Social Security Number

Overview

A social security number (formerly N.I. number) registers individuals under the Social Security Act (Cap. 318) and is required for paying social security contributions. Employees have contributions deducted from their salary if you are employed, while self-employed persons pay directly to the Commissioner for Tax and Customs These contributions paid may entitle individuals to benefits under Act (Cap. 318), subject to eligibility conditions. More information on contribution categories and amounts employees and self-employed/self-occupied persons need to pay is available by clicking here.

Since October 2016, persons with a Maltese Identity Card (M, L, G, H) are no longer issued a separate social security number. However, employees and self-employed persons with a Maltese Residence Card ending in ‘A’, or those without a permanent Maltese Residence Card, are still issued a social security number.

As of July 2025, a new process with Jobsplus automates social security number requests. When an employer registers an Engagement Form with Jobsplus, employee details are sent to the Department of Social Security. If eligible, the employee receives a Social Security Number and Registration Certificate by post.

If, during this process, the employee does not possess a Maltese Residence Card, the system will automatically send an email to the applicant. This email will instruct the individual to either request a Maltese Residence Card through Identità and subsequently return to Jobsplus to update their employee details, or alternatively, to apply for a Social Security Number directly via the online application or call at a Servizz.gov centre.

Through the online application only the below list of workers can have their employer request a Social Security Number on their behalf:

Aircrew – A person who works as a flight crew or cabin crew member on an aircraft of which home base is located in Malta and is determined as subject to Maltese legislation according to EU Regulation 883/2004.

Seafarer – A person whose work activity as an employed or self-employed is normally pursued on board of a Maltese flagged vessel at sea and is determined as subject to Maltese legislation according to EU Regulation 883/2004.

Transport Worker – A person whose work activity as an employed or self-employed person is normally carried out in several Member States due to transport-related duties and is determined to be subject to Maltese legislation under EU Regulation 883/2004.

EU Cross-Border Worker – A person whose work activity as an employed or self-employed person involves a complex cross-border situation (i.e. a person residing in one EU Member State, but is involved in work activities, or transactions that cross the border into another EU Member State) and is determined as subject to Maltese legislation according to EU Regulation 883/2004.

EUNA – EU Nationals registered with a Maltese Employer.

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

What you’ll get

Persons who are in possession of a permanent Maltese Identity Card are automatically registered under the Social Security Act (CAP. 318) once they reach the age of sixteen (16) years. Persons who do not possess a permanent Maltese Identity Card and are between sixteen (16) years of age and pensionable age must register for a social security registration number. This number is issued only once and is valid throughout the applicant’s lifetime.

Those persons who have a valid Maltese Identity Card will receive their registration certificate automatically a few days before reaching the age of sixteen (16) years.

For those who do not have a permanent Maltese Residence Card and hence are required to make use of the online application, the registration certificate and social security number will be sent via the email address provided in the application once the insurance criteria are met. Such information will not be shared with other third parties unless covered by legislation or a data sharing agreement.

An application takes about two (2) weeks to be processed if the required documents are submitted as required.

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, and your employer is required to submit your employment form online through the Jobsplus Employer Online Services portal. The employer must make sure that 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. If you are still of compulsory school age, your parent or legal guardian must first apply for permission through the National School Support Services. Once approved, the application is sent to the Department of Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER) for their consent. DIER will email the employer and the parent or legal guardian with either the approval or rejection letter. In case of approval the employer must Sign-In to the Jobsplus website to submit the Jobsplus Engagement Form.
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 Residence Card. Once the Maltese Residence Card is issued and your Engagement Form is submitted by your employer to the Jobsplus Agency, your Social Security registration shall be re-submitted for processing.
Once your details are verified as correct, a certificate of registration will be issued.
If you are applying online, you will receive the certificate by email if your address is registered with the Department of Social Security for Notification purposes. Otherwise, you shall receive it by postal mail.
Although all foreign nationals employed in Malta are advised to apply for a Maltese Residence card, EU citizens who do not wish to apply for a Maltese Residence Card because of the Freedom of Movement Act, are advised to apply for the Social Security Number through the online application.

Documentation required

All EU Nationals Employed or Self-Employed, who do not possess a valid Maltese Identity Card:
- Copy of the work contract which shows that applicant will be carrying out an employed/self-employed activity in Malta from a speċifiċi date.

Citizens from Non-EU Countries who will be Employed.
- Copy of Work contract signed by the employer, showing starting date of employment, and that the applicant will be carrying out an employed/self-employed 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-Employed).
- 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-employed activity in Malta.

Citizens from Non-EU Countries (Self-employed).
- Copy of Employment-License.

Citizens from Non-EU Countries who hold a permit to work in Malta under one of the EU Directives.
- 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:
- Copy of Work Contract signed by the employer and showing starting date of employment.

Upon acquiring a Maltese Identity/Residence 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: contact-dss.gov.mt and if you have a valid Maltese Identity/ Residence Card, authenticate using your e-ID credentials. If you do not have a valid Maltese Identity/ Residence 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.

If no valid Maltese Identity/ Residence Card number is provided, both an email address and a passport number are required. This ensures you can be contacted and guided on how to obtain the Maltese Residence Card. Once the Maltese Residence Card is issued and passed to Jobsplus, the request will be resubmitted and the SSN will be generated.

It is therefore very important that once you are in possession of your Maltese Identity Card number, you should proceed to submit this number to Jobsplus to continue with your application for Maltese Social Security Registration, as directed below.

To inform Jobsplus of your new Maltese Identity Card number, please send an email to Jobsplus Social Security Registrations at: hriu.jobsplus@gov.mt, quoting your Passport number and your Maltese Identity Card number and any other reference used by Jobsplus.