Residency permits for third country nationals employed in the public health sector will be valid for three years as opposed to just one year under a new agreement which was reached between the government and the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN).
In a joint statement, the government and the MUMN announced that Identity Malta will start to issue residency permits which are valid for three years, as opposed to just one, to nurses and other professionals in the health sector employed in the public sector on an indefinite contract.
Family members, who constitute wife or husband, son or daughter, of the applicant employed in the public sector, will also be issued a three-year residency permit, as long as the application is filed together with that of the principal applicant.
Family members of sponsors who have a Long-Term Residence Permit will be issued a residency permit valid for five years, as these acquire a status of residence on the basis of L.S.217.06. In case this does not happen, they will have to renew their permit every three years.
Under the same agreement, employees hailing from countries outside the European Union and who are employed by the Government as nurses in other medical professions will also have the usual application fee substantially reduced.
These employees will start paying €250 for their work permit in their first year, with the permit being valid for three years; moreover, they will now start paying €82.50 for the card to be issued. This will replace the €27.50 fee payable annually for the card issuance.
The total sum will be €332.50 and will be paid once, instead of a total payment of €832.50 over the three-year period.
Identity Malta will also start processing applications which are filled in correctly and with all information and requested documents in a period of 15 working days from when it is submitted.
Once the application in question is approved and the card is ready for collection, the applicant will receive a letter by post to collect the card in person.
In case the employee’s work with the public sector is terminated, the measures listed above will no longer apply.
The agreement and the procedures set out in it are effective immediately.