From 1 March 2026, Identità checks certificates for covered applications based on the application route and submission date. Official pages also differ on the interview arrangements, so confirm them before booking.
| Situation | What to know |
|---|---|
| Who is the course for? | It is connected to Malta’s Single Permit process for third-country nationals (TCNs), not a general course for everyone who is not Maltese. Covered first-time, New and Still Abroad applications may need the certificate. |
| Which date matters? | Identità says applications submitted before 1 March 2026 are not assessed against the new requirement. The stated cutoff is the submission date, not simply the arrival date. |
| What does it cost and how long can Part 1 take? | The official course pages list a €250 fee and up to 42 days to complete Part 1. Allow for the assessment and interview steps too; the published period is not a guaranteed end-to-end completion time. |
| Does the certificate let me work in Malta? | No. The certificate is not a residence permit or work authorisation. Follow Identità’s instructions for your application and wait for the required authorisation before working. |
What the course is—and who it is for
Malta’s Pre-Departure Course is part of the Single Permit process for some third-country nationals (TCNs). Identità describes a Single Permit as a temporary permit for eligible TCNs to reside and work in Malta; its single application incorporates an employment licence and a residence permit. The course is not a general requirement for every non-Maltese person who lives or works in the country. For background on the employment route, see Malta Work Permit Process.
Identità began verifying the certificate on 1 March 2026. Its FAQ says applications submitted before that date are not assessed against the new requirement. The stated cutoff is when the application was submitted—not simply when the worker travels to or arrives in Malta.
Which application stages are covered
Identità’s notice says that, outside tourism and hospitality, the course is required for New and Still Abroad applications submitted from 1 March 2026, subject to exemptions. A Still Abroad application is made while the applicant is outside the Schengen area. Renewals are not listed as a covered application type in that notice, so check the checklist for the specific application rather than assuming the rule applies to every renewal.
Identità says a person holding a valid Single Permit who applies to change employer or designation is generally not required to submit the course certificate. Its notice also exempts people who currently hold or previously held a Single Permit, but describes an exception for some later applications as a first-time applicant after leaving the Schengen area or through the Still Abroad route. Check your permit history and exact application category before relying on an exemption.
Identità’s notice also exempts TCNs who have resided in Malta for eight years or more; it does not explain how residence periods are counted. Students converting from a study permit to a Single Permit are a separate case: Identità says they must submit the certificate at conversion.
The reviewed guidance does not establish a blanket course requirement for study residence by itself, family residence, long-term-resident status or every other work-permit route. Do not assume the Single Permit rule automatically applies to those categories. Check the rules and document checklist for your specific residence route; see Malta Residence Permit Requirements for a broader overview.
Tourism and hospitality: check the exact job
Tourism and hospitality applicants may need the Pre-Departure Course and a Skills Pass, but Identità’s pages do not describe the certificate combination identically. Its FAQ gives role-specific alternatives: some front-facing roles need either a full Skills Pass or the Pre-Departure certificate plus the applicable tourism and hospitality Skills Pass certificate; listed non-front-facing roles need the Pre-Departure Course only. A separate Identità notice broadly says applicants in the sector must present two certificates. Because the official guidance differs in detail, check the current checklist for your precise occupation before applying.
Identità’s FAQ says one-year renewals in tourism and hospitality do not require either certificate. This is a specific renewal case; confirm the current requirements for your role and application type.
What the course involves, how long it takes and the fee
Part 1 has two online modules: Living and Working in Malta and Rights and Obligations at the Workplace. Each has an assessment. The official pages describe an interview to check English-language proficiency and understanding of the course material, but their descriptions of the interview arrangements are not fully consistent.
The Ministry for Home Affairs describes a 20-minute live online interview and says candidates have up to 42 days to complete Part 1. Identità’s course page also describes a 20-minute live online interview, but says the process is followed by an in-person verification interview at a designated assessment centre. The pages do not make clear whether these are separate steps or how the current arrangement works. Confirm the required format and location with the course portal or Identità before booking or planning travel. The official pages list a €250 fee; the portal opened on 5 January 2026.
A certificate or pending application is not work permission
Completing the course does not itself give you permission to reside or work in Malta. Identità says an Approval in Principle does not authorise employment; where applicable, work may begin only after the required steps are completed and Identità issues an Interim Receipt with Temporary Authorisation to Work. A course certificate, pending application or approval letter alone is not work authorisation.
Questions people ask
Does the requirement depend on when I arrive in Malta?
Identità says applications submitted before 1 March 2026 are not assessed against the new requirement. The stated cutoff is the submission date, not the travel or arrival date.
Do I need the course for a renewal or a change of employer?
The notice lists New and Still Abroad applications outside tourism and hospitality. Identità says valid Single Permit holders changing employer or designation are generally not required to submit the certificate. Its tourism and hospitality FAQ specifically exempts one-year renewals. Check the rules for your application type and permit history.
Who may be exempt?
Identità lists current or former Single Permit holders, subject to an exception for some later first-time or Still Abroad applications, and TCNs who have resided in Malta for eight years or more. Students converting from a study permit to a Single Permit must submit the certificate at conversion.
Do all tourism and hospitality workers need both certificates?
The official guidance differs in detail. Identità’s FAQ gives role-specific alternatives, while its separate notice broadly says two certificates are required. Check the current checklist for your occupation and application.
Does a pending Single Permit application let me work?
No, not by itself. Identità says an Approval in Principle does not authorise employment. Follow the required application steps and wait for the applicable work authorisation before starting work.
Are the interview arrangements online or in person?
Official pages describe a live online interview, and Identità also describes an in-person verification interview afterward. They do not clearly explain whether these are separate steps or the current booking arrangement. Confirm the format and location with the course portal or Identità before booking.
Sources
- Identità — Pre-Departure Course Requirement to Be Verified as from 1 March 2026
- Identità — Non-EU Employment FAQs
- Ministry for Home Affairs — Pre-Departure Course
- Identità — Pre-Departure Course for First-Time Single Permit Applicants
- Identità — Single Permit
- Identità — Tourism and Hospitality Skills Pass
- Identità — Single Permit Application
- Identità — Biometrics and Interim Receipt
- Identità — Guidelines for Residence Permit Holders
General information, not individual immigration or legal advice. Confirm your own status and current requirements with the relevant authority.