Mandatory Course For Third-Country Nationals From 2026

As of January 2026, third‑country nationals (TCNs) who wish to work in Malta for the first time will be required to complete and pass a mandatory online pre‑departure course on life and work in Malta, costing €250, before they can proceed with a single permit application. This measure forms part of the wider Malta Labour Migration Policy, intended to regulate inflows of non‑EU workers, raise basic standards, and support better integration and enforcement.

The pre‑departure programme consists of two online modules covering living and working in Malta, including basic English, cultural norms, workplace hygiene and conduct, and workers' rights and obligations. Each module is expected to take roughly 10–12 hours of learning and must be completed within a set timeframe, after which applicants sit an assessment and attend a live online interview to verify both language skills and understanding of the content.