Many people are put off by the idea of moving to another country because they fear not being able to handle the bureaucracy involved, or they simply do not know where to start. It can be a bit daunting having to find your way around in a new country where the rules are different, but it is certainly not an impossible task. Especially with the Internet at hand, things have become much simpler, and there are many websites for expatriates providing information about the important things to consider when living in another country. In today’s article, I would like to point out a few things that might be of importance when you decide to move to Malta.
Registering and applying for a Maltese ID card
When you live in Malta for longer than three months and take up residence you are obliged to register for an ID card and the residence. If you are also starting a job here you will also need to apply for a Social Security number, which is often connected to obtaining the ID card. Depending on what you are doing in Malta you will need to hand in your documentation and the application. You can find more information about the required documents here. It will usually take around 8 weeks until you have your ID.
Finding a job
Starting a career in Malta can be a good option if you have sought-after skills. Especially the iGaming and finance industry are booming, and there are a lot of jobs in finance, IT, customer relations and administration. Many companies are also looking for people who are able to speak multiple languages. The probably most popular way of finding a job is to register with recruiting agencies. Most of the advertised vacancies are being published by recruiters, and you will find them in abundance. Betting Connections and Pentasia are for example two of the largest recruiting agencies for the iGaming industry, but there are many more. If you find a job through one of the agencies the commission will be paid by the employer, and you will not have to pay anything.
Renting an apartment
Malta’s property market is huge. More buildings are being built, and there are a lot of flats that are waiting for someone to move in. However, if you want to live cheaply in a popular area, it will be more difficult in the summer months, as the island gets more crowded with people moving to Malta for the season. The best time of year to look for a nice flat is in autumn or winter. It is common to rent apartments through estate agencies, and there are a large number of agencies advertising flats. However, do not trust what they show you on the website, these properties are usually just for reference. You should contact the estate agencies and give them information about what you are looking for, and they will tell you what they have available. When renting a flat through an estate agent you will also have to pay the agency fee of usually 50% of a monthly rent plus VAT.
