Most of the attention in Malta's permit system goes to first-time applications. But for an employer with an established non-EU workforce, renewals are where the real operational risk sits. Every Single Permit expires, usually after 12 months, and a missed renewal means losing a trained, productive employee overnight. This guide covers the full renewal process as it stands in 2026, including what the fee restructuring and reform package changed. For first-time applications, see the Complete Employer Guide to Single Permits.
When to Start a Single Permit Renewal
Identità accepts renewal applications from 3 months before expiry. That window is the correct time to submit, not a suggestion. Here's why timing matters so much:
- Renewals currently take 4–8 weeks to process. Submitting with less than 2 months to run leaves no margin for a document request.
- If Identità asks for additional documents and you miss the response deadline, the application can be closed, and the clock keeps running toward expiry.
- A renewal submitted after expiry is no longer a renewal. It's a fresh application with the full €600 fee and, in most cases, a Jobsplus advert and Skills Pass requirement.
Permia's rule of thumb
Diary the renewal for 90 days before expiry. Start gathering documents at 100 days. Submit on day 90. This gives a full month of buffer for any Identità query.
Can the employee keep working while the renewal is pending?
Yes, provided the renewal was submitted before the current permit expired. Identità issues an acknowledgement receipt on submission. That receipt, together with the expired eResidence card, is the employee's legal cover to keep working until the decision arrives. Keep a copy of the receipt on file and give one to the employee.
What Changed for Renewals in 2025–2026
The reform package that doubled first-application fees also reshaped renewals, mostly in the employer's favour, with some new compliance conditions attached.
Renewal fee cut to €150 per year
The government renewal fee dropped from a flat €300 to €150 per year of permit validity. For a standard 12-month renewal that's a 50% saving. The policy intent is clear: Malta wants to retain workers who are already integrated rather than churn through new arrivals.
Multi-year renewals for long-serving workers
Employees who have held a Single Permit continuously for several years and have a clean compliance record may be eligible for renewals of longer than 12 months. Fees scale at €150 per year of validity. Eligibility is assessed by Identità case by case, Permia can check this before you submit.
Skills Pass does not apply to renewals
The mandatory pre-departure Skills Pass course introduced in January 2026 is a first-application requirement only. An employee renewing an existing permit with the same employer does not need it. Note the exception below for lapsed permits.
Employer quota applies to renewals too
The TCN workforce quota (the ratio of non-EU staff to total headcount) is checked at every renewal, not only at first application. If your business has shrunk its EU workforce since the original permit was issued, a renewal can be refused on quota grounds even though nothing about the employee has changed.
No Jobsplus vacancy advert, but compliance still applies
A renewal with the same employer in the same role does not require a fresh Jobsplus vacancy advertisement. But every other Jobsplus compliance condition, bank wages, quota, no recent redundancies in the role, is checked. Treat the renewal as a compliance audit, because that's what it is.
Documents Required for a Renewal
The renewal document pack is shorter than a first application, but Identità is strict about currency, every document must reflect the present position, not the one at original submission.
Employer documents
- Current employment contract, or a signed renewal/extension of the original contract
- Employer declaration confirming the employee remains in the same role on the same or improved terms
- Payslips for the last 3 months
- Updated FS3 or equivalent evidence of tax and social security contributions
Employee documents
- Valid passport, minimum 8 months remaining validity at the date of submission
- Current eResidence card (front and back)
- Health insurance renewed to cover the full new permit period, minimum €30,000 Malta coverage
- Proof of current accommodation, registered lease or updated Housing Authority documentation
- Updated address confirmation if the employee has moved since the original application
Passport validity is the most common renewal blocker
A passport with under 8 months left is an automatic refusal. Check the employee's passport expiry 4 months before the permit expires, consular passport renewals for some nationalities take 8–12 weeks, and the permit renewal cannot be submitted until the new passport is in hand.
The Renewal Process Step by Step
- Day 100 before expiry: document check. Confirm passport validity, insurance renewal date, and that the employment contract is current. Order anything that's missing.
- Day 90: submit via the Identità employer portal. Upload the full pack under the renewal application type. Pay the €150 fee.
- Day 85–87: acknowledgement receipt. Identità confirms receipt within 3–5 working days. File this and give the employee a copy.
- Day 30–60: review and any queries. Identità and Jobsplus review the file. Respond to any document request within the stated deadline, typically 10 working days.
- Decision. On approval the employee is called to Identità to collect the new eResidence card. The old card is surrendered at collection.
If the current permit expires while the renewal is still under review, the acknowledgement receipt continues to cover the employee's right to work. Do not stop paying or rostering the employee during this window.
Why Renewals Get Refused
Renewals have a higher approval rate than first applications, but the refusals that do happen are almost always avoidable. These are the ones Permia sees most often.
- Submitted after the permit expired: treated as a new application, with the full first-time requirements
- Passport with under 8 months remaining validity
- Employer exceeded the TCN workforce quota since the original permit was issued
- Health insurance renewed for less than the full permit period, or lapsed between policies
- Role or salary changed materially from the original contract without a change-of-conditions application
- Employer made the same or an equivalent role redundant within the previous 12 months
- Missed the deadline on an Identità document request
What If the Permit Has Already Expired?
If the expiry date has passed and no renewal was submitted, the employee's right to work ended on that date. The employer must stop employing them immediately. Continuing to employ a worker without a valid permit is an offence for the employer, not just the employee.
The route back is a new Single Permit application, not a late renewal. That means:
- Full €600 government fee
- Jobsplus vacancy advertisement for the role
- Skills Pass pre-departure course, since the applicant is treated as a first-time applicant
- Standard 2–4 month processing time, during which the employee cannot work
In some cases the employee's lawful stay in Malta also becomes an issue, and they may need to leave and apply from abroad. This is the single most expensive outcome in the whole permit system, and it is entirely preventable with a 90-day diary reminder.
Single Permit Renewals, FAQs
When should I start a Single Permit renewal in Malta?
Submit at least 3 months before expiry and never later than 1 month before. Identità takes 4–8 weeks to process renewals, so a late submission risks the permit lapsing mid-process.
How much does a Single Permit renewal cost in 2026?
The government renewal fee is €150 per year of permit validity, down from the previous flat rate of €300. Permia's service fee for handling a renewal is listed on our pricing page.
Can the employee keep working while the renewal is pending?
Yes, as long as the renewal was submitted before the current permit expired. The Identità acknowledgement receipt plus the expired card are the employee's legal cover until the decision.
Does a renewal need a new Jobsplus vacancy advert?
No. The labour market test applies to new applications and changes of employer. A same-employer, same-role renewal skips it, but bank wage payments, quota and redundancy history are still checked.
Does the Skills Pass apply to renewals?
No. The January 2026 Skills Pass requirement is for first-time applicants only. It becomes relevant again only if the permit lapses and the employee has to reapply as a new applicant.
What happens if the permit expires before the renewal is submitted?
The employee loses the right to work on the expiry date and must stop work immediately. The way back is a full new application, €600 fee, Jobsplus advert, Skills Pass and 2–4 months of processing, not a late renewal.
Have a permit expiring in the next 6 months?
Permia tracks expiry dates, prepares the renewal pack, and submits on day 90. Free eligibility check. We'll tell you what applies to your employee.