Malta has not introduced a new health requirement for work permits. What it has done, rather decisively, is change how that requirement works.
From 4 May 2026, health screening moves from being a procedural step in the background to a centralised gateway at the very start of the application process. For applicants and employers alike, this is less about new rules and more about a new reality.
Until recently, medical checks were largely procedural. A doctor reviewed your results, signed off, and the process moved forward by sending scanned documentation via email to workpermit.idcu@gov.mt for approval. In most cases, the entire step was completed within around 10 working days and, while important, it rarely felt decisive.
Now, those same records sit at the centre of the system. They are uploaded, reviewed, and formally assessed by the authorities themselves, and they determine whether your application moves forward at all.
In short, health screening has not been reinvented. It has been repositioned.
The New System: Who Does What?
One of the most important changes is not just procedural, but structural. The system now clearly defines the role of each party involved. What was once a loosely connected process is now a coordinated chain, where each step depends on the previous one being completed correctly.
The Role of the Applicant
For first-time applicants, the position is now both clearer and more demanding. From 4 May 2026, all third-country nationals are required to undergo health screening as part of the work permit process, regardless of country classification or job category. This removes the previous distinction between low-risk and high-risk applicants at the entry stage. Everyone now enters the system through health screening.
In practical terms, applicants must:
- Attend an approved medical practitioner in Malta
- Provide complete and verifiable vaccination records
- Undergo blood investigations where vaccination history is incomplete
- Complete additional screening, such as chest X-rays, where required
- Provide identification details or system reference (HS code) during the visit
Preparation is now critical. If vaccination records are incomplete or cannot be verified, applicants may be required to undergo repeated or additional vaccinations to meet the required standards.
The Role of the Doctor
The doctor’s role has shifted significantly and is now central to the process. Previously, medical practitioners reviewed results and confirmed compliance. Their role was primarily clinical. Under the new system, the doctor becomes part of the official approval workflow.
- Medical tests are carried out or verified by the doctor
- Vaccination records are reviewed and confirmed
- Blood investigations are conducted where necessary
- All results are uploaded directly into the centralised system
The doctor’s role is no longer limited to reviewing results. To access and complete the health screening within the system, the doctor must be provided with the applicant’s personal identification details or Health Screening (HS) code during the visit. Without this information, the process cannot proceed.
The Role of the Employer
Employers now play a more active and accountable role in coordinating the process.
They are expected to:
- Initiate and manage the application through the system
- Ensure the applicant completes the health screening stage
- Monitor progress and timelines
- Proceed with the permit process only after health clearance is obtained
In effect, employers are no longer waiting for documents to arrive. They are overseeing a process that must be completed correctly before anything else can begin.
The Role of the Authorities
Rather than receiving documentation by email and assessing it alongside the application, authorities now:
- Review medical data directly within the system
- Validate compliance before the permit process begins
- Approve or block progression at the health screening stage
This transforms health screening into a true gatekeeping mechanism. The application is not processed and then assessed. It is assessed before it is allowed to proceed.
Risk Classification
The classification of a country as high or very high risk for tuberculosis directly influences the depth of screening, the documentation required, and in some cases, the frequency of follow-up checks.
While all applicants now enter the system, the level of scrutiny still depends on risk classification.
High and Very High TB Risk Countries (Examples)
| Country | Classification |
|---|---|
| 🇮🇳 India | Very High Risk |
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | Very High Risk |
| 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | Very High Risk |
| 🇵🇭 Philippines | Very High Risk |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | Very High Risk |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | Very High Risk |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia | Very High Risk |
| 🇰🇪 Kenya | Very High Risk |
| 🇨🇳 China | High Risk |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | High Risk |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | Very High Risk |
| 🇺🇦 Ukraine | High Risk |
The table above is only a snapshot. The official list used by the Maltese authorities is considerably longer and covers a wide range of countries across different regions.
Validity of Tests and Cost Implications
Under the new system, health screening is no longer a one-off step. The validity of medical tests now plays a direct role not only in first-time applications, but also in renewals and changes of employer.
- Chest X-ray
Typically valid for up to 1 year, particularly relevant for applicants from higher-risk countries - Blood investigations
Can remain valid for up to 2 years, depending on the type of test and vaccination status - Vaccination records
Must remain complete and verifiable; where records are missing or unclear, repeat vaccination may be required
Over time, this means that applicants, particularly those from higher-risk countries, may be required to repeat certain medical checks during the first years of employment in Malta. A chest X-ray, for example, may need to be renewed after the first year, while blood tests and vaccination status may be reassessed depending on documentation and role. Changes of employer or job function can also trigger a review of existing records, especially where validity has expired.
These requirements carry a practical cost. Medical consultations, imaging, and laboratory tests are typically borne by the applicant or employer, and in most cases range between €100 and €300 per cycle. Where documents expire or need to be repeated, these costs arise again. Under the new system, timing is no longer just administrative. It has a direct financial impact.
First-Time Applicants A Much Higher Bar
For new applicants, the entry threshold has increased significantly. This change does not stand alone. It follows the introduction of the pre-departure course, which already added preparation time, structure, and cost to the process. The addition of mandatory health screening, including the ‘other jobs’, at the very beginning creates yet another layer. Applicants who did not manage to submit before May now face a system that is more demanding.
A System That Filters Before It Processes
From 4 May 2026, Malta’s work permit process effectively begins with health clearance. This reflects a broader policy direction. Authorities are no longer processing applications and then filtering them. They are filtering them before they enter the system. For both employers and applicants, the approach must change accordingly.
Malta’s work permit system is evolving quickly, and changes like these are only the beginning. For applicants and employers alike, staying informed is no longer optional, it is essential.
Disclaimer
This article is intended for informational purposes only and reflects the author’s understanding of the current health screening and work permit procedures in Malta as of the time of writing.
The primary sources referenced include official publications from the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Directorate (HPDP), including the High and Very High TB Risk Country List, as well as guidance relating to work permit applications and the Employer’s Module.
While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, procedures, requirements, and classifications may change, and individual cases may be assessed differently by the competent authorities.
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