The mandatory Pre-Departure Course: €250
Both authoritative sources agree on this figure. The Skills Pass site itemises it as “€245 + €5 (Phase 2 Booking Fee for Phase 2 Interview)”, and Identità states the total directly as “the Pre-Departure Course fee is €250”. The two descriptions are consistent — €245 plus the €5 fee adds up to the same €250 total either way.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Course fee (Part 1 — the two online modules) | €245 |
| Phase 2 booking fee (the live interview) | €5 |
| Total — mandatory course | €250 |
The optional Tourism & Hospitality Skills Pass: where official figures differ
If your role is in tourism or hospitality (or with an MTA-licensed establishment), you may also need the separate Tourism & Hospitality Skills Pass — see how the two requirements compare. Here, the two official Skills Pass pages genuinely disagree on the figure:
| Official page | States the fee as |
|---|---|
| “Obtaining the Skills Pass” | €230 (including a €5 booking fee) |
| Official FAQ | €225, with a stated combined total of €475 for both courses |
Notice that the FAQ’s own combined figure (€475) only reconciles to €250 + €225 — not €250 + €230, the figure the other page states. That small, unexplained gap is exactly the kind of discrepancy AGENTS.md instructs this guide to surface plainly rather than resolve by guesswork. It looks like it could be a difference in how the €5 booking fee is allocated between the two courses, but neither official page explains it directly — so we are not inventing a reconciliation here.
What this means practically: if you need both courses, budget somewhere in the €475–€480 range as a working estimate, and treat the exact figure shown on your own registration and payment screen as the one that matters — not either of the two figures above.
Refunds — what the official FAQ says
The official Skills Pass FAQ addresses refunds directly, in two situations:
- If you fail an assessment: the FAQ states plainly, “If a candidate fails no refunds will be issued.”
- If you withdraw: the FAQ describes refund decisions as being “up to senior management discretion” — in other words, there is no published automatic-refund policy for withdrawals, and any refund in that situation appears to be considered case by case.
Because there is no published guarantee of a refund in either situation, it is worth being confident about your eligibility (see who needs the course) and your readiness before you pay — rather than treating registration as something you can easily undo.
Where and how you pay
Payment happens on the official Skills Pass portal, as part of the registration process described on the registration page. Malta Pre-Departure Guide does not collect, process, or forward any payment on your behalf, and never will — any page that asks you to pay anywhere other than the official portal is not part of this guide and should be treated with caution.
Frequently asked questions
- Is €250 the absolute maximum I'll pay for the mandatory course?
- Both Identità and the Skills Pass site describe the mandatory Pre-Departure Course as totalling €250 (€245 course fee plus a €5 Phase 2 booking fee). Neither source mentions additional mandatory charges beyond this for the course itself. If your registration screen shows a different figure, treat that as more current than any summary — including this one — and contact Skills Pass directly before paying.
- Will I be charged again if I need to repeat the interview?
- Official materials describe a "Phase 2 Booking Fee for Phase 2 Interview" as part of the standard €250 total, but they don't explicitly state whether a second booking fee applies if you need to reschedule or repeat an interview. If that situation arises, ask Skills Pass directly — this is a gap in what the official pages currently publish, not something this guide can responsibly infer.
- If I pay for the Skills Pass too, will I be told the final combined amount before I pay?
- The official FAQ states a combined total of €475 for both courses, while the per-course figures it and the "obtaining the Skills Pass" page publish don't quite add up to that figure consistently (see the breakdown above). Because of that small inconsistency, your safest move is to read the exact total shown on your own registration and payment screens before confirming — and to query Skills Pass directly if the number you see doesn't match either published figure.
Related guides
- Pre-Departure Course vs. the Skills PassWork out whether the optional Tourism & Hospitality Skills Pass applies to your role before you budget for it.
- How registration worksWhere in the process payment happens, and what else to expect when you register on the official portal.
- The certificate and verification from 1 March 2026What you get for your payment once you complete both parts of the course.
Official sources for this page
- Skills Pass (opens in a new tab)
Official guidance on how to obtain the Skills Pass.
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- Skills Pass (opens in a new tab)
Official Skills Pass frequently asked questions.
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- Skills Pass (Tourism & Hospitality) (opens in a new tab)
Sector-specific Skills Pass operational details for tourism and hospitality.
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- Skills Pass (Tourism & Hospitality) (opens in a new tab)
Sector-specific Skills Pass frequently asked questions.
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