Preparing for the Phase 2 interview — a practical guide

What the interview actually tests — based on official descriptions

This is not a general interview or a job interview. Official materials describe Phase 2 as a 20-minute live, in-person appointment that checks two specific things:

• English-language proficiency — assessed through short workplace-scenario questions, not a formal language test. The official FAQ notes it is assessed “in both online as well as during the interview.”
• Understanding of the module content — specifically what you covered in the two online modules: Living and Working in Malta, and Rights and Obligations in the Workplace.

Good preparation is therefore specific: review the module material, and practise speaking about it in conversational English.

What to review before your interview

The interview questions are described as scenario-based checks on the two modules. Focus your review on the areas with the most practical content:

• From “Living and Working in Malta”: healthcare access, public transport, housing rights, cultural norms, local services — the everyday information the module covers about settling into life in Malta.
• From “Rights and Obligations in the Workplace”: what Malta’s employment law says about working hours, annual leave, minimum wage, health and safety, and how to raise a workplace complaint. These are the rights and obligations the module names directly.

You do not need to memorise every word. The questions are described as scenario-based — meaning you are likely to be asked something like “what would you do if your employer asked you to work without a contract?” rather than “what is the exact text of Article X of the Employment Act.” Understanding the principle behind the answer matters more than recalling a specific figure or statute.

How to practise your English for this specific interview

The English being assessed is functional workplace English — not academic writing, not exam vocabulary. Here is what to practise:

1. Speak out loud about the module topics. Choose a topic — say, what to do if you are treated unfairly at work — and explain it in two to three sentences in English. Do this daily in the week before your interview. Speaking about the actual content you’ll be asked about is more useful than generic English practice.
2. Practise answering “what would you do if…” questions. These scenario questions require you to apply a principle, not recite a fact. Practise giving a direct answer first — “I would contact my employer in writing and keep a record” — before adding context. Interviewers are checking that you understood the material, not that you can speak at length.
3. Practise asking for clarification. Saying “I’m sorry, could you repeat the question?” or “do you mean…?” in English is a sign of communicative competence, not a sign of failure.
4. Read the official module topics aloud. If the portal shows you section headings or a syllabus for the modules, reading those aloud — even just the headings — can help you engage the same vocabulary in spoken form that you absorbed in written form.

On the day — what to bring and what to expect

Your booking confirmation is the document that tells you where to go and what to bring. Official descriptions of the venue differ — Identità’s guidance names “ITS Malta or authorised Global Assessment Centres” while the Skills Pass FAQ mentions “the closest VFS centre” — so follow your own confirmation, not a general description.

• Bring any identification or confirmation documents the booking email specifies.
• Plan for travel time with buffer — this is an in-person appointment.
• The interview is described as roughly 20 minutes. Arrive a few minutes early. There is nothing to be set up or installed on your part.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a minimum English level I need to pass?

Official materials don't publish a specific CEFR level or numeric score threshold for the English assessment in the interview. The described format — short workplace-scenario questions in a 20-minute conversation — points to functional everyday workplace English rather than formal academic English. If you can describe your job, ask questions, and follow instructions in English, you are working at the level the interview describes.

What if I don't understand a question during the interview?

Asking for clarification — "sorry, could you repeat that?" or "do you mean…?" — is a normal part of demonstrating communicative English, not a signal that you’re failing. Staying calm, listening carefully, and asking to clarify a question you didn’t catch will serve you better than guessing at an answer you’re not sure about.

How long before my interview should I start preparing?

The most useful preparation period is the two to three weeks between finishing Phase 1 and attending Phase 2. Revisiting the module content within that window — rather than at the point of registration — keeps the material fresh and specific to what the interview actually tests.

What if I fail the interview?

Official materials describe one free re-sit for failed assessments. Whether the interview specifically offers the same free-resit terms as the Phase 1 online assessments is not unambiguously confirmed in the materials we have reviewed — if this is a concern, contact Skills Pass directly before your interview rather than assuming either way.

Official sources for this page

• Identità (opens in a new tab)

  Primary description of the Single Permit Pre-Departure Course requirement for non-EU nationals.

  Source last checked: 8 June 2026

• Skills Pass (opens in a new tab)

  Official Skills Pass frequently asked questions.

  Source last checked: 8 June 2026