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Malta Work Permit for Indians: Employer Steps and Timeline

SKC

Oct 31, 2026, 11:30 AM5 min read67 views

Malta Work Permit for Indians: Employer Steps and Timeline

TL;DR

Malta's Single Permit is for non-EU workers hired by a Maltese employer, who must first advertise the vacancy for at least 3 weeks on Jobsplus and EURES. The application goes to Identità, and only after its Approval in Principle letter can an Indian worker book the D-visa appointment at VFS. Senior roles under KEI or SEI have published processing times of 5 and 15 working days.

Key takeaways

The vacancy must be advertised for at least 3 weeks within the 2 months before applying (2 weeks for KEI, SEI, EU Blue Card and Skilled Occupation List roles).
Salary in the application, the Jobsplus declaration and the contract must match, or Identità returns the application.
You need an Approval in Principle (AIP) letter before booking the Work Permit – Extended service appointment at VFS India.
Health insurance of at least EUR 100,000 cover is required; travel insurance is not accepted.
Published processing: KEI within 5 working days, SEI within 15 working days, work visa at VFS 10 to 15 days.

According to Identità, Malta's Single Permit is for non-EU workers hired by a Maltese employer, who must first advertise the vacancy for at least 3 weeks on Jobsplus and EURES. The application goes to Identità; once its Approval in Principle letter is issued, the Indian worker books a D-visa appointment at VFS Global.

The Single Permit is Malta's combined work and residence permit. This guide sets out the order of steps, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026: Identità's FAQs and fact sheet, and the VFS Global Malta page for India. Identità appears as Identity Malta on the VFS checklist. For tourist visas and fees, see our Malta visa guide for Indians.

Who handles each stage of a Malta work permit?

Stage	Who acts	Where
Vacancy advert	Maltese employer	Jobsplus portal and EURES
Single Permit application	Filed with Identità, backed by the employer's contract and Jobsplus declaration	Malta
Approval in Principle (AIP) letter	Identità	Malta
D-visa appointment, documents and biometrics	Indian worker	VFS Global centre in India
Long-stay (D) visa decision	Identità	Malta

The High Commission of Malta in New Delhi handles Schengen short-stay visas. Long-stay D visas, including work visas, are decided by Identità in Malta.

What must the Maltese employer do before applying?

Since 1 August 2025, an employer hiring a worker who is still abroad must show the vacancy was advertised for at least 3 weeks within the 2 months before applying. The period is 2 weeks for Key Employee Initiative (KEI), Specialist Employee Initiative (SEI), EU Blue Card and Skilled Occupation List roles. Exemptions include health and elderly or disability care jobs. Applications that do not comply are ineligible.

From 1 October 2025, the advert for new and still-abroad Single Permit applications must run on both the Jobsplus portal and EURES. An advert on a private job site alone does not meet the rule.

The salary is checked against three tests:

It must meet or exceed Malta's National Minimum Wage.
It must comply with any sectoral collective agreement or Wage Regulation Order.
It must be consistent with the job position.

The salary in the application, the Jobsplus declaration and the employment contract must match. If they differ, Identità returns the application.

Which documents does the Indian worker supply?

Passport valid for at least 6 months
Signed application form and signed CV
Employment contract and a photo
Proof of accommodation in Malta
Health insurance with at least EUR 100,000 cover, inpatient and outpatient, in Malta and other European countries, for the whole stay; travel insurance is not accepted
Hospitality and food-service roles: a Skills Pass from the Institute of Tourism Studies and a Malta Food Handler licence

The permit covers one employer and one occupation at a time. A change of employer later carries its own €600 fee at Identità.

How long does each stage take?

Stage	Published timeframe
Vacancy advert	At least 3 weeks (2 weeks for KEI, SEI, EU Blue Card and Skilled Occupation List roles), within the 2 months before applying
Single Permit decision at Identità	No standard timeframe in the official sources we checked
Key Employee Initiative permit	Within 5 working days
Specialist Employee Initiative permit	Within 15 working days
Work visa stage at VFS	10 to 15 days / 15 working days (both stated on the VFS page)

Add the time your employer needs to prepare the contract and declaration, and the wait for a VFS slot. No official source gives a single end-to-end figure, so treat any agent who promises one with caution.

What happens at the VFS appointment in India?

Once you hold a valid AIP letter, book the Work Permit – Extended service appointment on the VFS website. The visa fee, INR 21,834 / EUR 250, is paid when booking. A VFS service charge of INR 13,500 is paid at the centre. VFS also lists a standard Work Visa (D) fee of INR 13556 / EUR 150, but its long-stay sections are hidden from the page's selector and may be outdated.

Carry these originals:

The valid AIP letter from Identità
The original invitation letter and original work permit letter; VFS will not accept the application without them
Your Aadhaar card with a photocopy

VFS runs 11 Malta centres in India: New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai.

Is there a faster route for senior roles?

Route	Minimum salary	Other conditions	Processing
Key Employee Initiative	€45,000 a year gross	ISCO groups 1-3; relevant qualifications or 3 years' experience	Within 5 working days
Specialist Employee Initiative	€30,000 a year gross	ISCO groups 1-3; MQF Level 6, or a lower qualification with 3 years' experience	Within 15 working days
EU Blue Card	1.5 times Malta's average gross annual salary (no euro figure published)	MQF Level 6 degree or 5 years' experience; contract of at least 6 months	Not published in the sources we checked

KEI and SEI permits are valid for 1 year at first and renewable for up to 3 years. Both routes still need the 2-week vacancy advert.

What should you watch for after you start work?

Job loss. Since 1 August 2025, a Single Permit holder whose job ends gets a 30-day grace period to find new work, extendable by 30 days with proof of financial self-sufficiency.
Changing jobs. A change of employer costs €600 at Identità; a change of designation costs €300.
Renewals. Renewal is €150 per year.

Your employer and Identità drive most of this process, but VFS appointments still need a tidy file. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us through our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a Malta work permit without a job offer?

The Single Permit is for non-EU workers hired by a Maltese employer, and the file needs an employment contract and a properly advertised vacancy. The official sources we checked list no job-seeker route for Indians.

Does travel insurance work for a Malta Single Permit?

No. Identità requires health insurance with at least EUR 100,000 cover, inpatient and outpatient, in Malta and other European countries for the whole stay. Travel insurance is not accepted.

Do nursing and care jobs need the vacancy advert?

Identità lists health and elderly or disability care jobs among the exemptions from the advertising rule. These roles also pay a reduced €150 permit fee instead of the standard €600.

What does Identità charge for the first Single Permit?

EUR 600 for a first application, effective from 1 August 2025. This is separate from the VFS D-visa fee and the VFS service charge paid in India.

Drafted with AI assistance from Yatra For Fun's India visa dataset, which is compiled from official embassy, VFS Global and government sources (see Sources). Fees and rules change — confirm on the official site before you apply.

SKC

About Sandeep Kumar Chaudhary

Founder, Yatra For Fun Pvt Ltd

Sandeep Kumar Chaudhary founded Yatra For Fun in Kathmandu after a decade running visa applications for Nepali pilgrims, students, and business travellers. Most Yatra For Fun visa guides are compiled from templates and the company's visa-requirements dataset rather than written individually.

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Step by step

1
Employer advertises the vacancy
The Maltese employer advertises the job on the Jobsplus portal and EURES for at least 3 weeks within the 2 months before applying (2 weeks for KEI, SEI, EU Blue Card and Skilled Occupation List roles).
2
Contract and salary are aligned
The salary must meet the National Minimum Wage and any sectoral agreement, and must match across the application, the Jobsplus declaration and the employment contract.
3
Worker prepares documents
Gather a passport valid at least 6 months, signed form and CV, contract, photo, accommodation proof and health insurance with at least EUR 100,000 cover.
4
Single Permit application goes to Identità
The application is lodged with Identità. Wait for the Approval in Principle (AIP) letter before booking anything at VFS.
5
Book the VFS Extended service appointment
Book Work Permit – Extended service on the VFS website and pay the INR 21,834 / EUR 250 visa fee at booking.
6
Attend the VFS centre
Bring the AIP letter, original invitation and work permit letters and Aadhaar card with a photocopy; pay the INR 13,500 service charge and give biometrics.