January 2024 marks the start of a new expedited application process for highly skilled foreign workers. The Specialist Employee Initiative (SEI) Single Work Permit will provide fast-tracked services 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 the employee meets certain criteria in terms of qualifications and salary. The eligibility criteria for the Specialist Employee Initiative include an annual gross salary of at least €25,000 (updated to €30,000 as from 1st August 2025) per annum and must be in possession of either an MQF Level 6 or higher in an area directly related to the employment position being offered in Malta or other academic, vocational or other certified qualified skill qualifications, which equate to an MQF level lower than MQF Level 6, but which are directly related to the position being offered by the Maltese employer, together with, a minimum of three years’ experience in a position directly related to the one being offered in Malta.
In fact, proof of experience must be presented in the form of either or a combination of previous employment contracts (signed by both employer and employee), employment history issued and officially certified (stamped or legalised) by the official employment authority in the country where employment was held or reference letters by former employer/s. Reference letters must show the start and end dates and details of the work carried out. The letters should contain clear contact details of the referee including a valid email address, postal address, and contact number. Identità may request additional documentation to determine eligibility.
The processing time for Specialist Employee Initiative (SEI) applications is fifteen working days, starting from the date of application submission of all the necessary documentation.
The three main eligibility criteria for Key Employee Initiative and Specialist Employee Initiative for the third-country national applicant:
Key Employee Initiative
- 最低总基本工资为 35,000 欧元（自 2025 年 8 月 1 日起更新为 45,000 欧元）
- 马耳他提供的职位要么是管理职位，要么是高度技术性职位。
- 申请人经（MQRIC）正式认证和认可的资格
- 处理时间 – 五个工作日
Specialist Employee Initiative
- 最低总基本工资为 25,000 欧元（自 2025 年 8 月 1 日起更新为 30,000 欧元）
- 马耳他提供的职位是专业性或技术性的
- 最低MQF 6级或同等学历，且与工作直接相关
- 若MQF低于6级，则需在马耳他提供与所提供职位直接相关的至少三年工作经验证明。
- 处理时间 – 十五个工作日
More info here: https://sciberras.legal/practice-areas/work-permits-residency/
If you are a local employer seeking to employ third country nationals, Sciberras Advocates can handle the work permit, visa and residency process including Single Work Permits, Key Employee Initiative (KEI) applications and Specialist Employee Initiative (SEI) applications.
本文仅供参考，不应被视为法律建议。.
查琳·西贝拉斯（Charlene Sciberras）女士，文学士（荣誉），特约撰稿人，是一位营销和工商管理专家，尤其专注于公司、会计和法律事务。.
Sciberras Advocates 由 Adrian Sciberras 博士创立，是一家总部位于马耳他的律师事务所。该事务所以其多学科、创新和灵活的特点而自豪，能够应对不断变化的时代以及本地和国际法律环境中的任何挑战。无论面临何种复杂私人或公司需求，Sciberras Advocates 都能提供切合实际且具有成本效益的法律解决方案，以实现您期望的结果。您可以通过电话联系 Sciberras Advocates： +35627795222或通过电子邮件发送至 [email protected].
