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What it costs
The course costs €250 in total. If you will work in tourism or hospitality, you also pay for the Skills Pass.
Pre-Departure Course — official fees (EUR)
Mandatory course — total
€250
Identità
Course fee — Part 1 modules
€245
Skills Pass fee listing
Phase 2 booking fee
€5
Booking the live interview
Tourism & hospitality add-on
For jobs in hospitality or at an MTA-licensed business (some jobs are excluded), the Skills Pass costs €230. One official page lists €225. Pay the amount shown on your payment screen.
Refunds
No refund if you fail. If you withdraw, Skills Pass management decides case by case.
When you pass both parts, you get a digital certificate (official pages name two delivery systems, Hyland and Blockcerts). The FAQ says it does not run out once you have finished the whole Pre-Departure Course and Skills Pass process. It says nothing separate about the course certificate on its own.
Since 1 March 2026, Identità checks the certificate in work permit applications from third-country nationals (people who are not citizens of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland) who are new applicants or still abroad. Get all your documents ready before you apply.
Do I need the Pre-Departure Course if I already hold a Single Permit?
Often not, but check your case. Identità's notice exempts people currently holding or previously holding a Single Permit (unless they apply again as first-time applicants after leaving the Schengen Area, or through a Still Abroad application) and third-country nationals who have resided in Malta for eight years or more. The general Skills Pass FAQ instead describes a valid-work-permit exemption as temporary and tells candidates to check with Identità. The wording differs, so confirm your case with Identità.
How much does the Pre-Departure Course cost?
Official sources consistently describe the mandatory course as totalling €250 — shown on the Skills Pass site as "€245 + €5 (Phase 2 booking fee)" and on the Identità site simply as "€250". If your role also requires the Tourism & Hospitality Skills Pass, budget for an additional amount on top — see the cost section above for how the official figures for that add-on differ slightly between pages.
Can I get a refund if I fail or withdraw?
The general Skills Pass FAQ says no refund is issued if a candidate fails. For withdrawals it says this is "up to senior management discretion as well as on the instance that leads to these circumstances".
How long do I have to complete the course?
Identità and Home Affairs state that candidates have up to 42 days to complete Part 1. They do not say when that period starts, so confirm the deadline shown in your portal. Build in extra time before any visa or travel deadline, since the interview also needs to be scheduled and attended.
Do I also need the Skills Pass?
The general Skills Pass FAQ says it is required "if candidate will be working within the Hospitality Industry or with an establishment that has an MTA licence", with the exception of certain occupations. Identità describes additional sector-specific certification for certain roles, with tourism and hospitality as examples. Confirm the requirements for your own occupation before you register.
What documents do I need to register on the Skills Pass portal?
The general Skills Pass registration guide asks for personal details, passport information (number, expiry date, country of issue and a clear photo or scan of the passport bio page), contact details, a passport copy, any supporting documents your applicant category requires, and acceptance of the terms and conditions. It says documents must not be expired and that accounts not activated within 24 hours are deleted. For the current list, the official Skills Pass portal is the authority; requirements can change.
When does the 42-day clock start?
The sources we read give a 42-day limit for Part 1 but do not say what starts the period: Identità and Home Affairs say only that candidates have up to 42 days to complete Part 1. Confirm the start with Skills Pass before you plan around it. If you're working close to a visa or travel deadline, start earlier than you think you need to: the general FAQ says Phase 2 must be done after Phase 1 is completed.
What does the live interview actually test?
Identità and Home Affairs describe a live online interview of 20 minutes, at ITS Malta or an authorised Global Assessment Centre, that verifies English language proficiency and understanding of the course content. The general Skills Pass FAQ describes a 30-minute onsite interview at a VFS centre with follow-up questions on the online exams, and also tests English and how you work in your role or occupation. These descriptions differ, so confirm the format, length and venue in your booking. For more, see the interview guide.
Does the certificate expire?
The general Skills Pass FAQ says there is no expiry once the whole Pre-Departure Course and Skills Pass process is completed; it does not separately address the standalone Pre-Departure certificate. Identità's notice says the certificate is formally verified in work permit applications from 1 March 2026 for new and still-abroad third-country nationals. If your circumstances change significantly (such as a gap of many years before applying), confirm with Identità that your certificate remains sufficient.
Official sources
Every figure on this page comes from one of these official pages.
