Company Formation in Malta
Open a company in Malta with our all-in-one service packages. Your Maltese company, key in hands, in one week!
- Low tax rates within the EU
- Versatile offshore, non-tax haven jurisdiction
- Fast set-up (from 1 week)
- Highly popular for business
Consulting team dedicated into advising the best suitable jurisdiction for your project.
Corporate professional with over 8 years of experience in Crypto, FinTech, AI and SaaS
Service packages for incorporation in Malta
Ready to start your Maltese business? Find out more about our ready-made packages to pick off the shelf and get going in no time!
Consulting team dedicated into advising the best suitable jurisdiction for your project.
+44 20 4577 0974
Corporate professional with over 8 years of experience in Crypto, FinTech, AI and SaaS
+44 20 4577 0974
Request information on company formation in Malta: cost, process and requirements.
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Initial consultation
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Turnkey Company Formation
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Company contact person
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Registered legal company address for 1 year
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Remote incorporation
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Notary Services
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Company Secretary
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Nominee Shareholder
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Nominee director
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Accounting for 1 year
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Long-term POA
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Apostilled set of documents
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Additional legal support
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Corporate Account
Turnkey company formation, Everything you need to get off the ground. Start now!
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Initial consultation
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Turnkey Company Formation
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Company contact person
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Registered legal company address for 1 year
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Remote incorporation
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Notary Services
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Company Secretary
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Nominee Shareholder
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Nominee director
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Accounting for 1 year
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Long-term POA
-
Apostilled set of documents
-
Additional legal support
-
Corporate Account
Full turnkey company formation and support in all necessary aspects. Customized pricing!
-
Initial consultation
-
Turnkey Company Formation
-
Company contact person
-
Registered legal company address for 1 year
-
Remote incorporation
-
Notary Services
-
Company Secretary
-
Nominee Shareholder
-
Nominee director
-
Accounting for 1 year
-
Long-term POA
-
Apostilled set of documents
-
Additional legal support
-
Corporate Account
Getting started with Ltd company registration in Malta
Malta is a European jurisdiction, member state of the EU, nearby the Italian island of Sardinia. Malta is famous for its very advantageous business and tax conditions, making it a sort of “white offshore” jurisdiction and a haven for multiple businesses operating in the European Economic Area (EEA).
- Advantages
- Duration
- Process
- Taxes
- Requirements
The advantages of choosing company formation in Malta for business
Malta is one of the most popular jurisdiction in the EU for business, along with Cyprus. Malta shines on about every level, when it comes to discerning its advantages as a jurisdiction for registering a company.
The effective taxation ranging from 0% to 10% (or 15% in certain cases) makes it the lowest taxed jurisdiction in Europe and in the European Economic Area.
With a complete setup process is just one week, Malta company registration is hard to beat. Entrepreneurs with an idea necessitating an immediate move are often relying on a Maltese Ltd to get started without delays.
This is due to the overall simplicity of forming a company in Malta. It is as simple to manage from anywhere in the world, as it is to form in the first place. Malta actually beats quite a few offshore jurisdictions, when it comes to being easy to operate remotely.
Being a member state of the EU and the ground of highly qualified regulators, Malta can be your gate to high potential activities. Crypto entrepreneurs may want to learn about the MiCA CASP license in Malta, while the Maltese gambling license is the most famous gaming framework for online casinos and betting platforms in the EU.
All in all, those are the sure signs of a jurisdictions that heavily leans in favour of business. The whole country's flourishing economy is due to incentivizing entrepreneurs and companies to choose Malta as their headquarter. Incorporating in Malta becomes a no-brainer, given the well-rounded and simple nature of this pro-business jurisdiction, and all its advantages for multiple industries.
How long does it take to form a company in Malta?
Registering a company in Malta is very fast. Provided that the entrepreneurs have properly handed out the necessary documents, one (1) week is enough to incorporate a Maltese Limited Liability Company. In theory, it could even be less. With the prompt assistance of a partner such as LegalBison, the whole process can be as short as just a few days, but depends on a few factors that aren't all in our (or your) control. Hence the affirmation that 1 week is generally speaking an average.
Procedure to prepare the registration of a company in Malta
Limited company formation in Malta is notoriously simple. The requirements in terms of documents to provide are as one would expect, and the procedure simply requires their proper presentation to the Maltese Business Registry (MBR). The review itself takes up to 2 days, after which the newly formed company is granted with its Certificate of Incorporation.
Making things as simple as possible, LegalBison manages the whole process for you. Our experts assists with the preparation and gathering of the few necessary documents, and conduct the whole registration procedure on your behalf. Our expertise ensures the smooth conduct of the business registration in Malta. You can sit back and receive your company documents in a just a few days!
How much tax will my Maltese company pay?
Malta has a refund-based taxation system. The base rate is then subject to potentially important refunds, eventually reaching very low effective tax rates.
This system was designed to benefit non-resident shareholders of Maltese companies.
The mechanism works as follows:
- The Maltese company earns a profit and pays the 35% corporate tax;
- The company distributes the remaining profits as a dividend to its shareholders (can be a single person);
- Upon receiving the dividend, the non-resident shareholder is entitled to claim a refund of the tax that the company originally paid.
Other refunds exists to lower the effective tax burden of Maltese companies. For example:
- The 6/7th refund, for trading activities;
- The 5/7th refund, for investments and passive incomes;
- The 2/3rd refund, for income sourced from abroad.
A LegalBison expert can let you know about the likely income tax rate applicable to your new company registered in Malta. For a ballpark estimation, most businesses range between 0% and 10% of effective tax rate.
Required documents to provide to register a company in Malta
The requirements to form a company in Malta are basic.
The new company shall decide on its board and ownership structure, even if it has a single individual as both the director and shareholder. Individuals on the board, shareholders and ultimate beneficial owners (UBO) should fulfill a basic KYC check (Know Your Customer) consisting of a few documents:
- Certified ID document;
- Recent proof of residence;
- Proposed company names;
At the incorporation stage, Memorandum of Association will be duly prepared by LegalBison as your trusted partner.
There is a share capital requirement for Limited companies in Malta, set at 1,165 EUR. Only 20% of this amount has to be paid up (233 EUR) for the company to be successfully registered.
LegalBison offers to handle the complete structuration of your incorporation file for you to simply provide basic documents and get a notification once your company is registered in Malta.
Meet our clients, hear what they say about LegalBison
Very proactive, responsive, and able to provide solutions and advice. The firm is familiar with the new industry of blockchain and cryptocurrency
Best company for Crypto Licenses! Kudos to the team for making the incorporation of our company really smooth
The team of LegalBison was very helpful and fast in supporting my company’s structural set up. They are undoubtedly top-level experts when it comes to licensing and registrations in the crypto and web3 industry. Highly recommend!
Popular business models for companies registered in Malta
Holding Companies in Malta
Malta is a very interesting jurisdiction for setting up a holding company. Notwithstanding its easiness of formation and operation, Maltese holdings benefit from a massive tax incentive: the Participation Exemption.
Under this regime, Maltese holding companies can receive dividends and capitals gains from the companies under its ownership (provided it owns at least 5% of them) without being subject to tax. This means that tax consolidation of a group with its holding entity in Malta saves a considerable amount of money in taxes, legally, and in the European Union of all places.
Crypto and gambling companies in Malta
Malta being a forward-thinking jurisdiction for business, it also provides the opportunity to shape the future of finance, with financial authorizations for regulated activities.
The MiCA regulation is now applicable to all the European Union in regards to cryptocurrency businesses. Malta was on the starting blocks to offer CASP registration to entrepreneurs, and has already secured a good share of promising crypto companies within the MiCA framework.
Way before the advent of cryptocurrency as a flourishing business, Malta was already popular for its gambling license. It remains true as of today, as it is the top EU jurisdiction for setting up online games such as an online casino.
Both the MiCA and gambling license may even be secured by a single Maltese entity to develop and offer GameFi services.
Intellectual Property and Patent holding in Malta
Innovative companies and inventors are often seduced by the Patent Box Regime of Malta. Under this regime, companies benefit from a major tax deduction on income derived from qualifying IP, reducing the effective tax rate to as low as 2,5%. In combination with the absence of dividends and capital gains taxes as a holding, this makes Maltese companies a valuable asset for tax planning.
It stands insisting that such advantages are a rarity within the European Union (and even within the European Economic Area), making Malta even more valuable.
International Trade and e-commerce in Malta
This may sound obvious to anyone familiar with the advantageous tax regime of Malta for companies. The Mediterranean island is a great pick for trading companies and to set up an e-commerce headquarter. Not just for the low taxation, but for the easiness of opening and managing a legal entity in Malta.
Consulting services with a company in Malta
A company registered in Malta is ideal for operating any business that does not require a logistical or physical installment in a given place at a given time.
This means that professions such as consulting, freelance for IT, etc, are popular activities among companies registered in Malta. Given the low effective tax rate, the quickness and easiness of opening a Limited company in Malta, and the low cost and time effort to manage one.
- Holding Company
- FinTech
- Patent
- International Trade
- Consulting
Holding Companies in Malta
Malta is a very interesting jurisdiction for setting up a holding company. Notwithstanding its easiness of formation and operation, Maltese holdings benefit from a massive tax incentive: the Participation Exemption.
Under this regime, Maltese holding companies can receive dividends and capitals gains from the companies under its ownership (provided it owns at least 5% of them) without being subject to tax. This means that tax consolidation of a group with its holding entity in Malta saves a considerable amount of money in taxes, legally, and in the European Union of all places.
Crypto and gambling companies in Malta
Malta being a forward-thinking jurisdiction for business, it also provides the opportunity to shape the future of finance, with financial authorizations for regulated activities.
The MiCA regulation is now applicable to all the European Union in regards to cryptocurrency businesses. Malta was on the starting blocks to offer CASP registration to entrepreneurs, and has already secured a good share of promising crypto companies within the MiCA framework.
Way before the advent of cryptocurrency as a flourishing business, Malta was already popular for its gambling license. It remains true as of today, as it is the top EU jurisdiction for setting up online games such as an online casino.
Both the MiCA and gambling license may even be secured by a single Maltese entity to develop and offer GameFi services.
Intellectual Property and Patent holding in Malta
Innovative companies and inventors are often seduced by the Patent Box Regime of Malta. Under this regime, companies benefit from a major tax deduction on income derived from qualifying IP, reducing the effective tax rate to as low as 2,5%. In combination with the absence of dividends and capital gains taxes as a holding, this makes Maltese companies a valuable asset for tax planning.
It stands insisting that such advantages are a rarity within the European Union (and even within the European Economic Area), making Malta even more valuable.
International Trade and e-commerce in Malta
This may sound obvious to anyone familiar with the advantageous tax regime of Malta for companies. The Mediterranean island is a great pick for trading companies and to set up an e-commerce headquarter. Not just for the low taxation, but for the easiness of opening and managing a legal entity in Malta.
Consulting services with a company in Malta
A company registered in Malta is ideal for operating any business that does not require a logistical or physical installment in a given place at a given time.
This means that professions such as consulting, freelance for IT, etc, are popular activities among companies registered in Malta. Given the low effective tax rate, the quickness and easiness of opening a Limited company in Malta, and the low cost and time effort to manage one.
Full Process: Incorporation of a company in Malta
Starting a business in Malta with LegalBison is a breeze. We streamlined our expertise and services to ensure a seamless experience, from consultation to getting to the actual business. Below is how it looks like, divided in three stages: preparation, incorporation and banking.
PREPARATION FOR COMPANY REGISTRATION IN MALTA
This short stage is the only one where you will be implied in the process. With the assistance of your dedicated legal expert, you will provide the necessary documents and information to prepare for a smooth incorporation.
REGISTRATION OF YOUR COMPANY IN MALTA
Once you and your dedicated LegalBison consultant have properly prepared the incorporation documents, we take it from there. Our fast tracked network to the Malta Business Registry (MBR) allows us to get a fast registration for you. You can be provided with your documents package in just a few days. And then, you are already set for business.
OPENING OF A CORPORATE ACCOUNT FOR YOUR COMPANY IN MALTA
How could you get to business without a bank account? Opening an account in a banking institution can be tricky for a company located abroad. LegalBison’s services assist you with meeting trusted banking solutions and to carry on with the opening of an account, whether it is for B2B or B2C business. Or both.
Now available: ready-made companies in Malta
Let’s jump into business right away! Either because time is money or because your activity requires a company with history, LegalBison can provide you with existing, active or passive companies registered in Malta. Contact our consulting team and inquire about our available shelf companies in Malta.
Information on company registration in Malta
Wise entrepreneurs always ask the right questions. To save you time, below are answers to common questions pertaining to doing business with a company registered in Malta.
Is the Malta Business Registry public and available for consultation?
The website of the Malta Business Registry (MBR) is the online portal for all entrepreneurs whose company is registered in Malta.
The registry of companies registered in Malta is publicly available on the internet for a fee, and includes the following information:
- Full names of the company’s directors;
- Full names of the company’s shareholders;
- The official correspondence address provided for these individuals;
- The company’s Memorandum & Articles of Association;
- Filed annual returns and annual accounts.
What are the accounting and auditing rules in Malta for Limited liability companies?
Every year, a company registered in Malta has to report to the Malta Business Register (MBR):
- Annual return in a specified form (up to 42 days after the end of the annual period);
- A copy of the annual accounts (up to 10 months after the end of the annual period);
- A report from an auditor and from the directors.
The filing is done online, through the web portal of the Malta Business Register.
Financial statements are to be audited by a certified public auditor every year. Managing the audit procedure is taken care of by LegalBison’s team in Malta, as included in our corporate services.
What are the residential requirements in Malta?
There are no residential requirements to establish a LLC in Malta.
- A registered address is the only requirement;
- The company needs to have a director and a company secretary. They need to be two different persons. None of them needs to reside in Malta.
LegalBison offers help with all of the above requirements. We assist and are local on ground. Speak now for free with one of our consultants to get your business started.
Privacy of directors and shareholders in Malta
Directors and shareholders of a company registered in Malta are disclosed to the public in the Malta Business Register (paid consultation). Nominee shareholders are legal, but in certain circumstances that are framed by law and only available to certain activities authorized by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). It is more accurate to talk about regulated transparency than secrecy.
- Passport copies (a scan) of all individuals above, also beneficiary owner if applicable
- A Power of Attorney (in case of a remote company registration)
- Certified company documents (in case at least one of the shareholders is going to be a foreign company)
- 3 options of your desired name for the company and a company contact email address
- Names, addresses and emails of all shareholders and board members
- Short description of your companies’ activity
- The whole incorporation process can be conducted remotely. No travel necessary. Notarization of documents is necessary
- A Power of Attorney (POA) from (all) partners is needed
- The POA is sent to you by us based on the services you want
- You have to certify the POA by a notary and in some cases legalize it by apostille (some countries need full legalization)
- Once you have the POA on your hands, we double-check, and you send us the original form (physical document!) via courier to our address
- Malta is part of the Hague Convention of the Apostille
Every year, a company registered in Malta has to report to the Malta Business Register (MBR):
- annual return in a specified form, a copy of the annual accounts & a report from an auditor and from the directors
The filing is done online, no more than 10 years after the end of the financial period of the company. For small companies answering two of the following three criteria, auditing the accounts is not mandatory:
- Balance sheet total under 46,600 EUR /OR/ turnover under EUR 93,000 /OR/ 2 employees (as an average) during the accounting period
What are the residential requirements in Malta?
There are no residential requirements to establish a LLC in Malta.
- A registered address is the only requisit
- The company needs to have a director and a company secretary. They need to be two different persons. None of them needs to reside in Malta
LegalBison offers help with all of the above requirements. We assist and are local on ground. Speak now for free with one of our consultants to get your business started.
Alternatives to company registration in Malta
Company Formation in Cyprus
from 1.950 €-
0% taxation of dividends
-
Top jurisdiction
-
Not considered offshore
Company Formation in Labuan
from 2.500 €-
Very low taxation
-
Quick and easy to set-up
-
Considered as a Malaysian company
Company Formation in Bahrain
from 3.300 €-
Fast growing economy
-
0% taxes (except oil business)
-
Business friendly environment
Company Formation and Business Setup in UAE
from 3.000 €-
Competitive taxation
-
Trusted and growing
-
Easy to incorporate
Company Formation in Estonia
from 450 €-
Fast incorporation
-
0% tax on undistributed income
-
Entirely remote
Company Formation in Costa Rica
from 2.350 €-
Tax-free
-
Discretion of board members
-
Not listed as a tax haven!
Company Formation in Hong Kong
from 750 €-
Ideal offshore jurisdiction
-
Advantageous taxation
-
Fast and cheap process
About company registration in Malta
The cost of company registration in Malta can vary depending on multiple factors. The most important one is your project and its main characteristics. Contact us today and we will calculate the price for you while taking into account the particularities of your business.
Malta is not considered a tax haven by the OECD and the EU. Note that Malta was added to the FATF greylist in June 2021. Contact us for more information on the implications.
Malta’s Virtual Financial Asset Framework did provide a regulated environment for cryptocurrency businesses. You can read more information about the Crypto License in Malta.
From 2025 on, this framework has been overturned by the MiCA regulation in the European Union. Crypto projects are now able to apply for a MiCA (CASP) License in Malta with LegalBison’s assistance.
Depending on your planned activity, our experts will help you open an account in the most suitable bank for your business. Get in touch and describe your project thoroughly to learn where to open a bank account for your company in Malta.
Once you decide to open your business in Malta, you will have to follow the local incorporation requirements. They include the company’s name, business plan, information on key shareholders and employees, and a share capital, to name a few. Professionals at LegalBison can arrange everything for you on the first demand.
The usual timeline is 5-10 working days. However, it can be done remotely in approximately 2 weeks. The timeframe may vary depending on your particular project and demands, so it’s better to contact us for a more precise estimation.
Contact Us
Contact us today for detailed information about the cost of Malta company formation, special requirements, and the duration of the process.
Our legal and compliance experts will guide you on how to register a company in Malta, while taking into account the needs of your project. We promise an individual approach and detailed guidelines on how to start your business in Malta.
Consulting team dedicated into advising the best suitable jurisdiction for your project.
Corporate professional with over 8 years of experience in Crypto, FinTech, AI and SaaS
