Specialist Employee Initiative (SEI) Single Work Permit
Key Employee Initiative (KEI) Single Work Permit
EU Blue Card – Malta
Malta offers several special residence permits for third country nationals who are considered
as highly qualified individuals. These types of permits aim to facilitate the attraction and
retention of highly skilled professionals from outside the EU. The goal is to boost the
competitiveness of the Maltese labour market and address skill shortages in certain
sectors. You may be eligible for such permits. In this article, we will explain essential information about these types of permits and the eligibility criteria.
Applying for Your Residence Permit
A highly qualified individual cann apply for these permits through Identità. That is the official government entity in Malta responsible for citizenship, passports, identity documents, and residence permits.
You can apply for employment through three different work permits:
- Specialist Employee Initiative (SEI) Single Work Permit
- Key Employee Initiative (KEI) Single Work Permit
- EU Blue Card – Malta
It is important to note that the Key Employee Initiative (KEI) and the Specialist Employee
Initiative (SEI) are residence and work permit issued for highly qualified purposes under
Maltese policies. The EU Blue Card work permit, however, is issued in accordance with the
provisions of the relative EU directive.
Specialist Employee Initiative (SEI) Single Work Permit
This Permit provides a fast-tracked service to highly skilled third country nationals, who may not be
eligible for the Key Employee Initiative, but who hold the relevant academic, vocational or
technical skills in line with their employment offer in Malta. The scheme will facilitate the
issuing of work/residence permits if they hold the necessary qualifications and will be offered
an annual gross salary of at least €25,000 per annum.
SEI Single Work Permit Criteria
In summary:
- You must have a minimum gross basic salary of €25,000
- The position offered in Malta is professional or technical
- Minimum MQF Level 6 or equivalent qualifications directly related to the job
- In case of an MQF lower than level 6, proof of a minimum of three years’ experience
in a position directly related to the one being offered in Malta - Processing time – fifteen working days
Key Employee Initiative (KEI) Single Work Permit
This Work Permit provides a fast-tracked service to highly specialised Third Country Nationals who are looking to be employed in Malta. The scheme that holds an accelerated service will facilitate the
issuing of work/residence permits if they hold the necessary qualifications and will be offered
an annual gross salary of at least €35,000 per annum.
KEI Single Work Permit Criteria
In summary:
- You must be offered a minimum gross basic salary of €35,000
- The position offered in Malta is either managerial or highly technical
- Duly certified and recognised qualifications of the applicant by (MQRIC)
- Processing time – five working days
EU Blue Card – Malta
The EU Blue Card is a work and residence permit for highly skilled non-EU/EEA nationals
which allows you to work and live in 25 out of 27 countries (except Denmark and Ireland)
within the European Union. The European Blue Card provides rights and a path towards
permanent residence in the EU.
An EU Blue Card gives highly qualified workers from outside the EU the right to live and
work in an EU country. However, you must have higher professional qualifications, such as a
university degree, and an employment contract or a binding job offer for at least one year
with a high salary compared to the average salary in Malta (1.5 x the average gross annual
salary).
A third country national must be in possession of professional qualifications and
have a work contract that covers at least a period of one year, together with travel
documents and health insurance. The EU Blue Card does not apply to self-employed
individuals.
Work Permit Renewal
Following the first renewal, one can apply for a residence permit for a validity period of two
years if the Blue Card holder is in possession of a work contract for longer than two
years. During the first two years as a Blue Card holder, if there is a change in employment,
you would be required to submit a new application. However after having been employed as
a Blue Card holder for more than two years, if you change employment, all that is required
is to present the new work contract to Identità.
If a Blue Card holder loses employment, they have three months to find a new job. Following these three months, the EU Blue Card will be withdrawn completely. One of the advantages of the EU Blue Card is that it allows holders to move and work within other EU member states under certain conditions.
Sciberras Advocates
If you need assistance on Specialist Employee Initiative (SEI) Single Work Permit, Key Employee
Initiative (KEI) Single Work Permit or Malta EU Blue Card applications in Malta, please do
not hesitate to get in touch with us on [email protected].
This article is for information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice.
Article written by Ms Charlene Sciberras for Sciberras Advocates.
