Welcome to the Malta Guide!
Malta is an EU country of about 588,000 people where English is an official language. It suits hotel and restaurant staff who want year-round work, but rent is high against basic pay.
Who hires
Malta had 179 licensed hotels with about 41,600 beds in January 2025, almost all on the main island. About 4 million tourists came in 2025. St Julian's is a town of hotels, restaurants and nightclubs. Shops, IT and finance firms, airlines and hospitals also hire.
When hiring happens
Year-round contracts are common. The busy season runs from April or May to October, and tourism employers take on seasonal workers for it. In 2024 hotel occupancy was 87% in August and 40% in January. Gozo, the smaller island, is far more seasonal.
Where you live and what it costs
Staff housing is not usual, but employers often arrange a shared room and deduct the cost. A room or bed in a shared flat cost about EUR 100 to 400 a month in 2023 and 2024 (about USD 110 to 450), and rents have risen since. In early 2024 a typical two-bedroom flat cost EUR 800 a month in St Paul's Bay (about USD 900) and EUR 1,300 in Sliema, next to St Julian's (about USD 1,460). The minimum wage is about EUR 994 a month before deductions in 2026 (about USD 1,115). Buses are free with a personal Tallinja card, which costs EUR 25 (about USD 28) to register. Crowd-reported prices (November 2026) put a cheap restaurant meal at about EUR 15 (about USD 17).
Daily life
Malta is mostly Catholic, with 14 public holidays and village feasts from late May to September. State healthcare is free for people covered by Maltese social security, but most dental care is private. A non-EU work permit also needs private health insurance. On days off people go to the beach or visit Gozo.
Getting there and around
The only airport is at Luqa. Most flights come from Europe. Others link Malta with Istanbul and the Gulf, but schedules change. Airport buses reach Valletta, Sliema, St Julian's and Bugibba for EUR 3 to 3.50 (about USD 3.40 to 3.90). The Gozo ferry takes 20 to 30 minutes.
What to watch for
- A work permit ties you to one employer, and changing employer costs a fee.
- Ask what is deducted for housing. The law allows at most two people per bedroom.
- Non-EU workers must be paid through a bank, not in cash.
- An employer who takes money from you for a job can be barred from hiring foreign workers.
- Read your own government's travel advice for Malta before you travel.
Never pay anyone for a job offer or a visa.
Before you apply
Below this guide, "Can I work in Malta?" gives the answer for your passport, and "What the job usually comes with" covers housing, meals, flights and leave.
Can I work in Malta?
Never pay anyone for a visa or a job offer. A real employer pays the permit costs and never asks you for money.
How it works
How it works: Single Permit after a 3-week local advert, EUR 600, plus two short courses (about EUR 475) for hotel jobs.
Watch for: Agencies in Malta warn of paid "job offer" scams.
Official source: Jobsplus: employment licence guidelines. Checked November 2026.
What the job usually comes with in Malta
Usual for Malta, varies by employer. Checked November 2026.
| Housing | Not usually; employers often arrange a shared room and deduct it |
|---|---|
| Meals | Staff meal common |
| Flights | Not standard |
| Service charge | No law; employers vary |
| Contract | Year-round contracts common |
| Leave | 27 days (2026) |
| Income tax | 0% to EUR 12,000, then 15% to 35%; about 14% to 18% in all at EUR 16,000 to 20,000 |
Senior staff often get more than line staff, for example a single room or a yearly home flight. Ask the employer what the job includes before you accept.
Guidance, not legal advice. Rules change; your employer confirms the details for your case.