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

Working in Malta as a Filipino Skilled Worker

If you are a skilled Filipino worker - such as a welder, driver, caregiver, chef, or construction worker - Malta offers an active legal path to employment in Europe. Malta is an island nation in the Mediterranean Sea where English is an official language alongside Maltese. This shared language makes it much easier for Filipinos to adapt compared to many other European countries.

Malta relies heavily on foreign labor to support its growing economy. Three trades in particular hire Filipino workers on a regular basis:

• Construction and Skilled Trades: Maltese contractors active in building projects frequently hire experienced welders, masons, and heavy equipment operators.
• Hospitality and Food Service: Hotels and restaurants across the island recruit line cooks, kitchen helpers, and room attendants to manage year-round tourism.
• Caregiving and Healthcare Support: Private care homes and facilities regularly hire certified caregivers and healthcare assistants to look after elderly residents.

Moving from the Philippines to Malta requires completing specific legal steps in both countries. You must get work authorization from Malta and the mandatory exit clearance from the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). This guide breaks down the official permit route, document requirements, real costs, and safety warnings.

The Single Permit Route: How the Application Works

To work legally in Malta as a Filipino national, you must obtain a Single Permit. This is a combined work and residence authorization managed by Identità, the central Maltese government agency for identity and migration (formerly known as Identity Malta). You cannot look for work on a tourist visa; Malta does not grant work permits to people who enter as tourists.

The application process always starts in Malta, not in the Philippines. Your prospective employer must apply first on your behalf through the Identità online portal. They submit your proposed job contract, position details, and proof that the position could not be filled by a Maltese or EU citizen.

If Identità approves the initial application, they issue an official document called an In-Principle Approval Letter. This letter is not your visa, but it gives you permission to apply for your entry visa to travel to Malta.

Once you receive the In-Principle Approval Letter, you submit your visa application at the official visa application centre serving the Philippines, operated by VFS Global in Manila or Cebu. You will present your physical passport, documents, and biometric data (fingerprints and photo) to apply for a National D Visa (a long-stay visa).

Before you board your flight from the Philippines, you must also clear requirements with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). Your employment contract must be verified by the Migrant Workers Office (MWO), and you must secure an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC). Once you land in Malta, you present yourself to Identità to collect your physical Single Permit residency card.

Required Documents and the DFA Apostille

Maltese authorities and Philippine government agencies require verified documents. Plain photocopies or unverified certificates will cause immediate delays or rejections.

Here are the core documents you need to prepare:

• Signed employment contract: A formal contract signed by you and your Maltese employer, detailing your position, salary, working hours, and workplace location.
• Valid passport: Your Philippine passport must have at least two blank pages and remain valid for at least 6 to 12 months beyond your planned arrival date in Malta.
• NBI clearance: A valid clearance certificate from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), designated for overseas employment.
• Proof of qualifications and experience: Certificates of employment, TESDA national certificates, or diploma transcripts verifying your trade background.
• Medical certificate: A complete health screening from an accredited clinic showing you are fit to work and free from communicable diseases.
• Travel health insurance: Coverage for medical emergencies valid for your initial entry into Schengen territory.
• Biometric data: Digital fingerprints and facial photos collected during your VFS application appointment.

Because the Philippines and Malta are both members of the Hague Apostille Convention, official Philippine public documents must be apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). This applies to your NBI clearance, TESDA certifications, school records, and official certificates. Without a DFA Apostille, Maltese immigration will not accept your Philippine paperwork.

Fees, Processing Times, and Recruitment Rules

Understanding official timelines and real worker expenses helps you plan safely without taking on unnecessary debt.

Official Fees and Processing Times:

• Identità Single Permit fee: The official administrative application fee set by Malta is approximately 280 EUR to 300 EUR, usually paid by the employer during initial filing.
• National D Visa fee: The visa fee at VFS Global is approximately 80 EUR to 100 EUR, plus a local VFS service charge paid in Philippine Pesos.
• Processing time: Single Permit approval by Identità typically takes approximately 2 to 4 months. Visa processing at VFS in the Philippines takes approximately 3 to 6 weeks. Expect the entire process to take approximately 3 to 6 months from contract signing to departure.

Worker Expenses in the Philippines:

While employers cover foreign administrative costs under legal standards, you are responsible for your personal document preparation in the Philippines. Typical expenses include:

• NBI Clearance and DFA Apostille fees: Approximately 1,000 PHP to 2,500 PHP (20 EUR to 40 EUR).
• Medical examination: Approximately 3,000 PHP to 7,000 PHP (50 EUR to 115 EUR) at certified clinics.
• TESDA or trade certificate verification: Approximately 1,000 PHP to 3,000 PHP (15 EUR to 50 EUR).
• Passport renewal and photos: Approximately 1,000 PHP to 2,000 PHP (15 EUR to 30 EUR).

In total, a worker usually spends approximately 15,000 PHP to 35,000 PHP (approximately 250 EUR to 600 EUR) on personal preparation, medical checks, and local clearances.

Placement Fees and Anti-Scam Rules:

Under Philippine DMW regulations and European Union standards, employers carry recruitment costs and work permit fees. Be extremely careful of brokers or Facebook pages demanding huge placement fees or processing fees ranging from 100,000 PHP to 250,000 PHP. Charging workers large placement fees for jobs in Malta is illegal or heavily restricted. Never send money to personal GCash accounts or crypto wallets for a promised job offer.

Myths vs facts

• Myth: You can travel to Malta as a tourist and convert your visa into a work permit once you find a job.
  Fact: Maltese law does not allow non-EU citizens to switch from a tourist visa to a Single Permit inside the country. You must complete the permit approval process and receive your D Visa before traveling.
• Myth: You must pay hundreds of thousands of Pesos to an agency to get a Maltese work authorization.
  Fact: Work permit application fees are set by Identità and paid directly to the Maltese government. Direct placement fees charged to workers are prohibited under standard recruitment rules.
• Myth: You do not need DMW or OEC clearance if you already have a valid Maltese visa.
  Fact: Philippine immigration officers will offload any Filipino worker who attempts to leave the country without a registered contract and an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC).
• Myth: You must learn the Maltese language before applying for trade work.
  Fact: English is an official language in Malta and is used daily across job sites, hotels, hospitals, and government paperwork.

Before you sign

Protect yourself by running through this safety checklist before signing a contract or spending money on medical exams:

• Verify the company: Ensure the employer is a legitimate, registered business in Malta with an active commercial registration.
• Check DMW agency status: If using a Philippine recruitment agency, confirm they are fully licensed by the DMW and have a valid job order for Malta.
• Review contract terms: Make sure your employment agreement details your exact salary, working hours, rest days, and living arrangement terms.
• Confirm official documents: Never accept screenshot promises. Ensure you hold a genuine Identità In-Principle Approval Letter made out in your name.
• Keep your original papers: Hold onto your original passport, birth certificate, and Apostilled trade diplomas. Never hand them over to an agent for safekeeping.

Build Your Workuro Profile for Malta

If you want European employers to find you legally, set up your profile on Workuro with accurate details. Enter your trade background clearly - such as welding certifications, heavy vehicle operating experience, hospitality roles, or caregiving credentials. Indicate whether your Philippine passport is valid and if you have your TESDA certificates or DFA Apostilled documents ready. Mention your English speaking ability clearly, as employers in Malta evaluate communication skills closely. Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.