Malta has generally always enjoyed high employment rates within its various sectors, as well as attracted foreigners to seek employment here, particularly from within the EU area. EU citizens do not require any work permit to work in Malta.
On the other hand, non-EU/EEA and Swiss nationals would need to obtain an employment licence and would be subject to labour market considerations before being able to work in Malta.
CSB Group provides assistance to both individuals seeking to obtain a work permit and companies which decide to relocate to Malta and maximise on their investment/move within legitimate and transparent business structures.
As a general overview, a third country national is required to submit a single permit application, which encompasses the work and residence permit, with Identity Malta in order to be able to be in employment in Malta. The application shall be submitted by the third country national. It has, however, to be endorsed by the employer/prospective employer.
Single Permit
Single permit applications may be submitted either whilst the third country national is residing in Malta or whilst s/he is abroad, provided that, if the person is in Malta, or in the EU, s/he is residing legally. If the third country national is residing legally in Malta, the application has to be submitted personally for biometric data to be captured. If s/he is residing in a third country, the application and all relative documentation would have to be submitted by a representative. CSB will be able to submit such applications on behalf of the individual and the company. Kindly note that single permit applications usually take between 10-12 weeks to be processed by the relevant departments. Once the application is acceded to, s/he will be notified of the outcome, and following the approval of the application, upon the individual’s arrival in Malta s/he will be required to proceed to the Department for Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs for the relative biometric data to be captured and submit the final documentation. The applicant is then issued with the work/residence permit in question.
The Maltese e-Residence Card
When an individual applies for a work permit in Malta and has been approved accordingly, they are automatically granted with an e-residence card. If the applicant is married, the e-residence card will also be extended to their spouse, however does not approve or entitle the spouse to automatically work in Malta or qualify for a work permit/employment license.
Any EU/EEA/Swiss citizen has the right to enter, remain and reside in Malta. When an individual intends to reside in Malta for a period longer than three (3) months, he is obliged to apply for an e-Residence card and this also applies to non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens.
The requirements of the e-Residence application mostly depend on the individual’s nationality, his residence status and the underlying reason for being in Malta.
An e-Residence card may also be issued to third-country nationals who are staying legally in Malta and who have been authorised to reside here for a specific purpose. This purpose may be one of the following, amongst others:
Employment
Self-employment
Economic self-sufficiency
Retirement
Study
Long-term residence