Working in Malta: Jobs, Permits, Tax and Employment Basics

Working in Malta involves immigration status, an employment relationship and payroll registrations. EU nationals and third-country nationals reach lawful employment through different routes, but all workers should insist on clear written terms. Verify the latest details with Jobsplus.

Confirm your right to work, obtain a written contract, verify that the employment is registered and understand gross pay, deductions, probation, hours, leave and termination before starting.

Start with your right to work, not the job board

Permission comes first

EU nationals can work under free movement; most third-country nationals require the correct employment-related permit. Read Vacation Leave before relying on the summary here.

The contract is only one layer

Jobsplus engagement, payroll tax and social-security records should also match the real job.

Sector rules may differ

Malta has general employment standards and Wage Regulation Orders for particular activities.

Ask the employer before accepting

• Is the offer conditional on a work or residence permit? Read National Minimum Wage before relying on the summary here.
• Who is the legal employer named on the contract?
• What is the probation period?
• Are overtime, bonuses and allowances guaranteed or discretionary?
• What happens if the permit is delayed or refused?

From job offer to first payslip

1. Confirm whether you can work without a permit or need an employer-led application.
2. Get the job title, gross salary, hours, location and start date in writing.
3. Read the contract before resigning or relocating.
4. Confirm who submits any permit application and which costs each party pays.
5. Keep copies of the permit, contract, engagement form and identity documents.
6. Check the first payslip against the agreed salary, hours and deductions.

Do not confuse an offer with permission to start

Permit and onboarding times depend on nationality and route. Do not travel, stop another job or begin work on the assumption that an application will automatically be approved.

Useful next guides

Start with Moving to Malta: Complete Relocation Guide for the wider picture.

• Employment Rights in Malta: Pay, Hours, Leave and Contracts
• Tax and Social Security in Malta: Rates, Part-Time Work and Payroll
• Finding a Job in Malta: A Practical Guide for Newcomers

Browse all Moving to Malta guides.

Your employment file

Keep the signed contract, permit correspondence, engagement confirmation and every payslip together; they are much easier to obtain before a disagreement begins.

Last reviewed: 9 August 2026. Recheck the official sources in the article metadata when a deadline, price, eligibility rule or service arrangement affects your decision.