Malta Skills Card

How to Obtain a Malta Skills Card?

The Malta Skills Card is an essential certification for skills professionals seeking employment opportunities in the tourism industry in Malta. More than just a formality, this card signifies that a professional meets European standards in their field, granting them easier access to job opportunities while ensuring safety, quality, and consistency in workmanship. This guide provides an in-depth look at what the Malta Skills Card entails, who needs it, and how you can obtain it.

Understanding the Malta Skills Card

Malta's tourism and hospitality industry stands as a vibrant cornerstone of its economy, welcoming visitors from around the globe to experience its rich tapestry of history and natural beauty. The Malta Skills Card, often known as the Skills Card, is a professional certification card. The card ensures that all cardholders possess a standard level of skill and knowledge for the Tourism and Hospitality Industry in Malta. This card is a mandatory requirement for anyone who works within an Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) licensed establishment in any role need the Skills Card in Malta. Through the Malta Skills Card, workers demonstrate compliance with industry standards, ensuring quality in their work environments.

Upon registration all candidates are required to fill in their personal details, upload a copy of their passport (the photo side) as well as take a picture to confirm their identity.

Step 1: Online Training and Assessment

Following registration, the candidate is invited to purchase the modules which include four mandatory modules and at least one occupation.

Candidates must pass all mandatory assessments, including:

English Proficiency Test
Basic Customer Care
Basic Maltese Tourism Product Course
Basic English for Hospitality Course

Following successful completion of the mandatory assessments, the candidates proceed to the occupation selection. Candidates must select one occupation from the following options:

Luggage Porter (Front Office)
Receptionist (Front Office)
Bar Waiter (Bar Staff)
General Attendant (Housekeeping)
Commis Chef (Kitchen Staff)
Commis de Rang (Food Service Staff)
Other (Answer one written question)

Once candidate passes the mandatory and occupation assessments successfully, the candidates receive a Phase 1 Confirmation which confirms that the online assessment has been successfully finalised.

Step 2: Online Interview via Video Conferencing

Upon successful completion of Phase 1, the candidate is invited to choose a time slot for the Online Interview. The assessor confirms the time slot within a week and the candidate shall receive confirmation and instructions via email upon confirmation.

On the interview day, candidates from countries not in the EU or European Economic Area or European Free Trade Agreement that require a visa to enter Malta, are required to go to their nearest VFS Centre for their online interview. On the other hand, candidates from non-EU or European Economic Area or European Free Trade Agreement countries that do not require a visa to enter Malta are to visit the Institute of Tourism Studies in Malta for the online interview.

Upon successful completion of Phase 2, the candidate will then receive the permanent Skills Pass and will be able to work in the Hospitality and Tourism Sector in Malta.

Candidates can self-register based on their category:

Non-European Union/European Economic Area Countries/European Free Trade Agreement (Non-EU/EEA/EFTA/EFTA) - Not Living in Malta
Non-European Union/European Economic Area Countries/European Free Trade Agreement (Non-EU/EEA/EFTA/EFTA) - Working in Malta for less than 1 year
Non-European Union/European Economic Area Countries/European Free Trade Agreement (Non-EU/EEA/EFTA/EFTA) - Working in Malta for more than 1 year
Students carrying out a full-time course with a licensed local Education Institution

Certain candidates can only be registered by an entity, including:

Sector Skilled Workers – can only be registered by local MTA licensed establishments
Internship Students – can only be registered by their EU licensed education institution
ELT Students – can only be registered by a licensed ELT institution

A Non-EU/EEA/EFTA national who acquires a Skills pass and completes the verification process by ITS and Identita is eligible for a residence and work permit of one year upon approval from Jobsplus, the Malta Police Force, and any other pertenant authority.
Upon satisfying the criteria for a full year, Non-EU/EEA/EFTA nationals may renew their permit for two years, with subsequent renewals possible under the same conditions.

Renewal requirements mirror the initial criteria:

Advancement to at least the next skill pass level (Orange, MQF level 2)
Direct employment with an MTA licensed operator in the tourism and hospitality sector
Submission of documentation for a two-year definite contract or indefinite employment upon renewal
Proof of a gross annual income of at least €20,000
Subsequent renewals for up to two years are available, provided all conditions are continuously met

If the Non-EU/EEA/EFTA national does not meet the two year permit requirements they will be able to renew on a yearly basis.

The Fees

Non-EU/EEA/EFTA living abroad (coming to Malta to work in tourism and hospitality industry) - €475
Non-EU/EEA/EFTA living in Malta for less than a year (applying for first renewal of residency permit) - €455
Non-EU/EEA/EFTA living in Malta for more than a year (applying for second renewal onwards) - €375
Non-EU/EEA/EFTA ELT Student - €335
Sector Skilled Workers (registered by an MTA licensed establishment) - €280
Non-EU/EEA/EFTA Internship Student - €0
Students carrying out a full-time course with a licensed local Education Institution - €0
EU/EEA/EFTA/Maltese working within the Hospitality and Tourism Industry - €0

Once you obtain the full Skills Pass it is permanent for that particular occupation. If you change jobs but remain with the same occupation then the Skills Pass will remain valid. However, if you change jobs and start working in a different occupation within the Hospitality and Tourism sector, then you would have to do the exam for that occupation and once you obtain the Skills Pass for that occupation it is also permanent. The price for an additional occupation is €107.50.