For third-country students using the English-course work route, the course must exceed 90 days and be at an ELT Council-licensed school. Identità says eligible students outside the higher-education rules may work up to 20 hours a week after their first three months of study, subject to Jobsplus conditions and an employment licence.
| Situation | What to know |
|---|---|
| EU, EEA or Swiss student | You generally do not need an employment licence. Your employer must register your employment with Jobsplus; if you are an EU or EEA national staying over three months, residence registration with Identità is a separate matter. |
| Third-country student on an English-language course | The student route covers qualifying courses exceeding 90 days at an ELT Council-licensed school. Identità says students outside the higher-education rules may work up to 20 hours a week after their first three months of study, subject to Jobsplus conditions and an employment licence. |
| Third-country student on a course of 90 days or less | Do not assume that a short-stay visa or visa-free entry permits work. The English-course student work route described by Jobsplus requires a course exceeding 90 days; other work rights may depend on your individual status. |
| UK national | Check your residence status as well as your nationality. Jobsplus treats UK nationals outside the qualifying Withdrawal Agreement category as third-country nationals for work-authorisation purposes. |
Your status determines which rules apply
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens generally do not need an employment licence to work in Malta. However, employment still needs to be registered with Jobsplus by the employer. For EU and EEA nationals staying in Malta for more than three months, residence registration with Identità is a separate requirement.
If you are a third-country national, do not assume that rules for university students apply to an English-language course. Identità distinguishes students covered by the higher-education provisions from students on other courses; Jobsplus’s English-course guidance describes a separate route.
Some third-country nationals may already have a status that gives them access to employment. For example, Identità says holders of Maltese long-term resident status have access to employment without a separate work permit. If you think this applies to you, check the rights attached to your specific status rather than assuming you must use the student work route.
UK nationals should check their residence documents and circumstances. Jobsplus says qualifying UK nationals covered by the Withdrawal Agreement are treated differently from UK nationals who do not fall within that category; the latter may need work authorisation as third-country nationals.
The English-course work route for third-country students
Jobsplus guidance describes the English-course route for third-country students at establishments licensed by Malta’s ELT Council. It says the course must exceed 90 days for a student to apply for an Employment Licence. The guide was updated on 19 January 2021, so confirm your eligibility and the current requirements with Jobsplus and your school.
Identità’s current student-employment guidance says students outside the higher-education category may work a maximum of 20 hours per week after their first three months of study in Malta. This is subject to Jobsplus conditions, including restrictions on sectors. The page does not explain every possible calculation scenario, so confirm your own eligible start date with Identità and Jobsplus.
You need the required work authorisation before starting. A student visa or permission to stay for study is not itself the Jobsplus Employment Licence. Jobsplus says the employer applies for the student licence; once it is issued, the employer must register the employment with Jobsplus. Ask the prospective employer to confirm the application steps and timing.
Visa duration and permission to work are separate
Identità says third-country nationals attending courses of up to 90 days are to be issued a Schengen short-stay C visa, but that procedure does not apply to visa-exempt nationals. Visa-exempt nationals may use visa-free entry for short stays if eligible. Neither a C visa nor visa-free entry, by itself, establishes permission to work.
Identità’s current guidance is inconsistent about when a student needs a D visa for a longer course: its course-specific page says courses exceeding 90 days, while its Visa FAQ says students taking courses of at least 105 days must apply for a D-national visa before travelling. The FAQ also says visa-exempt students intending to study for more than 105 days need a D visa. Confirm the visa and application process for your nationality and course directly with Identità before booking or travelling.
Whatever visa or residence permission applies, it is separate from the work authorisation required for the English-course student work route. Do not treat your visa, course booking or arrival in Malta as approval to start a job.
Maintain attendance and satisfactory progress
Keep attending classes and making satisfactory progress. Identità’s current extension guidance asks students seeking an extension to provide proof of satisfactory performance and attendance. An ELT Council procedure dated 9 April 2018 also warns that attendance or progress problems can affect a student visa, but its specific 75% attendance figure is dated; confirm the condition that applies to your course and permission with your school and Identità.
Before accepting a job, check that your school is ELT Council-licensed, your course meets the duration requirement, the waiting period has passed, and the employer has obtained the required Jobsplus licence. For more practical context, see our guide to part-time jobs in Malta for students.
Questions people ask
Can I work while studying English in Malta on a course shorter than 90 days?
The Jobsplus student work route for English-language courses covers qualifying courses that exceed 90 days. A short-stay visa or visa-free entry does not itself give permission to work. If you have another status that may grant work rights, confirm those rights with the relevant authority.
Does my student visa automatically let me work?
No. For third-country students using the English-course route, the visa or permission to stay for study is separate from the Jobsplus Employment Licence. You need the required work authorisation before starting.
How many hours can I work as a third-country English-language student?
Identità says students outside the higher-education category may work up to 20 hours per week after their first three months of study in Malta, subject to Jobsplus conditions and the required employment licence. Confirm your own eligible start date with Identità and Jobsplus.
Can missing classes affect my visa?
Attendance and satisfactory progress can matter. Identità’s current extension guidance asks for proof of performance and attendance. The 75% figure in ELT Council guidance from 2018 is dated, so check the condition that applies to your current course and permission.
Which visa do I need for an English course longer than 90 days?
Identità’s course-specific page says a D visa applies to courses exceeding 90 days, while its Visa FAQ describes the student D-visa requirement as applying to courses of at least 105 days. Because the official pages differ, confirm the correct process for your nationality and course directly with Identità before booking or travelling.
Sources
- Government of Malta, Moving to Malta and Looking for a Job
- Identità, EU Nationals FAQ
- Identità, Student Visa – Employment
- Identità, Student Visa – Courses Not Exceeding 90 Days
- Identità, Student Visa – Courses Exceeding 90 Days
- Identità, Visa FAQ
- Identità, Student Visa Extension of Stay in Malta
- Identità, Long-Term Resident FAQ
- Jobsplus, Guide for Third-Country National Students
- Jobsplus, Third-Country Nationals
- Jobsplus, Employment Forms
- ELT Council, Procedure for Third-Country Students Seeking Employment in Malta
Rules, fees and eligibility can change. Confirm current requirements with the named authority or institution before applying or paying.