Malta, a tiny country with a population size of 542,051 as estimated in 2022, heavily relies on foreign workers to fill job vacancies across various fields. This reliance is due to shortages in occupations related to business and administration, culinary and hospitality, and transportation.
This opens up opportunities for foreigners who are looking to live and work in Malta, provided they have the qualifications to fill any of the vacancies available in the country. The Maltese authorities are keen on attracting highly-skilled foreign workers, and to that end, they have launched the Specialist Employee Initiative (SEI).
The SEI provides an opportunity for highly skilled third-country nationals who lack eligibility for the Key Employee Initiative, but possess relevant academic or technical skills for their job offer in Malta. Only third-country nationals with a signed contract with a Maltese-registered company are eligible to apply for the SEI.
President Joanne Bondin of the Malta Employer Association (MEA) highlighted the essential role of foreign workers in supporting and boosting economic growth. According to her, EU and third-country nationals have filled employment gaps in the logistics sector that might have otherwise hindered its development.
The 2022 EURES report on labour shortages and surpluses identifies several occupations that are in-demand in Malta, including accounting and bookkeeping clerks, software developers, shop sales assistants, and more.
For EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, no visa is required in order to live and work in Malta. However, they must register with the Department for Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs within three months of arriving. Citizens who do not belong to these mentioned countries are required to obtain a visa in order to work in Malta. The Maltese authorities provide three types of work permits: the single permit, key employment initiative, and EU Blue Card. These permits offer options for foreign nationals seeking to work in Malta.
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