Malta Work Visa: Convert Internship Visa to Work Permit

"No, it is not normally possible to convert an internship visa to a work visa while staying in Malta.

Here’s a clear breakdown:

❌ Not allowed:

Malta’s immigration rules state that if you are in the country on a visa that doesn’t permit employment (like an internship, study, or tourist visa), you cannot directly switch to a work visa or Single Permit from within Malta.

You must leave Malta and apply for the Single Permit (work + residence visa) from your home country or from abroad through your Maltese employer.

✅ Exception (rare cases):

If your internship was officially sponsored by a Maltese employer and they later decide to hire you full-time, they can start a new Single Permit application for you.

However, you’ll usually need to exit Malta once your internship ends and re-enter after your work permit is approved.

???? Advice:

If your employer in Malta wants to hire you, ask them to apply for a Single Permit while you are still on your internship.

Once approved, you can travel back to Malta under the new work visa."