The Maltese Government has introduced the Skills Pass initiative to ensure high standards within the tourism and hospitality industry. With a January 2026 deadline for all employees—local, EU/EEA, and Third-Country Nationals (TCNs)—to obtain this certification, the initiative has sparked discussions about its benefits and challenges.
What is it?
The Skills Pass is a certification program aimed at verifying the professional skills of those employed in Malta’s tourism and hospitality sector. It applies to all roles in MTA-licensed establishments, including food service, bar service, kitchen, housekeeping, and front office staff.
Once issued, the Skills Pass is permanent for a specific occupation. By January 2026, all workers in this sector—whether TCN, EU/EEA or Maltese nationals—must possess a valid Skills Pass.
Skills Pass and TCN Work Permits
For Third-Country Nationals (TCNs), obtaining a Skills Pass is required to apply for or renew work permits in Malta’s tourism and hospitality sectors. Starting May 28, 2024, TCNs must have a Skills Pass to process work and residence permits, making timely completion of the certification crucial to avoid delays in maintaining legal work status.
Application Costs
Fees for the Skills Pass depend on residency status:
- Non-EU/EEA nationals coming to Malta for work: €475
- Non-EU/EEA nationals renewing work permits: €375-€455
- Sector Skilled Workers (registered by MTA establishments): €280
- Non-EU/EEA/EFTA ELT students: €335
- EU/EEA students and Maltese nationals: €0
Skills Pass Process
Phase 1: Online Courses and Assessments
Applicants must complete following four mandatory modules:
- English Proficiency Test
- Basic Customer Care Course
- Basic Maltese Tourism Product Course
- Basic Essential English Course
Additionally, applicants select a module aligned with their job roles, such as food service, bar service, kitchen, front office, or housekeeping.
Once registered and payment is made, applicants gain access to course material through an online portal. They must complete the required modules within 14 days. For those already working in Malta in relevant roles, only the online component is required.
Phase 2: Verification Interview
After Phase 1, applicants who are in Malta for less than a year and applying for their first work permit must schedule a Skills Verification Interview. For those in non-standard roles, the focus will primarily be on assessing English conversation skills.
Changing Jobs Within the Sector
If you change your occupation within the hospitality sector, you must obtain a new Skills Pass for the new role. The cost for an additional occupation-specific Skills Pass is €107.50.
On-the-Ground Experiences
While the Skills Pass aims to raise standards across the sector, its value in practice has drawn mixed feedback, particularly from both employers and workers on the ground.
Patricia Graham, founder of the TCN Alliance Facebook group, has shared insights gathered from many Third-country National applicants who completed the certification. She acknowledges that the Skills Pass is designed to ensure workers meet the necessary standards, but raises a key question:
Does having the Skills Pass necessarily make a waiter, barman, or housekeeper better at their job than someone without it?
She points out that many quality employers in Malta already follow strict hiring criteria, placing high importance on English fluency, additional language skills, and professional conduct—qualities not necessarily taught through the Skills Pass.
Good customer service is what ‘sells’ Malta. That comes from employer-led training, not an online course. Why should responsible employers who already invest in quality hiring be penalized by having to fund the Skills Pass?
Additionally, she notes that broader aspects of the tourism experience—such as clean infrastructure, efficient transport, and staff well being—are critical to Malta’s image, but fall outside the scope of this certification.
Challenges During Implementation
Patricia has also received numerous complaints from applicants facing issues during the process. While many are completing the program successfully and awaiting certification, others have encountered technical setbacks and strict enforcement of rules.
As with anything, there will be those trying to work around the system. The Skills Pass was barely launched when YouTube videos and paid services started popping up, offering help to pass—despite applicants already spending a fortune.
Some applicants have had their accounts suspended, often due to technical problems during the online exam—such as camera access failures after the test had already started. In such cases, applicants receive responses like:
”Kindly note that the regulations were provided to you before the exam, and you agreed to them. Additionally, below are attached the details regarding your suspension. Lastly, when an account is suspended due to any attempt at cheating—for example, your camera was not given proper access after the exam began—the payment is lost, and the process must be restarted from the beginning.”
This has led to growing frustration, particularly when applicants feel the system is inflexible or unclear. Patricia remarks:
I think they assume most people applying for the Skills Pass are uneducated. When in reality, for many, the certification is seen as unnecessary—they could pass it standing on their heads.
She notes that this message is typically sent only after the exam is completed and reviewed, and that the evidence provided to support such a decision is often minimal or unclear.
If someone is caught cheating, they shouldn’t get a second chance. Cheating is wrong. But the issue lies in the lack of clear evidence shared with applicants. Many of the people reaching out to me are well-qualified professionals who don’t need to cheat—many are overqualified compared to the exam’s level.
Patricia also highlights how real-life disruptions—such as temporary camera disconnections, home-office interruptions, or connection issues—can be misinterpreted as violations.
I know how many online meetings I attend where cameras drop, phones buzz, or someone walks in. These things happen. And for applicants taking the exam in VFS centers abroad, it seems nearly impossible for them to tamper with the system. Without seeing hard evidence—which I have yet to come across—this entire situation raises real concerns.
She concludes that a fair and transparent approach is needed, especially if the system is to maintain credibility with both applicants and employers.
If we are certain someone cheated, there should be a firm consequence. But if we’re not certain—if we cannot provide clear proof—then suspending someone’s application, taking their payment, and forcing them to restart is simply not just.
Looking Ahead
The Skills Pass is a crucial initiative aimed at raising professional standards within Malta’s tourism and hospitality industry. While the system is designed to ensure consistency, quality, and recognition of workers’ abilities, recent experiences from applicants show that its implementation has not been without challenges.
Feedback from the community, including insights from Patricia Graham and members of the TCN Alliance, highlights growing concerns around the fairness and transparency of the process. Although the goal of standardization is widely supported, many feel that technical issues, inflexible rules, and limited communication are creating unnecessary barriers for workers who are already qualified and capable.
These challenges raise important questions about how the Skills Pass system can evolve to maintain credibility and trust among both applicants and employers. As Malta’s tourism sector continues to expand, ensuring a fair and practical certification process will be key to achieving its intended goals.
If you have gone through the Skills Pass process and would like to share your experience—whether positive or challenging—we invite you to reach out. Your insights help us better understand the realities faced by workers and contribute to a more informed and supportive community.
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