HEALTH SCREENING FOR WORK PERMITS NEW APPLICATIONS
It is important for all employees to keep a copy of the Medical Reports and Vaccination cards for future reference.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all requested vaccinations are completed prior to renewal of work permit.
We encourage you to follow the guidelines available on the application forms and on this website. Any queries are to be directed to workpermitqueries.idcu@gov.mt
PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATION
a. Download the appropriate form according to the job applying for;
b. Fill in the form in typed or BLOCK LETTERS;
c. Ensure the applicant carries out all the required investigations as outlined in the application form. Requested health screening investigations are to be done locally in the PRIVATE SECTOR
d. Ensure that the form is DULY COMPLETED by both employer, applicant, and Medical Doctor.
e. In the email’s subject box, list down the applicant’s name and job applying for e.g., Patel Singh – Food Handler. This will help in processing.
f. The employer is to send the completed health screening application form only, as ONE (1) PDF document to workpermit.idcu@gov.mt
g. Only ONE (1) application per email will be accepted for processing
WHO SHOULD FILL THE HEALTH SCREENING FOR WORK PERMITS APPLICATION FORM?
1. Applicants who were born or have lived for 6 months or more in a country reported as high-risk for tuberculosis
All applicants who were born or have lived for 6 months or more in a country reported as high-risk for tuberculosis (see attached list) need to complete the Health Screening for Work Permit application form. All requested health screening should be carried out at a local private clinic. The form needs to be duly filled by a private medical doctor and emailed on workpermit.idcu@gov.mt
2. Beauty therapists, beauticians, spa therapists, massage therapists; Carers, Child carers; Nannies; Dental Chairside assistants, dental assistants; Doctors, Dentists, Midwives, Nurse; other Regulated Healthcare Professions; Tattooists.
Applicants who are applying for the above-mentioned jobs, need to complete the Health Screening for Work Permit application form, irrespective if they come from a country reported as high-risk for tuberculosis or not. All requested health screening should be carried out at a local private clinic. The form needs to be duly filled by a private medical doctor and emailed on
workpermit.idcu@gov.mt
3. Food Handlers
All applicants working as Food Handlers (those engaged in the preparation, manufacturing, and treatment of a food business and who handle or prepare food intended for human consumption, in terms of the Food Safety Act and Subsidiary Legislation 449.27) need to fill the health screening for work permits application form.
WHO SHOULD NOT FILL THE HEALTH SCREENING FOR WORK PERMIT APPLICATION FORM?
Applicants coming from countries where the incidence of Tuberculosis is not high and are applying for the following jobs, DO NOT need to apply for health screening approval and can go directly to Identity Malta for work permit approval.
a. Administrative jobs
b. Construction / Manual workers
c. Footballers
d. Hairdresser / makeup artists
e. Working in transport
f. Cleaners / Housekeepers
g. Security guards
CHANGE OF JOB
If an employee is changing jobs, she/he may still need to reapply for a new work permit and additional investigations might be required. Chest x-rays are only accepted if taken within 1 year from date of this application. Other blood investigations are accepted if taken within 2 years from date of this application
CHANGE OF EMPLOYER
If within 6 months of work permit approval, the employee is changing employer but keeping the same type of job, there is no need to reapply for health screening.
If after 6 months of work permit approval, the employee changes employer, the applicant needs to reapply for health screening approval. The application form for first time applicants needs to be used and the box ‘change of employer’ marked.
HEALTH SCREENING
Chest X-Ray – To be done locally in the private sector
A Chest X-Ray is required if;
a) Applicant was born in a country with high-incidence of Tuberculosis (TB) as per
list attached
b)
Applicant has lived for 6 months or more in a country with high-incidence of Tuberculosis (TB) as per
list attached
Applicants who were born or have spent 6 months or more in a country reported as High Risk for TB, need to take a chest X-Ray within the last 6 weeks prior to submitting application form.
Applicants who are unable to take a chest X-Ray in view of pregnancy, need to specify the gestation weeks on the application form. We will then guide you accordingly.
Any applicant who is re-applying to change job/employer, can use the same chest X-Ray if taken within the last year.
VACCINATIONS
Measles and Polio
All applicants need proof of measles and polio vaccinations. If these have not been taken at the country of birth, vaccines need to be taken locally. If proof of records is unavailable, applicant can take the blood test for IgG Measles to find out the immunity level against measles.
Both polio and measles vaccinations are available as combination vaccines. Kindly ensure that the administrated vaccine is the recommended preparation for adults. Vaccination schedules can be accessed through the following link
here.
Hepatitis A and Typhoid
Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccines are required by all applicants working as Food Handlers (those engaged in the preparation, manufacturing, and treatment of a food business and who handle or prepare food intended for human consumption, in terms of the Food Safety Act and Subsidiary Legislation 449.27).
Full course of Hepatitis A vaccination takes up to 6 months to be completed. The full course needs to be presented with the application form for renewal of work permit. Without it, renewal of work permit could not be issued.
Hepatitis B
Work permit applications for Doctors, Dentists, Midwives and Nurses will only be processed if applicant has taken at least the 1st and 2nd dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine. The full course needs to be taken before renewal is approved. Without it, renewal of work permit could not be issued.
Work permit applications for Other Regulated Healthcare Professionals; Beauty Therapists, Beauticians, Spa Therapists, Massage Therapists; Carers and Child Carers; Dental and Chairside Assistants; Nannies and Tattooists will only be processed if applicant has taken at least the 1st dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine. The full course needs to be taken before renewal is approved. Without it, renewal of work permit could not be issued.
COVID-19
Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) are not accepted for processing
New applicants arriving from Red List countries/Zone
Applicants with a valid vaccination certificate recognised by the Superintendent of Public Health with European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved vaccines, need to present a copy of the certificate with the application form instead of a SARS-CoV-2 test (RT-PCR) test.
Applicants who haven’t yet completed the Covid-19 vaccination schedule or who have opted not to receive the vaccine, need to present a negative SARS-CoV-2 test (RT-PCR) result. Test needs to be carried out in Malta at a local private clinic, within the last 72 hours from the date of the application. Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) are not accepted for processing.
New applicants arriving from Dark Red List countries/Zone
Applicants coming directly from the list of dark red countries, need to present a negative SARS-CoV-2 test (RT-PCR) at day 11/12 of the quarantine period in Malta. Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) are not accepted for processing.
Applicants who are changing job or employer, are strongly encouraged to complete the vaccination schedule for Covid-19 in Malta prior to applying for their work permit.
For a full list of recognised vaccine certificates, updated country list and further information, kindly visit
www.traveltomalta.gov.mt
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Vetting of applications may take up to 15 working days to be processed. Ensure that application forms are duly filled.
Only emails sent by the employers are accepted for processing. Employees cannot apply directly.
All applications need to be emailed as one (1) PDF document on
workpermit.idcu@gov.mt. If medical findings show abnormalities, a copy of the investigation report needs to be submitted together with the completed application form. We will then guide you accordingly.
Once the documentation has been reviewed, an approval email will be sent to the employer. With this email, the applicant can proceed to Identity Malta. Important to take a printed copy of the approval email with you.
If health screening is incomplete or results are unsatisfactory, approval may not be granted.
Application Forms can be downloaded from here:
Thank you for your co-operation,
Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Unit (IDCU)
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Directorate
Updated 02.2022