How the certificate is issued and stored
Official materials describe the Skills Pass certificate as a digital credential issued through Blockcerts — a blockchain-based platform that issues verifiable, tamper-evident certificates. The certificate is linked to your name and the specific occupation you were assessed on in Phase 1. It can be shared digitally and verified by employers via the QR code on the document.
Because the certificate is individual and occupation-specific, its validity is tied to you and to the role — not to a particular employer.
Certificate validity and the renewal pathway
Official materials describe a renewal pathway for existing pass holders, which implies the certificate has a defined validity period rather than being permanent. The specific validity duration — how many years a certificate is valid before renewal is required — is not stated in clear terms in the materials we have reviewed at the date of this page’s verification.
If the certificate’s expiry date matters to your planning — for example, because you are starting a new role or renewing a permit — check the certificate itself (which shows an issue date) and the official Skills Pass portal for the current renewal requirements.
Changing occupation — what it costs and what it requires
If you move to a different covered occupation — for example, from Receptionist to Commis Chef — you need a new, occupation-specific Skills Pass for the new role. Published guidance describes a fee for this occupation-specific re-assessment.
The process for an occupation change involves selecting the new occupation through the official portal and completing the relevant occupation-specific assessment. You do not need to repeat the Basic Customer Care or Basic Maltese Tourism Product courses — only the occupation-specific component.
Changing employer in the same occupation
Moving to a new employer within the same covered occupation does not require a new Skills Pass. The certificate belongs to you individually and covers the occupation regardless of which MTA-licensed establishment employs you. Your new employer should verify your existing certificate before your first shift — see the employer verification guidance at /employers/verify.
What to do if your certificate is lost or inaccessible
The certificate is issued digitally through Blockcerts and linked to your Skills Pass account. If you cannot access your certificate — because you have lost the link, changed email addresses, or cannot log in — the starting point is to recover access to your official Skills Pass account at tourism.skillspass.org.mt. Official materials do not describe a specific replacement-certificate process separate from account recovery. See the troubleshooting page for help with login and access issues.
Frequently asked questions
01Does a Skills Pass from one employer carry over to a new employer in the same role?
The Skills Pass certificate is issued to the individual, not to the employer. If you change employer but remain in the same covered occupation within the same sector, you keep the same certificate — you do not need to re-certify simply because your employer changed. Your new employer should verify the certificate before you start.
02What happens to my Skills Pass if I leave hospitality and then return?
Official materials do not describe a grace period for lapsed workers returning to the sector. If your certificate has expired or is otherwise no longer valid at the time you return, you would need to go through the process again. The specifics depend on how long you were away and the current programme requirements — check the official portal directly when the situation arises.
03Is the Skills Pass recognised outside Malta?
The Tourism & Hospitality Skills Pass is a Malta-specific programme run under the auspices of the Malta Tourism Authority. Official materials do not describe it as a recognised qualification in other EU member states or internationally. For EU-wide recognition, workers in relevant roles should check the EU recognition pathways available for their specific qualification level — this is outside the scope of the Skills Pass programme itself.
04Who bears the cost of re-certification when a role changes?
Official materials do not specify whether the employer or employee is responsible for the occupation-change fee. In practice, this is likely governed by the employment contract or workplace policy rather than by programme rules. See the employer guidance at /employers/cost for more context on how these costs typically fall.
Official sources for this page
These are the official pages this guide depends on. Open them directly before acting on a time-sensitive requirement.
- 01Skills Pass (Tourism & Hospitality) (opens in a new tab)
Sector-specific Skills Pass frequently asked questions.
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- 02Skills Pass (Tourism & Hospitality) (opens in a new tab)
Official description of how Tourism & Hospitality Skills Pass certificates are issued, stored, and verified through Blockcerts.
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Related guides
Continue through the same official-source trail without switching to a portal.
- The certificates, issued through BlockcertsFull details on how the certificate is issued, what it contains, and how employers verify it.
- Employer guidance — cost and fee responsibilityWho pays for Skills Pass costs, and how occupation-change fees are typically handled.
- Troubleshooting — help with access and portal issuesWhat to do if you cannot access your account, certificate, or booking system.