Frequently Asked Questions

Prices depend on categories as per below (price includes both Phase 1 and Phase 2 - if applicable):

It includes access to three mandatory courses, and five assessments. These are: - Basic Customer Care Course and Assessment - Basic Maltese Tourism Product Course and Assessment - Basic English for Hospitality Course and Assessment - English Proficiency Test - Occupation (according to Job Family) Assessment

Anyone who works within an MTA licensed establishment in any role need the Skills Pass.

Any occupation which does not fall within the listed job families (Housekeeping, Kitchen, Food Service, Bar Service and Front Office), should select the ‘Other’ option. This option does not include an online assessment in Phase 1. In Phase 2, the ‘Other’ option does not include a specific Skill Verification Interview but an interview which will test the English conversation skills. Occupations selecting this ‘Other’ option may include maintenance, HR personnel, accounts personnel, marketing personnel etc.

Yes, by January 2026 all employees working within MTA licensed establishments and the Hospitality and Tourism sector will require a Skills Pass. The Skills Pass portal is not yet open for any Maltese or EU/EEA/EFTA (Switzerland) workers yet.

Any UK nationals who have obtained their work permit prior to 1st January (BREXIT Withdrawal Agreement) fall within the same category as Maltese or EU/EEA/EFTA (Switzerland) workers and will be required to have a Skills Pass as from 1st January 2026.

Those with a long-term residence status from Identità and working within the Hospitality and Tourism sector shall require a Skills Pass as from January 2026.

Those with asylum seeker or refugee status and working within the Hospitality and Tourism sector shall require a Skills Pass as from January 2026.

No, you, the employee should apply using their own personal email address with minimal assistance from the employer. This is because the Skills Pass will be issued in your name and you will always have access to your details and Skills Pass certificate on the Skills Pass portal using your personal credentials (email and password).

Any non-EU/EEA/EFTA (Switzerland) national coming to work in Malta within the Hospitality and Tourism sector need to have a Skills Pass. At first everyone has to go through the basic Skills Pass and obtain the RED Skills Pass. Eventually, more levels of the Skills Pass will be issued according to the EQF levels.

Once you obtain the full Skills Pass it is permanent for that particular occupation.

If you change jobs but remain with the same occupation then the Skills Pass will remain valid. However, if you change jobs and start working in a different occupation within the Hospitality and Tourism sector, then you would have to do the exam for that occupation and once you obtain the Skills Pass for that occupation it is also permanent. The price for an additional occupation is €107.50.

Practical Example:
If a waiter working with restaurant A, goes to work as a waiter with restaurant B, then the Skills Pass obtained as a waiter will remain valid. HOWEVER, if a waiter working with restaurant A, starts working as a commis chef with restaurant A or restaurant B, then they need to take the commis chef occupation exam and go through the Phase 2 Skill Verification Interview (if they are living in Malta for less than a year).

Once you obtain the Phase 1 confirmation, the Skills Pass portal will automatically lead you to book the Skills Verification Interview as part of phase 2. Once the booking is confirmed by the assessors, then a confirmation email will be sent including all the necessary information.

- Non-EU/EEA/EFTA (Switzerland) living abroad
- Non-EU/EEA/EFTA (Switzerland) living in Malta for less than a year and applying for their first renewal
- ELT Students (partially)

The occupation exam can only be accessed once all the other mandatory modules exams on the portal.

No, it is important to take the exam available on the Skills Pass portal by clicking the orange button saying ‘Go to Exam’ under each respective module.

Once you finish the module exam, you will no longer have access to the Course Contents of that module.

Automatically, you are entitled to a free resit for all the mandatory modules and the occupation exams. If you fail the free resit, you can rebuy the exam and take the exam once again immediately upon payment. If you fail your third attempt, the Skills Pass portal will block you for three months for you to be able to revise and prepare yourself for the exam which you can rebuy within three months.