Self-employed worker in Malta

Employment Licence

You must apply to the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC) to obtain an employment licence.

You must meet one or more of the following criteria:

A) You must have invested in Malta capital expenditure of at least € 100,000 within six months from the date on which the ETC licence is issued. Capital expenditure shall solely consist of fixed assets (such as immovable property, plant and machinery) used for business purposes, as reflected in the business plan submitted with the application. Rental contracts do not qualify. Such expenditure needs to be supported by receipts in your name. The application also needs to be accompanied by a letter of reference in your respect, from a reputable Maltese bank that certifies that you have the ability to raise such capital.

B) You are a highly-skilled innovator with a sound business plan (to be submitted with application). You must be committed to recruit at least three EEA/Swiss/Maltese nationals within eighteen months of establishment.

C) You are a sole representative of an overseas company (with a sound reputation and established for at least three years abroad) wishing to open a branch in Malta - evidence of representation is required.

D) You are leading a project that has been formally approved by Malta Enterprise and formally notified by the latter to ETC.

A firm commitment regarding the engagement of EEA/Swiss nationals will help the favourable consideration of an application.

Special rules apply for long-term residents.

Residence Permit

Once your employment licence has been granted, you must within one month apply to the Department for Citizenship and Expatriates Affairs for a residence permit. If you are still outside Malta after one month has passed, you should inform the Department and apply for your residence permit on arrival.

Visa

If subject to a visa requirement, you must obtain a visa at the Embassy or Consulate in your country of origin or residence , prior to your intended arrival in Malta.

Employment Licence

• Employment licence application form;
• 1 original passport size photo certified true likeness;
• A certified true copy of travel document;
• Processing Fee;
• A letter from the employer explaining need for position, evidence that employer searched for Maltese/EEA/Swiss Nationals (except in the field of culture and entertainment) and
• Position description;
• your CV;
• Qualifications, including certified translated copies where applicable, together with recognition from the Malta Qualifications Recognition and Information Centre (MQRIC). Where recognition has not yet been obtained, a copy of the receipt from MQRIC needs to be attached with the application. If you lack formal qualifications in the occupation for which you will be engaged, you require proof of at least three years of experience relating to the job.
• If you are applying for an Employment Licence whilst you are in Malta, on date of application you must submit a visa valid for at least a further six weeks.

In the case of (A) above, a Business Plan is required, indicating clearly when such investment is to occur, within twelve months from application. In the case of (B) above, the Business Plan must be submitted with the application. In the case of (C), evidence of such representation is required on the application. In the case of (D), formal notification by Malta Enterprise is required on the application.

Residence Permit

To obtain a residence permit, you must present:

• the relevant employment licence;
• passport;
• two passport-type photographs; and
• Payslips.

If your application is rejected, a letter of refusal is issued highlighting the reasons.

The decision relating to the employment licence may be reconsidered if an appeal is filed within one calendar month from the date of the refusal letter with the Employment and Training Corporation’s Reconsideration Board. Only one request for reconsideration may be made with respect to any rejection.

If an application is rejected on grounds of security, health, or other stakeholder clearance, a reconsideration is not possible.

Appeals to the Immigration Appeals Board are also possible but must be filed within three working days from the decision subject to appeal. This is not in relation to refusal of employment licence.

More on residence permits 

More on visas 

Long-term resident status can be obtained after five years of legal and continuous residence, provided that:

• your income level is equivalent to the national average wage, with an additional 20% for each family member;
• you provide evidence that you have complied with certain integration conditions;
• you prove that you have adequate accommodation;
• you provide a letter documenting your employment history, current and previous residence, family members if living with you and any other relevant information.