What happened?
A fast-track Single Permit route for skilled third-country nationals who do not meet the KEI criteria.
Why does it matter?
work
Who is affected?
Skilled non-EU professionals and technical workers
What should you do?
Check SEI eligibility and application procedure
The Specialist Employee Initiative, or SEI, is an alternative fast-track route for highly skilled third-country nationals who satisfy the Single Permit rules but do not meet the Key Employee Initiative criteria.
Current eligibility includes a signed employment contract with a Maltese-registered company and a gross annual salary of at least €30,000. The applicant must hold either an MQF Level 6 or higher qualification directly related to the job, or a lower-level relevant qualification together with at least three years of directly related experience.
SEI applications are submitted by the employer through the Single Permit Online Portal. Identità currently states an expected processing time of 15 working days from complete submission. The listed application fee is €300.
The first permit is normally valid for one year and may be renewed for a longer period, up to three years, if the eligibility criteria and employment contract continue to cover the requested period.
Official SEI information: https://identita.gov.mt/expatriates-unit-main-page/noneu-nationals/employment-related-permits/highly-qualified-individuals/specialist-employee-initiative/