S.L. 217.27 чл. 15Family members. S.L. 217.06. 17  S.L. 217.06.  S.L. 217.06.  S.L. 217.06.  S.L. 217.06. S.L. 217.06. S.L. 217.06.       Cap. 452. S.L. 217.06. 18 [S.L.

(1) The provisions of the Family Reunification

Regulations shall apply, subject to the derogations laid down in this regulation.

(2) By way of derogation from regulation 3(1) and regulation 13 of the Family Reunification Regulations, family reunification shall not be made dependent on the EU Blue Card holder having reasonable prospects of obtaining the right of permanent residence, holding a residence permit for a period of validity of one (1) year or more, or having a minimum period of residence.

(3) By way of derogation from regulations 4(1) and (2) and

14(3) of the Family Reunification Regulations, the integration conditions and measures referred to therein may be applied, but only after the persons concerned have been granted family reunification.

(4) By way of derogation from regulation 9 of the Family

Reunification Regulations, where the conditions for family reunification are fulfilled and the complete applications were submitted simultaneously, the decisions on the applications of family members shall be adopted and notified at the same time as the decision on the application for an EU Blue Card. Where the family members join the EU Blue Card holder after the EU Blue Card has been granted and where the conditions for family reunification are fulfilled, the decision shall be adopted and notified as soon as possible but not later than ninety (90) days after the date of submission of the complete application. Sub-regulations (2) and (3) shall apply accordingly.

(5) By way of derogation from regulation 14(2) of the

Family Reunification Regulations, the duration of validity of the residence permits of family members shall be the same as that of the EU Blue Card insofar as the period of validity of their travel documents allow it.

(6) By way of derogation from regulation 15(b) of the Family Reunification Regulations, the competent authority shall not apply any time limit in respect of access to the labour market for family members.

(7) By way of derogation from regulation 15 of the Family

Reunification Regulations, and without prejudice to the restrictions referred to in regulation 13(8), family members shall have access to any employment, and to self-employed activity in accordance with applicable requirements in accordance with the Employment and

Industrial Relations Act and the regulations made thereunder.

(8) By way of derogation from regulation 16 of the Family

Reunification Regulations, for the purposes of calculation of the duration of residence required for the acquisition of an autonomous residence permit, residence in different Member States shall be cumulated. The competent authority may require two (2) years of legal THIRD-COUNTRY NATIONALS FOR THE PURPOSE OF 217.27 HIGHLY QUALIFIED EMPLOYMENT

and continuous residence in the territory of the Member State where the application for the autonomous residence permit is submitted immediately prior to the submission of the relevant application.

(9) This regulation shall not apply to family members of EU Blue Card holders who are beneficiaries of the right to free movement under Union law in Malta.

(10) This regulation shall apply to family members of EU Blue Card holders who are beneficiaries of international protection only when those EU Blue Card holders reside in a Member State other than the Member State which granted them international protection.

(11) Where the competent authority issues residence permits for the purpose of highly qualified employment, they shall grant EU Blue Card holders and their family members the same rights as those granted to holders of residence permits and their family members where such rights are more favourable than those provided for in this regulation.