Updated on 26th May 2026
To live and work legally in Malta, most prospective employees who are not citizens of a European Union (EU) Member State (also referred to as third-country nationals) must obtain Health Screening approval as part of their work permit application.
The information below explains:
• who needs health screening
• how to apply
• which medical tests and vaccinations are required
Important Information
These guidelines apply only to individuals who are required to obtain Health Screening approval as part of their work permit application.
All required health screening tests and investigations must be carried out locally in Malta through private healthcare providers.
All documentation submitted must be in English.
Online Application Process
As from 4th May 2026, all health screening applications for work permits must be submitted through the new online system.
Paper-based applications sent via email are no longer accepted.
What Has Changed
• First-time applicants from low-risk Tuberculosis (TB) countries who are applying to work in any of the following occupations and were previously exempt from health screening are now required to undergo health screening:
o Administrative workers
o Construction/manual workers
o Footballers
o Hairdressers and makeup artists
o Transport workers
o Cleaners and housekeepers
o Security guards
o Delivery personnel
o Laboratory technicians working outside the medical field (for example in construction, chemicals, or pharmaceuticals)
Low-risk TB countries are those countries NOT found on this list.
Step by step guidance on how to Apply for a Health screening
Employer / HR Representative -NOT EMPLOYEE should initiate the application
• All applications must be submitted online through: expatriateshealthscreening.gov.mt
• Access to the system is through eID.
• Employers/HR Representatives must upload:
o the signed Employee-Employer Declaration Consent Form
o a clear scan of the employee’s passport biopage
• Food handlers must also upload:
o a scan of the Food Handler’s card issued by the Food Safety Commission
o scans of both the front and back of the card containing the QR code
o the Food Handler’s certificate is not accepted
• Applications with missing, incorrect, incomplete, or unclear documents will be returned for resubmission. This may delay processing.
• After submitting the form, applicants can download:
o a list of registered doctors and clinics authorised to carry out online health screening
o a checklist of documents required for the medical appointment
• The employer or employee must then book the health screening appointment with the doctor.
• During the appointment, the doctor will complete the online health screening form which the employer/HR Representatives submitted, and upload all required medical documents.
• Only one doctor may complete the health screening form.
• Once the health screening is approved, the employer and/or employee will receive a notification confirming clearance. Please ensure that the correct email addresses are entered in the online form. Notification emails will only be sent to the email addresses provided.
• This notification must be presented to Identità as proof of clearance.
User Guides and Training Videos
Further guidance is available in the following resources:
• Employer’s User Manual: Employer's Module User Guide v.5
• Video Tutorials:
- Video 1 Health Screening - Employers Module Video 1
- Video 2 Health Screening - Employers Module Video 2
- Video 3 Health Screening - Employers Module Video 3
Vaccinations and Blood Tests
All vaccination records and blood test results must be shown to the doctor conducting the health screening. The doctor will upload copies of the documents to the online portal.
If vaccination records are unavailable, applicants may be required to repeat vaccination courses or receive booster doses.
Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio
Under Maltese law, all individuals residing in Malta must be protected against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio.
All applicants, regardless of job category, must demonstrate immunity against both diseases.
Applicants are required to receive one Polio/Diphtheria vaccine dose in Malta.
Failure to comply will result in rejection of the application.
Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
Full immunity against Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) is mandatory for all applicants in the following professions:
• Doctors, Dentists, Nurses and Midwives
• Professions complementary to medicine
• Carers (including carers working in healthcare settings, homes for the elderly, and institutions)
• Nannies and Child Carers
MMR vaccination is also mandatory for all female applicants, regardless of occupation.
Required Screening
• Proof of MMR vaccination, or taking of necessary vaccines – as per section titled Vaccines - Important Notes - below
MMR immunity testing will no longer be requested as part of the screening process
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B screening is required for certain job categories:
• Doctors, Dentists, Nurses and Midwives
• Professions complementary to medicine
• Carers (including carers working in healthcare settings, homes for the elderly, and institutions)
• Beauty Therapists, Beauticians, Spa Therapists & Massage Therapists
• Tattooists
Required Screening
• A Hepatitis B surface antigen test (HBsAg) must be carried out before vaccination.
• If the HBsAg result is positive, a confirmatory test is required.
• Proof of Hepatitis B vaccination, or taking of necessary vaccines – as per section titled Vaccines - Important Notes - below
Hepatitis B immunity testing will no longer be requested as part of the screening process
Vaccines - Important Notes
• Where previous vaccination is claimed, proof of vaccination must be provided.
• Any required vaccination must be administered in Malta.
• Applicants who were never vaccinated or incompletely vaccinated must re-take the full vaccination course in Malta. This must be completed before the health screening renewal (where this is required).
• Applicants who are fully vaccinated abroad must provide official vaccination records and receive a booster dose in Malta.
• If vaccination records are unavailable, the full vaccination course must be repeated in Malta. A booster dose alone will not be accepted.
• Where multiple doses are required, all doses must be completed according to the recommended schedule. Failure to complete the vaccination course before the health screening renewal may result in renewal refusal.
Chest X-Rays
Applicants born in, or who have lived for 6 months or more in, countries classified as High or Very High Risk for Tuberculosis (TB) must undergo a Chest X-Ray.
Requirements
• Chest X-Rays must be taken within 6 weeks of the application date.
• Applicants changing jobs and requiring further health screening may reuse a previous Chest X-Ray if it was taken within the last year.
• If the previous Chest X-Ray is older than one year, a new Chest X-Ray is required.
Note: The list of high- and very high-risk countries is reviewed regularly in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. As a result, individuals who were previously exempt from health screening may become subject to screening if the risk classification of their country of birth or country/countries resided in changes from low risk to high risk. In such cases, they must apply for health screening as first-time applicants.
Abnormal Results
Any abnormal medical results are to be presented to the doctor during the health screening appointment.
You will then be guided accordingly.
Changing Jobs
If an employee changes jobs, they may need to apply for a new work permit and undergo additional screening.
This applies when the new role falls under a different job category requiring further medical investigations.
Applicants must enter the details of the new job in the online system. The system will indicate whether additional screening is required.
If additional screening is required:
• Chest X-Rays are accepted only if taken within one year of the application date. The Chest X-Ray report must be provided.
• Blood investigations are accepted only if taken within two years of the application date. Test results must be provided.
Changing Employer
If an employee changes employer but remains in the same job category, a new Health Screening application is not required.
However, another Health Screening may still be necessary if the applicant falls under Health Screening renewal requirements.
Renewals (Kindly note that this refers to Health Screening Renewals not Work Permits Renewals and/or ID Card renewal)
Some applicants may be required to undergo one (1) repeat health screening depending on:
• the countries where they have resided, or
• the job category for which they are applying
Further details are available on the Health Screening for Renewal of Work Permit page.
Approval Process
• Once final clearance is granted by the doctor and IDCU staff, an automated email confirming “full clearance” will be sent to the email addresses provided in the application form. Please ensure that the correct email addresses are entered in the online form. Notification emails will only be sent to the email addresses provided.
• The employee may then proceed to Identità with a printed copy of the approval email.
• Appointments with Identità should only be booked after Health Screening approval has been received.
Responsibilities
Employer / HR Representative Responsibilities
Employers or HR representatives must ensure that:
• the application form is correctly completed and submitted
• all inputted information (e.g. email addresses, contact numbers, etc) is correct
• the consent/declaration form is signed and dated
• passport scans are clear and legible
• where the applicant is a food handlers that a clear and legible scan of the Food Handler’s card issued by the Food Safety Commission is uploaded (scans of both the front and back of the card containing the QR code are required)
Employee Responsibilities
Employees must:
• keep copies of all medical reports, blood test results, and vaccination records
• bring all required documents and identification to the health screening appointment
• provide accurate and honest information to the doctor during the health screening visit
Failure to comply with the above may result in the appointment not being completed.
Processing Times
Applications may take up to 15 working days to be processed from the date a correctly completed application is received.
Incomplete or incorrect applications may be returned for resubmission, resulting in delays or refusal of approval.
Requests for urgent processing will not be considered.