Two requirements, two different purposes
It’s easy to conflate these because they run through the same portal and share the word “Skills Pass” in places — but official materials describe them as separate requirements with different scopes, different audiences, and different legal footing.
Side-by-side comparison
How official materials draw the line
The clearest statement of the distinction comes from the official FAQ itself. On the Pre-Departure Course, it says the requirement is “Mandatory by Law” — full stop, for every first-time applicant. On the Skills Pass, it frames the requirement conditionally: it applies “if candidate will be working within the Hospitality Industry or with an establishment that has an MTA licence”.
That wording — “if” versus “by law” — is the clearest official signal that one is a universal baseline requirement and the other is a conditional, sector-specific add-on.
Working out which applies to you
- Start with the baseline. If you’re a first-time Single Permit applicant, official guidance indicates the Pre-Departure Course applies to you regardless of sector — see who needs the Pre-Departure Course.
- Then check your sector. If your job offer is in tourism, hospitality, or with an MTA-licensed establishment, the Skills Pass likely applies on top. If you’re not sure whether your employer holds an MTA licence, ask them directly — it’s a straightforward question with a factual answer.
- When in doubt, ask before you pay. Registering for, and paying for, a course you don’t actually need wastes money the official FAQ describes as generally non-refundable. A quick check with your employer or with Skills Pass directly costs nothing.
Frequently asked questions
01Could I need the Skills Pass but not the Pre-Departure Course?
Based on how official materials describe both requirements, this looks unlikely for a first-time Single Permit applicant — the Pre-Departure Course is described as mandatory "by law" for that group regardless of sector, while the Skills Pass is described as an additional, sector-specific requirement layered on top. If you believe your situation is the reverse of the usual pattern, confirm directly with Identità or Skills Pass rather than assuming either way.
02Do I register for both at once, or separately?
Official materials describe the Skills Pass as completed "after" the Pre-Departure Course, through the same Skills Pass portal — but they don't spell out whether the portal lets you queue both at registration or requires you to finish one before starting the other. Treat the portal's own on-screen guidance as the authority on sequencing once you're registered.
03Is the Skills Pass only for hotel jobs?
No — the official FAQ frames it more broadly than just hotels: it applies "if candidate will be working within the Hospitality Industry or with an establishment that has an MTA licence". That can cover a wider range of tourism-adjacent roles than the word "hospitality" might suggest on its own. If you're not sure whether your specific role or employer falls into this category, ask your employer and confirm with Skills Pass directly.
Official sources for this page
These are the official pages this guide depends on. Open them directly before acting on a time-sensitive requirement.
- 01Ministry for Home Affairs, Security and Employment (opens in a new tab)
Ministry-level description of the Pre-Departure Course: the two-part structure, the two Part 1 modules, the learning hours, the interview, the 42-day completion window, the fee, and the rollout dates.
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- 02Skills Pass (opens in a new tab)
Official guidance on how to obtain the Skills Pass.
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- 03Skills Pass (opens in a new tab)
Official Skills Pass frequently asked questions.
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- 04Skills Pass (Tourism & Hospitality) (opens in a new tab)
Sector-specific Skills Pass portal for tourism and hospitality roles.
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- 05Skills Pass (Tourism & Hospitality) (opens in a new tab)
Sector-specific Skills Pass operational details for tourism and hospitality.
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- 06Skills Pass (Tourism & Hospitality) (opens in a new tab)
Sector-specific Skills Pass frequently asked questions.
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Related guides
Continue through the same official-source trail without switching to a portal.
- Who needs the Pre-Departure CourseConfirm the baseline requirement applies to you before working out whether the Skills Pass also does.
- What it costsThe full, itemised breakdown of both courses' fees — including the official figures that don't quite agree.
- Navigating the official Skills Pass portalWhere the tourism-specific Skills Pass sits within the wider Skills Pass portal infrastructure.
For the tourism-specific Skills Pass requirements in detail, the official sector portal is the authority — see Malta Pre-Departure Course’s sources page for direct links to it.