Malta has announced work permits for skilled workers outside Europe under the ‘Specialist Employee Initiative’, which offers a fast-track application process for skilled foreign workers in Malta.
According to the Times of Malta, all university graduates or those who are qualified in a managerial or technical role earning a minimum of €25,000 annually are eligible to apply.
Eligible persons must be nationals of third countries who have a signed contract with a business that is registered in Malta and must possess the necessary academic, vocational, or technical abilities per their employment offer in Malta. The position secured must have an annual gross salary of at least €25,000.
Applicants must either have a relevant bachelor’s degree or higher, relevant educational qualifications (even if such qualifications are lower than a bachelor’s degree) and at least three years of relevant professional experience. Proof of experience must be presented in the form of signed previous employment contracts, stamped employment history and reference letters by former employers.
As a requirement, there must not be any Maltese or EU workers available that could perform the applicant’s role.
To apply, the applicant’s employer must email a completed application along with all necessary attachments as requested. The application portal, Identitá will ask the applicant’s permission before submitting the application and supporting materials.
The administrative cost of the application is €300. The application may be denied if documents present are incomplete or any discrepancy is found. The outcome of the application will be communicated to the applicant and employer via email.
Successful applicants will get a one-year work permit with the option of extending it for another three years if the employee remains in compliance with the eligibility criteria and their employment contract applies to periods of validity.
The SEI serves as an alternate pathway to the older Key Employee Initiative which has a quicker standard government processing time of five business days but tougher eligibility requirements, including a higher minimum gross annual salary of €35,000.
