Working in Malta from Cameroon: Visa, Permit, Costs (2026)

The legal pathway: Malta Single Permit for Cameroonian workers

If you are a Cameroonian worker planning to work legally in Malta in trades like construction, hospitality, caregiving, or driving, the primary legal route is the Malta Single Permit. This route combines a work permit and a residence permit into one official authorization. It is issued by Identita, the government agency responsible for residence and work authorizations in Malta.

You cannot apply for this work permit on your own from Cameroon. The process must always be started by your future employer in Malta. The employer submits an online application through the official Identita portal while you are still residing in Cameroon. During this stage, the Maltese authorities evaluate the job offer and check if the employer has met local recruitment requirements.

If Identita approves the application, they issue an official document known as the Approval in Principle letter, or Still Approval letter. Once your employer receives this letter and sends it to you in Cameroon, you can move to the next stage: applying for your National D-Visa. This visa allows you to enter Malta legally so you can finalize your residence card upon arrival.

Is Malta a realistic destination for Cameroonian trade workers? Yes, Malta relies heavily on foreign labor to support its expanding economy. However, you must be prepared for administrative backlogs. Processing times at Identita can be long, and finding affordable housing in Malta after arrival can be challenging. If you need a faster option with higher quotas for trade roles, countries like Italy or Poland often process work authorizations faster, though Malta remains popular because English is widely spoken across the island.

Where to submit applications and key document steps

Once your employer in Malta obtains the Still Approval letter for your Single Permit, you must lodge your National D-Visa application in person. Because Malta does not maintain a full resident embassy in Yaounde that processes routine work visas directly, visa intake is managed through the designated visa application centre or the accredited diplomatic mission serving Cameroon. Applicants usually submit their physical documents and record their biometrics at the designated visa centre in Douala or Yaounde.

To build a clean visa file, you will need to prepare several mandatory documents from Cameroon. Every document issued in Cameroon must be translated into English if it was originally written in French.

• Signed employment contract: A complete work agreement signed by your Maltese employer specifying your job position, work hours, and agreed wage.
• Valid passport: Your Cameroonian passport must be valid for at least 12 to 18 months beyond your planned travel date and have empty pages.
• Police clearance certificate: An official extract from your criminal record (Bulletin n° 3) issued by the Ministry of Justice in Cameroon.
• Proof of qualifications and experience: Vocational certificates, training diplomas, or work reference letters showing you are skilled in your trade.
• Health screening and insurance: A medical certificate confirming you are free from communicable diseases, alongside travel medical insurance covering emergency care.
• Biometrics: Facial photograph and digital fingerprints taken during your appointment at the visa submission centre.

Because Cameroon is not part of the Apostille Convention, your legal documents cannot receive an Apostille stamp. Instead, documents such as your police clearance and trade certificates must undergo standard legalisation. This means you must first have them verified by the Ministry of External Relations (MINREX) in Yaounde before presenting them to the diplomatic authorities representing Malta for final attestation.

Official fees, processing times, and costs in Cameroon

Understanding the costs involved helps you budget accurately and spot fraudulent demands. Official government fees in Malta are standardized, while local preparation costs in Cameroon will depend on service rates in your city.

The official Maltese Single Permit application fee charged by Identita is set by Malta at approximately 280 EUR to 300 EUR. This processing fee is submitted online during the initial application. In many standard hiring cases, established employers pay this fee directly, but you should clarify this in your agreement. The National D-Visa submission fee paid at the visa application centre in Cameroon is approximately 60 EUR to 100 EUR, plus a local service centre administrative fee.

Processing times vary depending on applicant volume. On average, the Identita Single Permit approval takes approximately 2 to 4 months. Once that is approved, the visa processing step in Cameroon adds another approximately 3 to 6 weeks. You should plan for a total timeline of approximately 3 to 6 months from your initial contract signing to departure.

You will also face personal preparation expenses in Cameroon. These costs are rough estimates and should be budgeted carefully:

• Police clearance certificate (Bulletin n° 3): Approximately 5,000 XAF to 15,000 XAF (approximately 8 EUR to 23 EUR).
• Medical examinations and laboratory tests: Approximately 35,000 XAF to 80,000 XAF (approximately 53 EUR to 122 EUR).
• Document translations and MINREX legalisation: Approximately 30,000 XAF to 70,000 XAF (approximately 46 EUR to 107 EUR).
• One-way flight ticket from Douala or Yaounde to Malta: Approximately 400,000 XAF to 800,000 XAF (approximately 610 EUR to 1,220 EUR).

Placement fee rules and avoiding visa scams

A major risk for Cameroonian job seekers is falling victim to illegal recruitment brokers. You must know your rights regarding placement fees before engaging with any agency or individual.

In Malta and across the European Union, strict labor standards mandate that no recruitment agency or employer may legally charge a worker a fee simply for securing a job or issuing an employment contract. The costs of recruitment, work permit filings, and job advertising are legal liabilities that belong entirely to the employer. You should check the exact regulations published by the Department of Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER) in Malta if you are ever in doubt.

Be extremely cautious of individuals in Cameroon or online claiming to be visa agents who demand large payments, often ranging from 1,500,000 XAF to 4,000,000 XAF, to supply a guaranteed job offer or visa. These operations frequently hand out fake job offers or altered Identita letters. If anyone asks you to transfer money into a private personal bank account or mobile money account for a job slot in Malta, break off communication immediately.

Trades actively hiring foreign workers in Malta

Maltese economic sectors continue to recruit international workers to fill structural workforce gaps in essential trades:

• Construction and building trades: Maltese construction firms regularly hire shuttering carpenters, steel fixers, and masons to manage structural concrete work on commercial and residential builds.
• Hospitality and food service: Hotels and restaurants across Malta and Gozo hire line cooks, kitchen helpers, and waitstaff to support year-round tourism operations.
• Caregiving and healthcare support: Private residential homes and health agencies hire trained care assistants to assist elderly residents with daily personal care and mobility support.

Myths vs facts about working in Malta

Misinformation can cause financial loss or legal trouble. Here are common misconceptions held by Cameroonian workers regarding employment in Malta:

Myth: You can travel to Malta on a short-term Schengen tourist visa and convert it to a work permit after arriving.
Fact: It is illegal to work on a tourist visa in Malta, and converting status locally without leaving is generally not permitted for third-country nationals; your Single Permit application must be processed while you are outside the country.

Myth: Paying an agent in Douala or Yaounde guarantees that Identita will approve your Maltese work permit.
Fact: Government authorities in Malta evaluate permit requests independently based on labor regulations, and no private agent can buy or guarantee an approval.

Myth: You do not need to speak English because Malta is located in Southern Europe.
Fact: English is an official language in Malta, used for safety briefings, job contracts, everyday workplace communication, and official public administration.

Myth: A Maltese Single Permit allows you to pack up and work legally in France, Germany, or Belgium whenever you like.
Fact: A Single Permit binds you specifically to your designated employer inside Malta, and working in another EU nation requires a separate work authorization from that specific country.

Before you sign: Your pre-departure checklist

Do not pay for flights or finalize travel arrangements until you have checked off these critical items:

• Verify contract details: Check that your employment contract clearly states your full name, exact job title, basic monthly wage in Euros, weekly working hours, and employer contact details.
• Inspect passport validity: Ensure your passport has at least 18 months of remaining validity before your employer submits filings to Identita.
• Confirm approval documents: Demand a copy of the official Identita Still Approval letter from your employer before booking your visa appointment at the application centre.
• Complete legalisations early: Ensure your police clearance certificate and trade credentials are fully legalised by MINREX in Yaounde and properly translated into English.
• Clarify expense agreements: Get written confirmation on which costs (such as Identita filing fees, flight tickets, or temporary housing) are covered by the employer and which are your responsibility.
• Secure backup digital copies: Scan and store high-quality copies of all your certificates, contract pages, identity documents, and official receipts in your personal email or cloud storage.

Create your Workuro profile today

Taking the step to work abroad requires accurate preparation and clear communication with prospective employers. Put your specific details into your Workuro profile today. Include your specific trade skills, your level of English proficiency, your document readiness such as having a valid passport and police clearance, and your intention to apply for the Malta Single Permit route. Having a complete and accurate profile allows verified European employers seeking skilled workers from Cameroon to find you directly without intermediaries.

Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.