Could 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.

Do 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.

Is 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.

Pre-Departure Course vs. the Tourism & Hospitality Skills Pass

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

	Pre-Departure Course	Tourism & Hospitality Skills Pass
Legal status	Described in the official FAQ as “Mandatory by Law”	An additional requirement layered on top, for a specific sector
Who it applies to	All third-country nationals applying for a first-time Single Permit, regardless of industry	Only those “working within the Hospitality Industry or with an establishment that has an MTA licence”, per the official FAQ
Cost	€250 total (€245 + €5), consistent across official sources	€225–€230 depending on which official page you check — see the full cost breakdown
Where you complete it	Skills Pass portal (skillspass.org.mt)	Same Skills Pass portal infrastructure, with a dedicated tourism subdomain (tourism.skillspass.org.mt)
Sequencing	Generally completed first	Described as completed “after” the Pre-Departure Course

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

Could 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.
Do 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.
Is 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

Skills Pass (opens in a new tab)
Official guidance on how to obtain the Skills Pass.
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
Skills Pass (Tourism & Hospitality) (opens in a new tab)
Sector-specific Skills Pass portal for tourism and hospitality roles.
Source last checked: 8 June 2026
Skills Pass (Tourism & Hospitality) (opens in a new tab)
Sector-specific Skills Pass operational details for tourism and hospitality.
Source last checked: 8 June 2026
Skills Pass (Tourism & Hospitality) (opens in a new tab)
Sector-specific Skills Pass frequently asked questions.
Source last checked: 8 June 2026

For the tourism-specific Skills Pass requirements in detail, the official sector portal is the authority — see Malta Pre-Departure Guide’s sources page for direct links to it.