Malta
Skills
Pass

No. Official materials describe the Tourism & Hospitality Skills Pass as relevant specifically to "Third Country Nationals who plan to come to Malta to work in the tourism and hospitality industry". If your role is outside that sector, this particular Skills Pass track does not apply to you — though the separate, mandatory Pre-Departure Course generally still does for first-time Single Permit applicants. See who needs it for the detail, including the published list of excluded roles.

This is an area where official figures still need care. The current sector operational page's fee table lists the Pre-Departure Course at €245, the Tourism and Hospitality Skills Pass at €230 including the €5 booking fee, and no additional payment for the video interview. An earlier sentence on the same page still says candidates book the Phase 2 interview and pay €250. We state that internal wording conflict plainly on the cost page rather than inventing an explanation.

No — they're related but distinct. Official sources describe the Pre-Departure Course as a course "Mandatory by Law" for all first-time Single Permit applicants, while the Tourism & Hospitality Skills Pass is an additional, sector-specific verification needed "in addition to any other certification required by the competent immigration authorities" if your role is in tourism or hospitality. You generally complete the Pre-Departure Course as part of, or alongside, this process — not instead of it.

Official materials describe one free re-sit for failed exams, with further re-sits available for purchase at a stated €100 each. They don't, however, spell out a specific retake process for the Phase 2 interview itself — if that situation arises, ask Skills Pass directly rather than guessing at a process that isn't published.

Official materials describe candidates as having 42 days to complete Phase 1 from when they begin, with 14-day extensions available for purchase (stated at €50) if you run out of time. Build a buffer into your plans — Phase 2 still needs to be booked and completed after Phase 1 is confirmed.

The official FAQ publishes a list of excluded roles — naming accounts, marketing, HR and store employees, and cleaners and kitchen porters — and explicitly describes the list as non-exhaustive. That means other roles may also be outside scope. If your role is similar to one of those named, or you're otherwise unsure, confirm with Skills Pass directly before you register and pay. See the excluded-roles page for the full published list and what "non-exhaustive" means in practice.

Phase 1 requires you to select a specific occupation from a published list — examples named in official materials include Luggage Porter, Receptionist, Bar Waiter, Commis Chef, and Commis de Rang. The occupation you select shapes the competency areas assessed in Phase 2, so it matters. If your occupation doesn't appear on the list, published guidance says to contact Skills Pass support directly rather than selecting the nearest option. Don't guess — ask.

Official materials describe the Phase 2 interview as roughly 30 minutes, conducted via video conferencing, with true/false and open-ended questions covering both English proficiency and competency in the occupation you selected in Phase 1. Other official wording places the interview at the Institute of Tourism Studies or a VFS centre — taken together, this suggests you attend in person at a venue to use the video-conferencing setup there, though official materials don't spell that connection out directly. Treat your own booking confirmation as the authoritative word on format and location.

Official materials describe paid extensions as available — stated at €50 for a 14-day extension — if you run out of the 42-day Phase 1 window. They don't describe a cap on how many extensions you can purchase or under what conditions. If you think you'll need more time, factor extension costs into your planning early and confirm current availability directly with Skills Pass rather than assuming extensions are always on offer.