On January 5, 2026, the Maltese government launched Skills Pass, an online portal through which a new pre-departure integration course can be completed. Effective March 1, 2026, third-country nationals are required to successfully complete this course before applying for a Single Work Permit. The intent is to ensure that anyone coming to work in Malta will meet basic standards in skills, English language, and awareness of Maltese culture. The course fee is €250.
The course will consist of two parts. The first part will be mandatory for all first-time Single Work Permit applicants. It includes two online modules: “Living and Working in Malta” and “Rights and Obligations at the Workplace”, each followed by an assessment. The two courses combined are expected to take 20-24 hours of learning, to be completed within 42 days. Following completion of these two modules, the applicant will then need to attend a 20-minute online interview to assess if they have understood the courses and have sufficient English language proficiency. Upon successful completion of both the online modules and the interview, a Pre-Departure Course Certificate will be issued.
The second part only applies to certain occupations that require additional, sector-specific training. Currently, this only applies to the tourism and hospitality sector; however, other sectors may introduce the requirement in the future. The modules and/or assessments for such sectors will be designed by the respective sector bodies in line with guidelines provided by the Skills Pass unit. Successful completion of Part 2 will result in the issuance of a Skills Pass.
While integration course requirements for foreigners moving to a new country are not uncommon, these are usually expected to be completed post-arrival. Malta’s new rule making completion of the integration course a prerequisite for applying for a Single Work Permit underscores the government’s strong commitment to achieving full integration of its foreign workforce from day one in-country.
With this new requirement in place, planning ahead will be more important than ever. Not only may lead times for applications increase, but employers will also need to appreciate the impact this requirement will have on their foreign candidates, who will need to dedicate substantial effort within a short, constrained timeframe to complete the required courses. Furthermore, employers will need to budget for the additional costs of the course and should monitor any changes to the sectors that require the Skills Pass.
This news alert is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For case-specific guidance or further information, please contact Newland Chase directly.
