Do I need a permit to work in Malta as a non-EU citizen?

Citizens of EU/EEA countries and Switzerland can work in Malta without a permit. Other (third-country) nationals need authorisation, handled by Identità's Expatriates Unit. The standard route is the Single Permit, which combines work and residence in one application and normally involves a labour-market test. Highly qualified staff can use the EU Blue Card, and senior, highly specialised or managerial hires at eligible companies can use the fast-track Key Employee Initiative (KEI), which has an accelerated process but a high minimum salary. Specialised and family routes also exist alongside these.