The island nation of Malta is a popular destination for expatriates as well as international businesses. If your company is planning to expand operations to Malta, you’ll probably want to relocate a talented group of existing employees and hire some new team members abroad. While working in Malta certainly comes with its advantages, you’ll need to ensure that any foreign employees you hire have the appropriate visas and permits to do so legally.
If you’re not sure how to get a work visa in Malta, you run the risk of operational delays and even fees if your company is noncompliant with the local laws and regulations.
Types of Work Visas in Malta
Malta offers a variety of visas for foreign nationals, including tourist visas, business visas, and visas for medical purposes. Foreign nationals who intend to travel to Malta to work have a few options when it comes to visas:
- Short-Stay Visa, or C Visa: The short-stay visa is a type of Schengen visa, which means it allows foreign nationals to enter multiple countries within the Schengen area. This visa is available in three forms to accommodate single entries, double entries, and multiple entries. The C visa allows the holder to remain in Malta for up to three months regardless of how many entries are allowed.
- National Long-Stay Visa, or D Visa: The D visa allows foreign nationals to stay in Malta for more than three months. This is the visa foreign employees will need to live and work in Malta for an extended period of time. Individuals who are traveling to Malta to study will need a D visa as well.
In addition to a long-stay visa, foreign employees will need a work permit. In Malta, this permit is known as an employment license.
Requirements to Obtain Malta Work Visas
Typical Maltese visa requirements include:
- A duly completed visa application form
- A cover letter stating the purpose of the applicant’s trip to Malta
- A valid passport with at least two blank pages
- Two passport photos
- Proof that the applicant has travel medical insurance coverage for the entire Schengen area
- An employment contract with a company based in Malta
- Proof of accommodations for the duration of the applicant’s time in Malta
- Evidence of sufficient financial means to cover the entire period of the applicant’s stay
Foreign nationals will also need an employment license to work in Malta. The requirements for a Maltese employment license include:
- A completed application form
- A copy of the applicant’s CV
- A copy of the applicant’s visa if they are already in Malta
- A cover letter from the applicant’s employer
- One passport photo
- References and testimonials of the applicant’s qualifications
- A medical certificate of health
- A vacancy report demonstrating that the company searched for qualified Maltese nationals to fill the position
Application Process
Foreign nationals who plan to travel to Malta should contact the Maltese embassy or consulate in their country of residence for a complete, up-to-date list of all of the visa requirements. After doing so, they should complete the visa application and submit it and the supporting documents to the consular officials.
It is the employer’s responsibility to apply for an employment license on behalf of any foreign workers, so they should begin this process in the meantime. The employer should submit the relevant documents to the Employment and Training Corporation in Malta and pay any applicable fees.
Upon approval of both applications, the employee may travel to Malta and begin working.
Other Important Considerations
Malta is a member of the European Union (EU). Therefore, citizens of other EU member states are free to travel to Malta without obtaining a visa. They are also exempt from the employment license requirement. However, EU nationals will need to register their stay with the Department for Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs in Malta within three months of their arrival.
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At this moment, G-P does not offer support processing work visas or permits in this particular location.
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