Can I start the course before my job offer is confirmed?

Official materials say you can register on the Skills Pass portal as soon as you need to. Starting early gives you more buffer — the certificate is valid once issued, and you bring it to the Single Permit process rather than racing through the course during it.

Does the 42-day window start when I register or when I first log in?

Official materials describe the window as beginning at registration. Treat day one as your registration date and plan your Phase 1 completion around that. A 14-day extension is available for purchase at €50 if you need more time, but planning to use it from the start is not the most cost-efficient approach.

How far in advance do I need to book the Phase 2 interview?

Official materials do not publish a fixed lead time for Phase 2 slot availability. In practice, availability varies by location and demand period. Booking as soon as Phase 1 is complete — rather than waiting — is the most reliable approach.

What delays the process most commonly?

Waiting to start registration, slow Phase 1 completion (spreading modules across the full 42 days), and delayed Phase 2 booking are the most predictable sources of delay. None of them are fixed obstacles — each one is eliminated by starting earlier.

Pre-Departure Course timeline — how long does it take?

The realistic end-to-end window

Official materials describe the Pre-Departure Course as a two-phase process. The minimum realistic timeline from registration to certificate is roughly 6–10 weeks if you complete Phase 1 promptly and book Phase 2 without delay. Most applicants should plan for longer — particularly if Phase 2 interview slots are in high demand when they finish Phase 1.

Phase 1 — up to 42 days online

Once registered on the official Skills Pass portal, official materials describe a 42-day window in which to complete the two online modules:

“Living and Working in Malta”
“Rights and Obligations in the Workplace”

The 42 days starts at registration, not at first login. Completing both modules in two to three focused weeks leaves the most time to book and attend Phase 2 before any deadline you are working toward. A 14-day extension is available at €50 if needed, but it is a paid safety net — not something to rely on by default.

Between Phase 1 and Phase 2 — booking the interview

After completing both modules, you book a Phase 2 interview slot. Official materials describe this as a live in-person interview of roughly 20 minutes, assessing English-language proficiency and comprehension of the module content. Slot availability is not published centrally — in practice, the wait depends on demand at the interview venue nearest to you. Book as soon as Phase 1 is confirmed to minimise this gap.

Phase 2 to certificate

Passing Phase 2 completes the course. The certificate is issued through the Skills Pass portal. Its exact processing time is not published, but building in a week of buffer between your expected interview date and any downstream deadline is advisable.

How the certificate fits into the Single Permit timeline

The Pre-Departure Course certificate is a requirement for the Single Permit — but the order of events in the permit process can vary. Starting the course well before your planned travel or permit submission date, rather than doing it in parallel with the application itself, removes a significant source of administrative delay. Identità’s official guidance notes that verification of the certificate requirement began on 1 March 2026, making the certificate a genuine gatekeeping document rather than a formality.

Frequently asked questions

Can I start the course before my job offer is confirmed?: Official materials say you can register on the Skills Pass portal as soon as you need to. Starting early gives you more buffer — the certificate is valid once issued, and you bring it to the Single Permit process rather than racing through the course during it.
Does the 42-day window start when I register or when I first log in?: Official materials describe the window as beginning at registration. Treat day one as your registration date and plan your Phase 1 completion around that. A 14-day extension is available for purchase at €50 if you need more time, but planning to use it from the start is not the most cost-efficient approach.
How far in advance do I need to book the Phase 2 interview?: Official materials do not publish a fixed lead time for Phase 2 slot availability. In practice, availability varies by location and demand period. Booking as soon as Phase 1 is complete — rather than waiting — is the most reliable approach.
What delays the process most commonly?: Waiting to start registration, slow Phase 1 completion (spreading modules across the full 42 days), and delayed Phase 2 booking are the most predictable sources of delay. None of them are fixed obstacles — each one is eliminated by starting earlier.

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 (Tourism & Hospitality) (opens in a new tab)
Sector-specific Skills Pass operational details for tourism and hospitality.
Source last checked: 8 June 2026