S.L. 217.27 Art. 8EU Blue Card. 11 12 [S.L.

(1) Where a third-country national fulfils the criteria set out in regulation 4 and where no grounds for rejection pursuant to regulation 6 apply, he shall be issued with an EU Blue Card. The competent authority shall issue the third-country national with a visa to obtain an EU Blue Card.

(2) The competent authority shall set a standard period of validity for the EU Blue Card, which shall not be less than twenty-four

(24) months. If the EU Blue Card holder’s work contract covers a shorter period, the EU Blue Card shall be valid for at least the duration of the work contract plus three (3) months, but for not less than the standard period of twenty-four (24) months. However, if the period of validity of the EU Blue Card holder’s travel document is shorter than the period of validity of the EU Blue Card that would apply in accordance with this regulation, the EU Blue Card shall be valid at least for the period of validity of the travel document.

(3) (a) The EU Blue Card shall be issued by the competent authority in accordance with the uniform format laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002;

(b) the competent authority may indicate on the EU Blue Card the conditions for access to the labour market set out in regulation 13(1). The words "EU Blue Card" shall be entered in the space reserved for the "type of permit" in the residence permit.

(4) Where the competent authority issues an EU Blue Card to a third-country national who has been granted international protection by the International Protection Agency, the competent authority shall enter the following remark in the EU Blue Card issued to that third-country national, under the heading "Remarks": "International protection granted by Malta on [date]". Where Malta withdraws the international protection enjoyed by the EU Blue Card holder, it shall, where appropriate, issue a new EU Blue Card not containing that remark.

(5) Where an EU Blue Card is issued by the competent authority to a third-country national who is a beneficiary of international protection in another Member State, the competent authority issuing the EU Blue Card shall enter the following remark in the EU Blue Card issued to that third-country national, under the heading "Remarks": "International protection granted by [name of the Member State] on [date]":

Provided that before the competent authority enters that remark, it shall notify the Member State that is to be mentioned in that remark that it intends to issue the EU Blue Card and request that Member State to confirm that the EU Blue Card holder is still a beneficiary of international protection:

Provided further that the Member State that is to be mentioned in the remark shall reply not later than one (1) month after receiving the request for information. Where international protection has been withdrawn by a final decision, the competent authority issuing the EU Blue Card shall not enter that remark:

Provided further that where, in accordance with the relevant international instruments or applicable law, the responsibility for the international protection of the EU Blue Card holder was transferred to Malta after it issued an EU Blue Card in accordance with the first proviso, the competent authority shall amend the remark accordingly within three (3) months after the transfer.

(6) Where an EU Blue Card is issued by the competent authority on the basis of higher professional skills in occupations not listed in the Schedule, the competent authority issuing the EU Blue THIRD-COUNTRY NATIONALS FOR THE PURPOSE OF 217.27 HIGHLY QUALIFIED EMPLOYMENT

Card shall enter the following remark in that EU Blue Card, under the heading "Remarks": "[Occupation not listed in the Schedule]".

(7) During the period of its validity, the EU Blue Card shall entitle its holder to:

(a) enter, re-enter and stay in the territory of Malta; and

(b) enjoy the rights provided for in these regulations.