Malta Company Formation: The Complete 7-Step Checklist 2026

Setting up a company in Malta takes approximately one week if you know what you are doing and have your documentation in order. It takes considerably longer if you do not. The process itself is not complicated — but it has specific steps, a specific sequence, and specific requirements that catch people out when they are not prepared.

This is the complete checklist. Seven steps, in order, with the honest details of what each requires.

Step 1: Choose and Reserve Your Company Name

All Malta companies must end in "Limited" or "Ltd." Your chosen name must be unique — not identical or deceptively similar to an existing registered company. Submit a name reservation request to the Malta Business Registry (MBR) online platform.

Approval typically takes 1–2 working days. A reservation is valid for three months — sufficient time to complete the incorporation process. Cost: a small government fee.

Names containing regulated terms — "Bank," "Insurance," "Fund," "Trust," "Investment," and similar — require additional regulatory approval before reservation is granted. Plan for extended timelines if your company name falls into these categories.

Step 2: Complete Due Diligence

Before any incorporation documents are filed, your licensed Corporate Service Provider (CSP) conducts KYC/AML due diligence on all directors, shareholders, and Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs). Since March 2025, all MBR filings must go through a licensed CSP — you cannot file directly.

Required documentation for each UBO, director, and shareholder:

• Certified copy of valid passport or national ID
• Proof of residential address (utility bill or bank statement, typically within 3 months)
• Bank reference letter (for UBOs)
• Source of wealth declaration
• CV or professional background summary

Assembling this documentation is often the longest step in the process. Gather it before you start — do not wait until you need it.

Step 3: Deposit Share Capital

Minimum authorised share capital: €1,200. Minimum paid-up on incorporation: 20% (€240).

The share capital deposit must be made to a bank account — either a Malta bank account or, in some cases, an EU account — and a bank deposit certificate or bank statement confirming the deposit is required for the MBR filing. This is evidence of the paid-up capital, not a fee.

Practical note: opening a Maltese corporate bank account takes time (4–10 weeks). For share capital deposit purposes, an EU account held by a shareholder or director can typically be used, with the funds transferred to a Malta corporate account after incorporation.

Step 4: Draft and Sign the Memorandum and Articles of Association

The Memorandum and Articles of Association (M&A) is the company's constitutional document. It defines:

• Company name and registered office address in Malta
• Objects clause — what the company is permitted to do
• Authorised and issued share capital, share classes
• Names and details of founding shareholders and directors
• Company secretary appointment
• Governance rules — board meetings, voting rights, dividend policy

The objects clause deserves specific attention. Draft it broadly enough to cover all anticipated activities — changing the objects clause after incorporation requires a shareholder resolution and MBR filing. A narrow objects clause that does not cover your actual business activities creates compliance problems later.

Step 5: File with the Malta Business Registry

Your CSP submits all incorporation documentation — the M&A, declarations from directors and shareholders, proof of share capital deposit, and the registered office address — to the MBR through the online platform.

Government registration fee: €245 for share capital up to €1,500. Higher for larger share capital amounts.

MBR processing: 2–3 working days once a complete, correct application is submitted. If the application has errors or missing elements, it is returned for correction — which resets the timeline. Accuracy at submission matters.

Upon approval: the Certificate of Incorporation is issued. The company exists as a legal entity.

Step 6: Register for Tax and VAT

Register the company with the Commissioner for Revenue for income tax purposes and receive a Tax Identification Number (TIN). This happens after incorporation — not before.

VAT registration: mandatory if annual turnover will exceed €35,000 for services or €70,000 for goods. Voluntary registration is available below these thresholds and can be advantageous for B2B businesses that want to recover input VAT on Maltese expenses.

PE Number (employer registration with Jobsplus): required before engaging any employees or making social security contributions. Apply separately to Jobsplus after incorporation.

Step 7: Open Your Corporate Bank Account

With the Certificate of Incorporation in hand, the corporate bank account application can begin. The documents needed: Certificate of Incorporation, M&A, passport copies and bank references for all shareholders and directors, business description, and source of funds. Timeline: 4–10 weeks for standard businesses at traditional Maltese banks.

Use an EMI (Wise Business, Revolut Business) for immediate transacting while the traditional account processes. The two are not mutually exclusive and most businesses run both.