachers to cater for all ages and levels of English. With well over 20 language schools and growing in Malta and Gozo, foreigners who are interested may book a range of courses online and leisure-time activities throughout the year.

According to EURES (The European Job Mobility Portal) the cost of living in Malta is lower than in most of the countries of central Europe which makes it a very attractive option for expats as a country to relocate to. Reasons that also make the islands exceptionally enticing country to move to are the high-ranking factors in terms of its leisure and culture, the environment, freedom, health, safety and security, and climate. Today, children can play outside in absolute safety, and most of the areas are safe to walk or drive around at night.

Great sunny climate and relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle all year around! These are just a few of the reasons why Malta today is an attractive location for expatriates and their families.

Why Malta for work? Which jobs are in demand in Malta?Jobs and Vacancies in Malta

Working in Malta definitely has its advantages: legislative framework flexible to businesses, an English-speaking labour force, a start-up technology hub, a growing tourism sector, and a mecca for events and conferences. As Malta’s economy is steadily growing on a yearly basis in Southern Europe, so are the employment opportunities.

If you are looking for jobs in Malta, bear in mind that Malta’s labour market has certain employment restrictions for non-EU applicants. But don’t let this stop you from relocating to the Maltese islands! Finding work in Malta from abroad may require some patience but as William Langland once said: “Patience is a virtue” or patience might reward you big in the long-run.

With decades of recruitment experience, VacancyCentre has reaped valuable market knowledge by placing emphasis on delivering a professional, pragmatic and timely delivery both for Clients and Candidates. In-depth searches across the passive and active Candidate marketplace, provides Clients with the direct access to an ideal pool of choice thanks to our matching strategy to deliver the most relevant and qualified talent. We offer thousands of part time jobs, full time jobs and remote jobs including government jobs in Malta. Do not hesitate to reach out for your next career in Malta!

Moving to Malta as a Foreigner

Why has Malta become such a hotspot for foreigners? Malta today enjoys a continuous growth in investments from evolving tech companies. A main reason for this stronghold is the regulatory framework in the areas of Information Technology, iGaming and Fintech. Hence, this strategic move has contributed to offering more jobs in Malta.

IT jobs in Malta are the hallmark of a buzzing innovation ecosystem leading to highly skilled workforce who relocate to the Maltese islands. Top tech start-ups moving to Malta are on an upward trend and have high demand for LAMP stack and full-stack developers as well as DevOps Engineers. Major cryptocurrency exchanges moving to Malta have led to innovation opportunities to thrive, and with this, even a greater demand for top talent acquisition in finance and tech, with particular knowledge in Big Data and AI.

As an EU nation that forms part of the Schengen area, Malta is open to any EU nationals, who are able to live and find great work in Malta. In fact, foreign residents are encouraged to settle in Malta and could benefit from a number of attractive fiscal advantages, as well as the very compelling lifestyle benefits. The government of Malta makes it easy for people with the right skills to start working in Malta.

For employees, working hours are generally 8.30am to 5.30pm and while salaries are still around a third lower than in the UK, all employees are given an annual pay rise based on the cost of living. Under Malta’s taxation system, individuals are taxed between 15 to 35 per cent of their income while individuals who are ordinarily resident, but not domiciled in Malta, are subject to income tax on income and capital gains arising in Malta, and on income arising outside Malta which is received in Malta. No tax is chargeable on foreign capital gains even if such gains are received in Malta. It helps that the cost of living remains one of the lowest in Europe, with groceries, furniture and utilities amongst the cheapest in the EU. For further details on tax one may look up https://ird.gov.mt/

Malta Tax Salary Calculator

What is a good salary in Malta? How do you calculate my salary? How do you calculate monthly salary? How much tax do you pay in Malta? Need to work out your income? Feel free to speak to us regarding how to calculate your income tax in Malta, salary deductions in Malta and compare salary after tax for income earned in Malta in the 2021 tax year.

Perfect Combination

Most expats in Malta cite the comfortable, relaxed lifestyle as one of the main reasons for their move. Nowhere is more than 30 minutes away from wherever you are and the sea, cafes, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, sports clubs or gyms are almost always within walking distance of your office or home.

But it is not only time issues that give Malta its edge over other European locations. The Maltese character is imbued with the British legacy of strong work ethic and powerful ambition, softened by the natural southern Mediterranean temperament. Doing business in Malta is both satisfying and pleasant because the same balance that adds value in terms of time is also present in the nature of the people you are working with.

Some industries are also booming here in Malta like iGaming and Finance. There’s great job opportunities for skilled people in these industries and Malta is also becoming very attractive for start-ups. There’s great entrepreneurial spirit with various government initiatives to support small businesses.

Are you looking for jobs in Malta or maybe part time jobs in Malta as a start? How about online jobs or remote jobs in Malta? Find a job in Malta with us, we can help!

Why Malta for business?

Malta is a major transit point for foreign trade and given its location this is mainly with the EU, Asia and the US. The economy is heavily dominated by tourism, manufacturing, technology and financial services sectors. The strong technology infrastructure has attracted firms such as Lufthansa Technik and Dubai’s Tecom that are offering great employment opportunities: IT jobs in Malta as well as Legal and Compliance jobs in Malta. In addition to high-end manufacturing the ICT is also supported by Smart City Malta, a regional hub for software engineering, e-business, and iGaming. Indirect investments flourish in Malta as little that you may know components for McLaren sports cars are manufactured on the island. Consequently, a range of Engineering jobs in Malta have opened!

Innovation support, community and international exposure – Gozo Innovation Hub

Little that you may know, the Maltese islands have a secret IT gem – Gozo. Co-financed through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Gozo Innovation Hub aims to be the bread and butter for innovative projects. You may have heard that among the first companies to move into the premises are companies partnering with global giants Microsoft and Google. In August 2019, Microsoft announced it would be working with Gozitan IT specialists J2 Group. The partnership will work on the Microsoft CityNext project, which seeks to empower citizens and cities through the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). As part of their joint collaboration on research and development, Microsoft and J2 will be testing a number of pilot projects in Gozo to explore efficient ways for the implementation of this technology. Successful projects may lead to a considerable number of other tests in various areas such as health, tourism, traffic, supply-chain management and logistics to improve every day life of the global citizen.

Ideal Environment

Add to that the fact that the Maltese health service is one of the best in the world, the postal service works at a high level of efficiency, the infrastructure is robust and continually being upgraded, and schools, colleges and universities are among the best in Europe, and an already pretty picture becomes even more attractive. The cost of living remains one of the lowest in Europe, yet banking, taxation, insurance, social security, utilities and communications services are sophisticated, professional and reliable, often surpassing those offered in many European nations.

Setting Up Home

Housing is easy to organise, with a wide range of properties available to rent or purchase, from fully furnished apartments to rustic farmhouses, villas with pools, and even palaces, all at competitive prices, usually half the price of similar properties on the UK market. Foreigners are allowed to buy property in Malta, though due to concerns about artificial price increases, they are usually limited to owning one property at a time on the island. The exceptions to this rule include certain five-star developments being built on the island, including Portomaso and Tigne Point, which are targeted to foreign buyers. For rentals, the market is varied and affordable, with options ranging from modern flats in upmarket developments, to elegant townhouses, seaside homes and sprawling rural estates. For assistance with real estate, visit Sotheby’s International Realty.

Healthcare and Medical Treatment

Malta has one of the best health services in the world and all EU nationals resident in Malta are eligible to receive free medical treatment at government-funded hospitals and clinics, though it may be necessary to produce your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The main general hospital is the state-of­-the-art Mater Dei Hospital in Msida, while most towns and villages have their own medical clinics. While free health care is available for EU Nationals, the Maltese Ministry of Health advises all foreign residents to take out private medical insurance to ensure they are covered. In addition to the public health service Malta has several private hospitals located around the island.

Education and Schools

The children of expatriates living in Malta can be educated in one of the private international schools, or enrolled in the local state, church or independent schools. The local school system is based on the British model, and provides an excellent standard of education. Education is compulsory between the ages of 5 and 16.

Kindergarten facilities are also available, free of charge, for all children aged between three and five. Tertiary education is offered through the University of Malta, the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) and numerous private colleges affiliated to British, US or European Universities and educational institutions.

Leisure, Entertainment and Sports

Waters sports are extremely popular in Malta, where the climate and sea conditions are perfect for year ­round activity. There are excellent conditions for scuba diving and snorkelling, particularly as the sea temperature never drops below 13 degrees C (55 degrees F), even in winter. The best sites are on the northern coast of Malta.

There are also a number of highly popular spectator sports, including national water polo competitions, horse-racing, day pigeon shooting and football. Malta has one golf course, located at the Royal Malta Golf Club, which is adjacent to the Marsa Sports and Country Club, on the road to the airport from ValIetta.

There are a wide range of festivals celebrated in Malta. In addition, every town or village in Malta celebrates the feast of its patron saint with a big outdoor festival that often includes processions, band marches, fireworks, bare-back horse riding through the streets, singing and dancing.

Shopping

Sliema, St Julian’s, Valletta and Hamrun provide the best shopping in Malta, with both stand-alone boutiques and retail outlets and shopping malls being available. International brands are widely available. While there are few designer-clothes outlets on the island, most major European high street clothing brands are present in Malta. Shops usually open from 9am – 1 pm and 4pm – 7pm and most are closed on Sundays, except for those located inside the Bay Street Shopping Centre in St. Julian’s, and some outlets in busy tourist resorts such as Bugibba.

Cuisine and Dining Out

Malta’s Mediterranean cuisine, based on seasonal fresh produce, is one of the healthiest and tastiest in the region and features many of the main ingredients typical of the region: aubergines, tomatoes, peppers, courgettes, onions and garlic together with freshly caught fish and seafood. Mediterranean herbs such as basil, mint, thyme, oregano and bay leaves are used in abundance, and flavours are enhanced by virgin olive oil and lemon juice. Meat dishes, pasta of all types, baked pasta and rice dishes are also very popular and feature heavily on traditional menus. Typical Maltese dishes include specialties such as rabbit, octopus, ravioli and bragioli (beef olives). A favourite Sunday lunch is roast pork and potatoes flavoured with onions and herbs. Maltese bread is exquisite, and the traditional recipe calls for sourdough and a wood burning stone oven. Traditional Maltese food is served in most restaurants offering Mediterranean cuisine, but in addition there are many specialist restaurants available: Italian, French, Chinese and Indian are the most numerous, but you will also find Greek, Turkish, Russian, Thai, Japanese and many others. Dining out in Malta can be a wonderful experience:

From smart city restaurants in Baroque palaces, to family-run trattoria-style places in quaint village squares or seafront fish restaurants in tiny fishing villages, the choice is wide and there’s something to suit every mood, and every pocket.

Malta Newspapers

• Times of Malta
• The Malta Independent
• Malta Today
• Newsbook
• Malta Government Gazette
• In-Nazzjon
• L-Orizzont
• Business Today

Public Holidays in Malta

• New Year’s Day (1 January) 
• Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck (10 February) 
• Feast of St Joseph the Worker (19 March) 
• Good Friday (changes annually)
• Freedom Day (31 March) 
• Labour Day (1 May) 
• Commemoration of the 1919 Uprising/Sette Giugno (7 June) 
• Feast of St Peter and St Paul (29 June) 
• Feast of the Assumption (15 August) 
• Nativity of Our Lady (8 September) 
• Independence Day (21 September) 
• Feast of the Immaculate Conception (8 December) 
• Republic Day (13 December) 
• Christmas Day (25 December)

Why Malta is the best? Why you should go to Malta?

All of this, of course, under a Mediterranean sun that sparkles on the cleanest and clearest water in the region, and that gives the island hot, dry summers, short, mild winters and gloriously warm spring and autumn weather. Does it get any better? Well yes, actually. The island offers a stable, secure environment for families and young children, crime is almost non-existent, making Malta one of the safest places in the world, and the population’s strong Catholic tradition, evident in the hundreds of beautiful churches and chapels to be seen in every town, village or hamlet, bursts into joyous street celebrations with every feast day marked by processions, spectacular fireworks displays, band marches and general feasting. Malta offers residents and expats the unique opportunity to live every aspect of life to the full, with warm sunshine and sparkling seas providing an enchanting backdrop to a pleasant Mediterranean lifestyle.

How can I get a job offer in Malta? Recruitment agency and career opportunities in Malta

Are you a job seeker and looking for job vacancies in Malta? VC, a leading recruitment agency in Malta, is helping job applicants find their dream career path so if you ever in doubt or need assistance, do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]! ​

Sources: MCA, MALTACHAMBER, TVM, Microsoft CityNext.

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