Malta Work Visa Salary Requirements for Indians (2026)

Malta does not have one work-visa salary. The pay test depends on which permit your Maltese employer files with Identità. Once Identità issues an Approval in Principle (AIP) letter, you book a long-stay (D) visa appointment at VFS Global in India. The figures below are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. Our Malta visa hub for Indians covers tourist and business visas.

Is there one minimum salary for a Malta work permit?

No. Identità applies four different salary rules, one per route:

The KEI and SEI floors took effect on 1 August 2025, according to Identità's Labour Migration Policy fact sheet.

What does a Single Permit salary have to satisfy?

Three tests apply at once. The pay must meet or exceed the National Minimum Wage. It must comply with the sectoral collective agreement or Wage Regulation Order for your industry. And it must be consistent with the job you are being hired for. Identità's pages do not print the minimum wage in euro, so ask your employer which current figure and which sectoral rules they used.

Consistency matters on paper too. The salary in the Identità application, the Jobsplus declaration and the employment contract must match. If they differ, the application is returned. Other Single Permit conditions that affect your offer:

• The permit covers one employer and one occupation at a time.
• You need health insurance with at least €100,000 cover for the whole stay; travel insurance is not accepted.
• Hospitality and food-service roles also need a Skills Pass from the Institute of Tourism Studies and a Malta Food Handler licence.

How much must KEI and SEI jobs pay?

The Key Employee Initiative is a fast-track Single Permit for managerial or highly technical roles in ISCO groups 1-3. The job must pay at least €45,000 a year gross, and Identità excludes allowances and benefits from that figure. You also need relevant qualifications or at least 3 years' experience in the role. The permit is valid for 1 year at first and can be renewed for up to 3 years with a valid contract and the stamped annual tax declaration.

If your ISCO group 1-3 offer pays less than €45,000 but at least €30,000, the Specialist Employee Initiative may fit. It asks for an MQF Level 6 or higher qualification, or a lower qualification plus 3 years' relevant experience. For both routes, the employer must advertise the job for at least 2 weeks within the 2 months before applying.

Why is there no euro figure for Malta's EU Blue Card?

The Blue Card threshold is set as a multiple: at least 1.5 times Malta's average gross annual salary as published by the NSO. Identità does not publish a fixed euro amount on the pages checked, so your employer has to work it out from the latest NSO figure. Other conditions are a degree at MQF Level 6 or higher, or at least 5 years of proven professional experience, and a binding contract or job offer of at least 6 months. The card is first issued for up to 24 months (or the contract length plus 3 months).

Does your salary affect when your family can join?

Yes, on the KEI and SEI routes. Family can join without the usual 12-month wait if the sponsor holds an AIP and earns at least €50,000 a year for the sponsor and one dependant, plus €6,000 for each additional dependant. The sponsor must also hold €100,000 health cover per dependant and use private schooling for school-age children.

What fees come on top of the salary checks?

• Identità permit fee: €600 for a first Single Permit, KEI or SEI permit; renewal €150 a year. Changing employer costs €600 and changing designation €300. The EU Blue Card is €600 for year 1 plus €150 for year 2.
• VFS D visa (Work Visa): INR 13556 / EUR 150.
• Work permit via Extended Service: INR 21,834 / EUR 250, paid when booking, plus a VFS service charge of INR 13,500 at the centre.

VFS India states 10 to 15 days, and elsewhere 15 working days, for the work visa stage.

Salary paperwork mistakes that get files returned

• A contract salary that differs from the Jobsplus declaration or the Identità form.
• Counting allowances or benefits towards the €45,000 KEI threshold.
• Booking the VFS appointment before the AIP letter arrives; the Extended Service needs a valid AIP.
• An employer who skipped the advert. The vacancy must be advertised for at least 3 weeks (2 weeks for KEI, SEI, EU Blue Card and Skilled Occupation List roles) within the 2 months before applying, on the Jobsplus portal and EURES since 1 October 2025; non-compliant applications are ineligible.

For the visa file itself, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters, with packages from INR 1,000 to INR 3,000. Reach us on WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or through our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Is Malta's KEI salary of EUR 45,000 gross or net?

It is an annual gross figure. Identità states that allowances and benefits are excluded when checking the €45,000 threshold.

What happens if I lose my job on a Malta Single Permit?

Since 1 August 2025, Single Permit holders whose job is terminated get a 30-day grace period to find new work. It can be extended by 30 days with proof of financial self-sufficiency.

Can I apply for a Malta work visa at VFS without an employer?

No. Identità decides the permit on your employer's application and issues an Approval in Principle letter. VFS will not accept an Extended Service work permit application without the original invitation letter and work permit letter.

How long does Identità take to approve a KEI or SEI permit?

Identità lists KEI permits as processed within 5 working days and SEI permits within 15 working days. The D visa stage at VFS India then follows.