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

Moving from Ghana to Malta for work

Malta is a popular choice for Ghanaian workers looking for legal employment in Europe. English is an official language in Malta alongside Maltese, which makes it much easier for Ghanaians to communicate on job sites, read safety manuals, and adjust to daily life. The country has experienced strong economic activity in sectors like building, tourism, and services, creating a steady need for international workers.

Moving from Ghana to Malta for a trade or manual job requires a specific legal route. You cannot simply fly to Malta as a visitor and look for employment on arrival. You must secure a binding job offer from a registered employer in Malta first. That employer must initiate your application before you travel. If you want to work legally as a welder, driver, caregiver, construction worker, or hospitality employee, the process is clear, but it demands patience and exact documentation.

The Single Permit application step by step

The standard route for a Ghanaian worker going to Malta is called the Single Permit. This route combines a work permit and a residence permit into one procedure. In Malta, the government agency responsible for managing these applications is called Identita (formerly known as Identita Malta).

Here is how the application flow works from start to finish:

• Employer application in Malta: Your prospective employer submits the Single Permit application online through the official Identita portal while you are still residing in Ghana. The employer must show that they could not find a Maltese or European Union citizen to fill the vacancy.
• Approval letter issued: If Identita approves the application, they issue a document called the Still Approval Letter (also known as the Principal Approval Letter). This letter confirms that you have permission to enter Malta to work for that specific employer.
• Visa application in Ghana: Once you receive the original Still Approval Letter from your employer, you must apply for an entry visa (National D Visa) in Ghana. You submit this application at the VFS Global Visa Application Centre located in Accra. You will submit your physical passport, undergo biometric enrolment (fingerprints and photo), and provide your supporting paperwork.
• Travel and final permit collection: After your visa is stamped, you travel to Malta. Within your first few days in Malta, you report to Identita to finalize your biometric identity card, which serves as your official residence and work permit.

Required documents, legalisation, and real costs

To secure your visa and permit, you must collect documents on the Ghana side. Any document issued by Ghanaian authorities must be properly legalised so that Maltese officials accept it as genuine.

You will need to prepare the following core documents:

• Valid international passport: Your passport should be valid for at least 1 to 2 years beyond your planned travel date and have empty pages for the visa stamp.
• Signed employment contract: A binding offer signed by your employer in Malta, outlining your duties, working hours, and terms.
• Ghana Police Clearance Certificate: You must obtain a criminal record check from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters of the Ghana Police Service in Accra.
• Document legalisation: Ghana is not part of the Apostille Convention. Therefore, your police clearance certificate and educational or trade certificates must undergo legalisation. You must take these documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in Accra for official attestation before submitting them for your visa.
• Proof of qualifications and experience: Trade certificates, training records, or reference letters from previous employers in Ghana proving you can perform the job.
• Health screening and insurance: A chest X-ray, general medical fitness report from an approved clinic, and travel health insurance covering your initial trip.

When planning your move, you must budget for official fees and local preparation costs. Official fees are set directly by the authorities in Malta and Ghana:

• Identita Single Permit fee: Set by Malta, approximately 280 EUR to 300 EUR, usually paid by the employer or reimbursed depending on your agreement.
• VFS Global visa application fee: Approximately 100 EUR to 150 EUR payable at the application centre in Accra.
• Processing time: The entire process from employer submission to visa issuance typically takes approximately 2 to 4 months, though administrative delays can sometimes extend this to 6 months.

On the Ghana side, you will incur direct personal expenses in Ghana Cedi (GHS). These costs vary depending on location and provider:

• Police clearance certificate: Approximately 200 GHS to 500 GHS (approximately 12 EUR to 30 EUR).
• Medical examination and X-rays: Approximately 800 GHS to 2,000 GHS (approximately 50 EUR to 125 EUR).
• Document legalisation at Ministry in Accra: Approximately 300 GHS to 800 GHS (approximately 20 EUR to 50 EUR).
• Flight ticket from Accra to Malta: Approximately 10,000 GHS to 20,000 GHS (approximately 600 EUR to 1,200 EUR).

Under European Union standards and Maltese labour laws, no recruiter or employer is allowed to charge you money for giving you a job. The costs of recruiting and setting up the position belong to the employer. Be extremely cautious of fake agents in Ghana demanding high processing fees or upfront cash in exchange for a promised job in Malta. Legitimate companies hire based on merit, skills, and clear paperwork.

Trades in demand in Malta

Malta recruits international workers for specific trades where local labour is in short supply. Here are examples of roles actively filled by foreign workers:

• Construction workers: Masons, shuttering carpenters, and steel fixers are needed across Malta to support private residential projects and national infrastructure developments.
• Hospitality staff: Hotels, resorts, and restaurants recruit waiters, kitchen helpers, line cooks, and room attendants year-round to support the country's busy tourism sector.
• Caregivers: Private care homes and healthcare institutions hire personal care assistants to provide daily living support to elderly residents.
• Commercial and delivery drivers: Logistics companies and transport firms hire licensed heavy vehicle and bus drivers to handle goods transport and public routes.
• Warehouse attendants: Distribution centres hire warehouse staff to manage stock, operate forklifts, and prepare shipments for retail stores.

Myths vs facts

• Myth: You can travel to Malta on a tourist visa and start working immediately.
  Fact: Working on a tourist visa in Malta is illegal. You must hold an approved Single Permit and a valid work visa issued before you begin any employment.
• Myth: You must pay thousands of Euros to a local agency in Accra to get a Maltese work permit.
  Fact: Employers in Malta cover recruitment charges, and charging job seekers placement fees is illegal under EU principles. Paying an agent large sums is a major warning sign of a scam.
• Myth: You can switch employers freely as soon as you land in Malta.
  Fact: Your Single Permit is tied to the specific employer who sponsored you. If you leave that employer, your permit becomes invalid and you must reapply with a new employer before you can work legally again.
• Myth: Manual trade roles do not require proof of work history.
  Fact: Identita requires written evidence of relevant skills, such as reference letters or trade certificates, before approving any Single Permit application.

Before you sign and build your Workuro profile

Before signing an employment agreement or sending personal documents to anyone, complete this safety checklist:

• Verify the company: Ensure the job offer is on official company letterhead with a valid registration number in Malta.
• Check payment terms: Confirm that no one is asking you for placement fees or secret job charges.
• Review contract terms: Check that your contract states your trade role, weekly hours, basic wage structure, and rest days clearly.
• Prepare your documents: Ensure your Ghanaian police report and qualifications are legalised through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra.
• Keep original records: Never surrender your physical passport to an agency or employer; keep your original documents in your possession.

Take the details you have learned in this article and put them directly into your Workuro profile. Select your specific trade such as welder, driver, caregiver, construction worker, or hospitality employee. Highlight your English communication skills, list your years of practical experience, and state whether you have your Ghanaian police clearance and passport ready. When employers in Malta search for skilled trade workers from Ghana, a clear and complete profile helps them find you directly. Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.