Malta's Pre-Departure Course for Pakistani applicants: interview arrangements and how the certificate fits the Single Permit.
Direct answer
What should Pakistani Pre-Departure Course applicants do first?
Start on the official portal and confirm your route before you register. Identità’s 28 February 2026 notice lists who is exempt from the Pre-Departure Course. The Skills Pass FAQ lists excluded roles. Follow the booking instructions you get for your interview.
Never send documents, login details or payment to this guide. The guides linked below cover the process and the interview.
About this guide
Applying from Pakistan? This guide explains Malta's programme requirements. Our advice: confirm your interview centre through the official booking process.
This guide explains Malta’s Single Permit Pre-Departure Course for Pakistani applicants from Pakistan. Identità’s 28 February 2026 notice sets out the application categories and exemptions. Your country of origin alone does not decide whether you need the course.
What the Pre-Departure Course requires
Identità’s 28 February 2026 notice covers new applicants and those still abroad. It exempts current or former Single Permit holders, except first-time reapplications after leaving Schengen and Still Abroad applications. It also exempts third-country nationals who have lived in Malta for eight years or more.
You take the course on the official Skills Pass portal, in two parts:
- Online learning. Identità gives 42 days for Part 1, including its interview. The Tourism Skills Pass process page gives 42 days for Phase 1. The two cover different things.
- Interview. Identità and Home Affairs describe 20 minutes online at ITS or an authorised centre. The Skills Pass FAQ describes 30 minutes in person at VFS.
You get the certificate after you pass both parts. It goes with your Single Permit application.
Our advice: practise everyday workplace English before the interview. See how to prepare for the Phase 2 interview.
Where to sit the interview, from Pakistan
Interview centres: the Skills Pass obtaining page names VFS. Identità’s Pre-Departure Course page names ITS Malta or an authorised Global Assessment Centre. Check the available locations on the official portal before you arrange travel.
Follow the interview confirmation you receive. If the centre or appointment details are unclear, ask Skills Pass before you travel.
Doing Phase 1 from Pakistan
You can do the online learning from Pakistan. The Skills Pass obtaining page describes Coursera lessons and online exams. You register and buy the course on the official portal.
Identità gives up to 42 days for Part 1. The Tourism Skills Pass process page gives 42 days for Phase 1. Neither says the 42 days start at registration. Ask Skills Pass to confirm your deadline.
Common questions
Which VFS Global centres in Pakistan handle the Pre-Departure interview?
The Tourism Skills Pass process page directs visa-requiring candidates to their nearest VFS centre and visa-exempt candidates to ITS Malta; it does not list Pakistani locations. Our advice: follow your official interview confirmation and instructions.
Can I complete Phase 1 from Pakistan before the visa is approved?
The Skills Pass obtaining page describes online learning before the interview. Identità's 28 February 2026 notice requires the relevant documentation before Single Permit application submission. Our advice: confirm your course deadline and interview arrangements before planning the permit and visa timetable.
Is the Pre-Departure Course the same as what is required for other countries?
Identità's Pre-Departure Course page describes Malta's course and English assessment. Its 28 February 2026 notice sets application categories and exemptions. The Tourism Skills Pass process page routes interviews by visa requirement. Country of origin alone does not determine your route.
My job offer is in the hospitality sector — do I need both the Pre-Departure Course and the Skills Pass?
Identità's 28 February 2026 notice requires two certificates for tourism and hospitality applicants. The Tourism Skills Pass process page places Skills Pass after the Pre-Departure Course. The Skills Pass FAQ lists role exclusions and temporary valid-permit exemptions. Confirm your route; see the pre-departure vs skills pass comparison.
We never collect official login details, documents, or payment data. Use this guide for context, then take action only on the official portal. Full citations are listed at the end of this page.
Read the official Identità Pre-Departure Course guidanceOpens the official website