How many years does the Single Permit last with factory workers?

The Single Permit of the Factory Jobs is a 1 year timeframe, usually, renewable year after year though, the conditions and Employment Contract should not be violated.

Do I require a high-skilled qualification in a factory job in Malta?

Generally, no. Although formal Proof of Qualifications is beneficial, most Worker Manufacturing positions will accept applicants who can prove that they have had at least three years of prior work experience in similar Low-to-Mid-Skilled Roles in the Manufacturing Sector.

How to get a Single Permit in the shortest time?

The average Processing Time is 23 months. Although Malta has a Key Employee Initiative (KEI) that has a processing time of 5 days, factory and general labour positions hardly receive the KEI because it is an executive programme that has a high salary and higher level of skills.

Malta Getting Factory Jobs for Foreign Employees

As a busy island country in the middle of the Mediterranean, Malta is dependent on the strong Manufacturing Sector. This is one of the important employers in the country that is actively seeking good Foreign Employees to take up jobs such as Worker Manufacturing, Assembler and Industrial Technician.

Unless you are an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, you are a Third-Country National, and therefore have to navigate Malta through its Single Permit system to get these Factory Jobs. This E-A-T-compliant guide is the guide that will give you the ultimate roadmap to the obtaining of the required Work Permit and Residence Permit to begin your career in Malta in 2025.

The Work Authorization and Residency Single Permit

The Single Permit is the integrated paper (e-residence card), which enables the Third-Country Nationals to work and stay in Malta more than 90 days legally. The Maltese government agency, Identita (particularly, the Expatriates Unit) takes care of the whole process and obliges Employer Sponsorship.

The Compulsory Labor Market Test

The greatest challenge in obtaining Factory Jobs to Foreign Employees is the Labour Market Test which is administered by the Jobsplus (Maltese Public Employment Agency).

The Requirement: Your prospective employer needs to demonstrate that there were real efforts made on his part to secure qualified Maltese, EEA or Swiss nationals to occupy the open position. It usually consists in the posting of job adverts in local media over a minimum time (the Vacancy Report).
The Objective: The Labour Market Test is aimed at making sure that the employment of a Third-Country National does not hurt the local jobs. The factory jobs are so many and thus would be subject to criticism in this test.

Application Roadmap Still Abroad Route

The vast majority of Factory Jobs applicants are required to develop an application outside of Malta and the Schengen Area (the Still Abroad Application), and through the official New Application (Form C2/C5).

Phase 1: Employer Initiates (Identita & Jobsplus)

Secure Job: Find a Real Job Offer and conclude an Employment Contract with the obligatory minimum salary (now is the statutory salary of €925.34/month) and the industry practice.
Employer Submission: Your employer fills the application of Single Permit through the Single Permit Online Portal to Identita. The application has evidence of the Labour Market Test in Jobsplus.
Initial Approval: In case of approval, Identita grants an Approval in Principle Letter. This is a very important document that the permit will be granted upon a successful entry.

Phase 2 Visa & Entry

D-type Visa Application An applicant then applies for the D-type Visa (Long-Stay Visa) by using the Approval in Principle Letter at the Maltese Embassy or Consulate of their home country.

Arrival in Malta: the D- Visa permits the Third-Country National to gain entry into Malta.
Final Registration: Once arrived, the applicant goes to Identita to give biometric information (fingerprints and photo) and complete issuance of his/her physical e-residence card (Single Permit).

Major Documents that you need to prepare

Documents should be carefully prepared to prevent prolonged delays in the Processing Time (average of 23 months).

Valid Passport: Should be valid to the planned period.
Evidence of Education: Certificate or diplomas. In the case of general Factory Jobs, three years of prior work experience in the position is usually substituted in place of formal education.
MQRIC Recognition:There are positions where an individual needs to have his or her qualifications formally recognized by the Malta Qualifications Recognition and Information Centre.
Clean Criminal Record: The recent Police clearance certificate (translated and apostled/legalized).
Evidence of Accommodation: An Enrolled Lease Agreement or a rental agreement.
Health Insurance: It should be able to cover the whole of the Schengen area with a minimum coverage of 30,000.

Salary, Rights, and Renewals

Although the Minimum Salary is compulsory, majority of factory jobs have a bit higher. The mean manufacturing salary is very large compared to the minimum wage. It is important that your Employment Contract is conformable to all Local Salary Conditions and Maltese labor laws.

Employment Tied to Employer

The Single Permit is strictly fixed on a position and employer. This means:

You have not started working in a new company because the Identita has not given a new Single Permit application.
In case of termination of employment, your right to remain in Malta will be threatened and you will have to act swiftly to get another Employer Sponsorship.

The Road to Long-Term Residence

When you have five years of continuous years of legal residence in Malta and during all this time you have a single permits you can apply to Long-Term Residence / Permanent Residency, which offers more stability and additional rights.

FAQs

How many years does the Single Permit last with factory workers?
The Single Permit of the Factory Jobs is a 1 year timeframe, usually, renewable year after year though, the conditions and Employment Contract should not be violated.
Do I require a high-skilled qualification in a factory job in Malta?
Generally, no. Although formal Proof of Qualifications is beneficial, most Worker Manufacturing positions will accept applicants who can prove that they have had at least three years of prior work experience in similar Low-to-Mid-Skilled Roles in the Manufacturing Sector.
How to get a Single Permit in the shortest time?
The average Processing Time is 23 months. Although Malta has a Key Employee Initiative (KEI) that has a processing time of 5 days, factory and general labour positions hardly receive the KEI because it is an executive programme that has a high salary and higher level of skills.

Final Thoughts

With the high demand of Foreign Employees by the Manufacturing Sector in Malta, Factory Jobs is a great opportunity to the Third-Country Nationals. The key is in getting a good Employer Sponsorship and the employer strictly meeting the Labour Market Test by Jobsplus. With Identita, you can considerably simplify the process with the help of preparing the necessary documents, in particular, Proof of Accommodation and Clean Criminal Record and receive your Single Permit in the beautiful Maltese archipelago.

Disclaimer

This career data is provided to help educate and inform, but is not intended to obtain employment. The Malta Factory Jobs to Foreign Employees requirements and the Single Permit system, such as Minimum Salary and Identita and Jobsplus role, is also due to change by the Maltese government. Before putting anything into practice or reaching any final conclusions, please ensure that everything is checked with the official government site.