Legitimate Job Offer Malta: What Every TCN Must Verify Before Saying Yes

Before you accept a job offer in Malta, sign a contract, or book a flight, there are three things you need to be certain of: that the employer is real, that the contract is legally valid, and that you are not being asked to pay anything you are not obligated to pay.

For Third-Country Nationals, these are not formalities. They can make a difference between a genuine opportunity and a situation that can leave you stranded in a foreign country without legal status.

This guide explains exactly what to check, what costs you may legitimately encounter, and what the warning signs of a fraudulent offer look like.

Key Takeaways

• Recruitment fees charged by employers or agencies are illegal under Maltese law
• A legitimate contract will always name the employer, designation, your salary and hours per week, and be signed before you travel
• Your employer must be verifiable through official Maltese Business Registry before you commit to anything
• Some TCNs arrive in Malta to discover their contract does not exist or is not enforceable, therefore, knowing how to check in advance is essential

What Fees Can a TCN Legally Be Charged in Malta?

Under Maltese regulations enforced by the Department for Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER), licensed Maltese employers and recruitment agencies are explicitly prohibited from charging candidates recruitment fees.

There is an important distinction that every TCN should understand clearly.

Recruitment fees are illegal. These include any charge framed as a "finder's fee," "placement fee," "visa processing fee," "registration fee," or "security deposit" collected by an employer or agency in exchange for securing you a job or permit. If a Maltese employer or licensed agency asks you to pay any of these, they are breaking the law. You can report them to DIER.

Unregulated brokers in your home country are a different matter. Maltese law cannot regulate intermediaries operating outside Malta. Brokers, agents, or individuals in your country of origin who charge fees for "connecting" you with a Maltese employer are not covered by this prohibition.

Official Government Fees

Some costs associated with working in Malta are official, government-mandated fees, and Maltese law does not specify who must pay them. This means you can negotiate with your employer over who pays.

Sources: Identità Single Permit fees; Home Affairs Pre-Departure Course

A few things to understand about this table:

The Pre-Departure Course (€250) is a candidate-side cost in most cases. This is a fixed, government-regulated amount payable only through the official portal. If anyone charges you more than €250 for this course, or claims to offer it through an unofficial channel, that is a scam.

What a Legitimate Employment Contract in Malta Must Contain

One of the most serious risks TCNs face is arriving in Malta to discover that the contract they were shown before departure does not match what they are handed on arrival, or that no written contract exists at all.

Under the Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions Regulations of 2022, Maltese employers are legally required to provide a written statement of employment conditions before work begins.

A legitimate employment contract in Malta must include all of the following:

• The full legal name and company registration number of the employer, not just a trading name or brand
• Your exact job title, which must match word-for-word what will appear on your Single Permit application; any discrepancy can invalidate your permit
• Your guaranteed minimum weekly hours. Vague language like "hours as required" is not acceptable
• Your base salary in euros, stated as a gross annual or monthly figure, meeting at minimum the national minimum wage
• Your place of work within Malta - the Single Permit ties you to Maltese territory specifically
• Leave entitlements including annual leave and public holidays, in line with Maltese law
• Notice period terms for both parties
• Probation period
• The contract should clearly specify whether it’s for a fixed term (definite) or an indefinite period. If it is a fixed-term contract and you resign after completing your probation period but before the contract ends, you may be required to pay compensation equivalent to half of the remaining contract period, unless otherwise agreed with the employer.
• Start date, confirmed before you travel

Keep a copy of your signed contract securely, both digitally and physically. If you are ever presented with a different document on arrival and pressured to sign it, do not sign until you have compared it against your original and had time to read it fully.

How to Verify Your Employer Is Real Before You Travel

Verification is straightforward when you know where to look. These steps should be completed before you accept any offer formally or make any travel arrangements.

1. Check the company on the Malta Business Registry. Every legitimate Maltese company is registered with the Malta Business Registry and searchable by name or registration number. If a company cannot be found there, it does not legally exist in Malta.

2. Verify any agency's licence. Since April 2024, Temporary Work Agencies must be licensed under Legal Notice 270 of 2023. Ask for the agency licence number and confirm it with DIER.

3. Cross-reference the job title and employer name against the Identità checklist. The official Single Permit documentation requirements list exactly what a legitimate employer must be able to provide. An employer unfamiliar with these requirements, or unwilling to provide a Declaration of Suitability, is not prepared to sponsor a TCN legally.

4. Confirm the application has been submitted through official channels. The Single Permit application is submitted by the employer through the Identità online portal. You should receive a digital link to validate your details as part of this process. If no such link arrives, the application may not have been submitted.

5. Do not travel until you have the Approval in Principle (AIP). The AIP letter from Identità is the official confirmation that your application has passed the inter-agency review. Travelling to Malta before receiving it is a significant risk that has left TCNs in very difficult situations.

For a full breakdown of the Single Permit process and what to expect at each stage, our TCN Working in Malta guide covers the complete timeline step by step.

Red Flags That Suggest a Contract or Employer Is Not Genuine

Even with verification steps in place, some warning signs are worth knowing independently. If you encounter any of the following, treat it as a reason to pause.

• The employer cannot provide a company registration number when asked
• The job title in the offer differs from what appears in the contract - this will cause problems at the permit stage
• You are asked to sign the contract only after arriving in Malta, particularly at the airport or on the first day of work
• The salary is stated in cash or described vaguely - all wages for TCNs must be paid via bank transfer under the 2025 Labour Migration Policy
• The accommodation is "included" but no written lease exists - a legally registered lease is a mandatory document for your Single Permit; if the employer cannot produce one, your application cannot proceed
• You are pressured to travel before the AIP is issued - no legitimate employer needs you in Malta before your permit is approved
• The employer or agent discourages you from verifying their details

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal for my employer to ask me to pay the €600 Single Permit fee?

Maltese law does not specify who must pay the Single Permit application fee. So, it is not automatically illegal for an employer to ask a candidate to contribute. What matters is that it is agreed in writing, before you accept the offer, and that the payment goes directly to the official Identità portal, not to a person or intermediary.

What if my contract looks real but the company cannot be found on the Malta Business Registry?

A company that does not appear on the Malta Business Registry is not a legally registered entity in Malta. A contract issued by a non-existent company is not enforceable under Maltese law.

Can I check the status of my Single Permit application myself?

The employer submits the application and is the primary point of contact with Identità. However, you should receive a digital confirmation link to validate your submitted details, which is your first indicator that an application has genuinely been filed. If your employer tells you the application is "in progress" but you have received no such link, ask for clarification or contact Identità's Expatriates Unit directly.

What should I do if I arrive in Malta and the job or contract is not what I was promised?

Do not sign any new contract under pressure. Contact the Department for Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER) to report the discrepancy. Document everything - your original contract, any communications with the employer, and the terms of what you were offered versus what you have been given.