S.L. 217.27 Art. 3Applicability.    S.L. 420.05.   S.L. 217.22.  S.L. 217.05.         S.L. 217.21. 5 S.L. 452.82.

(1) These regulations shall apply to third-country nationals who apply to be admitted, or who have been admitted into the territory of Malta for the purpose of highly qualified employment in accordance with these regulations.

(2) These regulations shall not apply to third-country nationals:

(a) who seek international protection and are awaiting a decision on their status or who are beneficiaries of temporary protection in accordance with the Temporary Protection for

Displaced Persons (Minimum Standards) Regulations;

(b) who seek protection in accordance with Maltese legislation, international obligations or practice of another Member State and are awaiting a decision on their status, or who are beneficiaries of protection in accordance with Maltese legislation, international obligations or practice of another Member State;

(c) who apply to reside in Malta as researchers in accordance with the Conditions of Entry and Residence of

Third Country Nationals for the Purposes of Research, Studies, Training and Voluntary Service in the Mobility Project for Young People: Voluntary Projects Regulations;

(d) who enjoy European Union long-term resident status in accordance with the Status of Long-term Residents (Third Country Nationals) Regulations and exercise their right to reside in another Member State in order to carry out an economic activity in an employed or self-employed capacity;

(e) who enter Malta for commitments contained in an international agreement facilitating the entry and temporary stay of certain categories of trade and investment-related natural persons, with the exception of third-country nationals who have been admitted to the territory of Malta as intra-

corporate transferees in accordance with the Conditions of

Entry and Residence of Third Country Nationals in the Framework of an Intra-Corporate Transfer Regulations;

(f) whose expulsion has been suspended for reasons of fact or law;

(g) who are covered by the Posting of Workers in

Malta Regulations for the duration of their posting; or

(h) who under agreements between the European Union and the Member States on the one hand, and third countries on the other as nationals of those third countries, enjoy rights of free movement equivalent to those of European Union citizens.

(3) These regulations shall be without prejudice to the right to issue residence permits other than an EU Blue Card for the purpose of highly qualified employment. Such residence permits shall not confer a right of residence in other Member States as provided in these regulations.