Social Security Number

Overview

Historically, your social security number (N.I. number) is registered under the Social Security Act (Cap. 318.). It is used to pay social security contributions which are deducted from your salary if you are employed or by making payments to the Commissioner of Revenue if you are self-occupied. The social security contributions paid will entitle you for the social security benefits provided under the Social Security Act (Cap. 318.), subject to the entitlement conditions which exist for each type of benefit. You can find more information on the categories and amount of social security contributions employees and self-employed/self-occupied persons need to pay here.

As of October 2016, the social security number was removed for permanent Maltese Identity Card holders (with letters M, L, G, H). It will only be used for people that are are holders for a Maltese Identity Card number ending with an ‘A’ and for those not in possession of a permanent Maltese Identity Card. Nevertheless, those minors who are still students under sixteen (16) years of age and are in possession of a valid Maltese Identity Card (14+) but would like to work on temporary basis, are obliged to register for a social security number if the final compulsory scholastic year has not been completed, by attending to a Jobsplus centre.

The Social Security Act (Cap. 318.) provides that every person who is in a Maltese insurable employment or self-occupied or self-employment and is between the age of sixteen (16) and sixty-five (65) years is to be insured. This is automatically achieved when the person pays the social security contributions in Malta. Such a mandatory requirement renders every insured person eligible to claiming and receiving contributory social security benefits, including a retirement pension, subject to satisfying the minimum conditions of the benefit.

As of July 2025, a new process with Jobsplus has been initiated, whereby a person requesting a Maltese Social Security Number is to attend at Jobsplus Agency. Once a person’s Job Engagement Form is registered with Jobsplus, their details will be automatically transmitted digitally to the Social Security Department. If eligible, a Social Security Number will be issued in real time.

Only the persons indicated below need to register through the online application which verifies the validation of the Maltese Identity Card and Date of Birth of the applicant, while according to options chosen, specific information is required through the process accordingly. It is to be noted that employers will no longer be permitted to submit online applications on behalf of their employees. Employees must now apply on their own behalf using one of the following methods:

Their own e-ID account, if they hold a valid Maltese identity card.
Their eIDAS account, if they are EU citizens.
A Self-Registration account, if they are non-EU citizens.

In summary below are how you are being directed to apply for a Maltese Social Security Number:

If you are a minor between 14 and 16 years of age you need to attend to a Jobsplus centre.
If you are over 16 years of age and have a Maltese Identity Card number ending in ‘M’, ‘G’, ‘L’, ‘H’ or ‘A’ you need to attend to a Jobsplus centre.
If you are an Air Crew, Seafarer, Mariner, Transporter or an EU Cross-Border Situation citizen you need to register through the online application using the eIDAS authentication.
If you are a non-Maltese citizen but a European Union Citizen not holding a Maltese Identity Card issued by the Maltese government agency Identità and requesting to work in Malta, you either register through the online application using eIDAS authentication or attend to a Servizz.gov hub to fill your request on your behalf.
If you are a third-country national (TCN) requesting to work in Malta, you need to either apply online by authenticating by Self-Registration or attend personally at a Servizz.gov hub to apply on your behalf.
If you are an Asylum Seeking requesting to work in Malta, you need to attend personally to a Servizz.gov hub to fill your request on your behalf.

Note: Applying for a registration number for social security purposes does not necessarily mean that you will be registered automatically. Your insurability position will need to be determined by the Department of Social Security.

What you’ll get

Persons in possession of a permanent Maltese Identity Card ending with an M, G, L or H, will be automatically registered under the Social Security Act (Cap. 318.) once they have reached 16 years of age. Persons who are not in possession of a permanent Maltese Identity Card between the age of 16 and pension age need to apply for a social security registration number. This number is only issued once and is valid throughout the lifetime of the applicant.

Those in possession of a valid Maltese Identity Card will receive their registration certificate automatically a few days prior to their 16^th birthday.

For those not holding a valid Maltese Identity Card and making use of the online application authenticating with their own e-ID or eIDAS digital account, the registration certificate and social security number will be sent via the email address provided in the application once the insurability criteria are met. Such information will not be shared with other third parties unless covered by legislation or a data sharing agreement.

An application typically takes two (2) weeks to be processed if all accompanying documentation meet the requirements.

For more information on Social Security Contributions obligations, please click here.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria:

You are eligible for automatic issuance of a Social Security Number (SSN) if:

You are being engaged for employment through the Jobsplus Agency and have all the necessary documents at hand.
You do not already possess a Maltese Social Security Number.
You are at least fourteen (14) years of age. However, if you are still under 16, Jobsplus must confirm your eligibility via an EDU exemption through the National School Support Services.
Your personal details such as full name, date of birth, and nationality are correctly registered with the Identità Agency.
If your Jobsplus engagement includes a valid Maltese Identity Card number, a valid email address is to be provided.
If no valid Maltese Identity Card number is provided, both an email address and a valid passport number are required. This ensures you can be contacted and guided on how to obtain the Maltese Identity Card. Once the Maltese Identity Card is issued and you pass to the Jobsplus Agency, the request will be resubmitted and the Maltese Social Security Number will be generated accordingly.
Once your details are verified as correct, a certificate of registration will be created.
You will receive the certificate by email if your address is registered with the Department of Social Security for Notification purposes. Otherwise, it will be printed and sent to you.
For those EU citizens who insist that they do not want to apply for a Maltese Identity Card through the Freedom of Movement Act, they are directed to the Social Security Number online application.

Documentation required

All Maltese Nationals (except for Minors) holding a Maltese Identity Card number ending with M, G, L or H:
- These are automatically issued with the Social Security Number as explained above, so there is no need to apply or provide any documentation.

All Maltese Nationals who are minors between fourteen (14) and under sixteen (16) years of age, holding a Maltese Identity Card number ending with L or H):
- Those students who have not completed compulsory schooling (up to Form 5) and have not yet reached 16 years of age but would like to work, need to first submit an application to the Department of Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER). The application needs to be signed by the student’s parent/s or legal guardian/s and the prospective employer. Once the application is approved by the DIER, the National School Support Services (NSSS) then issue the School Exemption which in turn is sent to the parents or legal guardians of the student. Click here to download the School Exemption application and related procedures. Once all the documents are at hand, the student is to attend to a Jobsplus centre to apply for the Social Security number.
- A valid Maltese Identity Card is required to be shown for identification.
- A School Leaving Certificate and Profile or else a note signed by the Head of School confirming that student completed compulsary schooling.
- A School Exemption from the National School Support Services if the minor has not yet finished the final year of compulsary schooling and has also not yet reached 16 years of age. It is important that the School exemption letter is at hand prior to applying for the Social Security number.
- These minors are to attend to a Jobsplus centre for requesting issuance of their Social Security Number.

Non-Maltese EU Citizen holding a valid Maltese Identity Card ending with an ‘A’ and will be employed in Malta:
- Such individuals need to attend to a JobsPlus centre. A valid Maltese Identity Card is to be shown for identification.
- Copy of work contract, signed by the employer and showing the engagement date is required.

All EU Nationals Employed or Self-Occupied who do not possess a valid Maltese Identity Card:
- Such individuals are required to apply online by authenticating with their eIDAS accounts, to request the Social Security number. Such persons may include Sea Farers employed with a vessel holding a Maltese flag, Air Crew members, Transporters and for EU Cross-Border situations. These may not necesssarily be residing in Malta.
- A valid official identification showing a recent photo, issued from their country of origin and also a valid Passport.
- Copy of the work contract which shows that applicant will be carrying out an employed/self-occupied activity in Malta.

Citizens from Non-EU Countries who will be Employed.
- Such citizens need to attend to a Jobsplus centre if they are holders of a valid Maltese Identity Card. A valid Passport is also to be provided.
- Copy of Work contract signed by the employer and showing starting date of employment.or that the applicant will be carrying out an employed/self-occupied activity in Malta.
- Copy of Employment-License showing the RefCom number and is also referred to as ‘Work Permit’.

Citizens from Non-EU countries, married to Maltese citizen or married to an EU National (Employed/Self-Occupied).
- A valid Maltese Identity Card and also a valid Passport.
- Copy of letter from the Department of Citizenship and Expatriates, showing proof that the person can work or reside freely in Malta through the Freedom of Movement Act.
- Copy of Work Contract signed by the employer and showing starting date of employment or that the applicant will be carrying out an employed/self-occupied activity in Malta.

Citizens from Non-EU Countries (Self-occupied).
- A valid Maltese Identity Card and also a valid Passport.
- Copy of Employment-License.

Citizens from Non-EU Countries who hold a permit to work in Malta under one of the EU Directives.
- A valid Maltese Identity Card and a valid Passport.
- Copy of Work Contract signed by the employer and showing starting date of employment
- Copy of relevant permit to work in Malta under one of the EU Directives, which would be visible on the identification document of the applicant (or its equivalent certificate) which is issued by the Maltese government agency Identità.

Asylum Seeker working in Malta:
- Need to apply for a social security number through the online application using e-ID authentication or by attending to a Servizz.gov hub.

Upon acquiring a Maltese Identity Card number, individuals are required to promptly update their contact details held by the Department of Social Security. This includes providing a valid email address to enable the digital delivery of the Social Security Number certificate and other relevant correspondence related to the Department of Social Security. To access the service to update the Contact Details, you need to enter the URL in the web browser: and authenticate using your e-ID credentials if you have a valid Maltese Identity Card. If you do not have a valid Maltese Identity Card then you either need to go to the URL in the web browser: contactdss.gov.mt and from the drop-down list choose ‘Contact Details’ to update your contact details or else you can attend personally to a Servizz.gov hub to update your contact details on your behalf.