Malta Company Formation
Your EU Company, Set Up RemotelyRegister a Malta limited liability company with a ~5% effective corporate tax rate and full EU single market access. Our MFSA-licensed team handles every step of the registration, entirely remotely, in 3 to 7 business days.
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No commitment. We identify the right structure and services before anything is filed.
Malta Company Formation Process in 5 Steps
Your Malta company is incorporated entirely remotely. No local director required, 100% foreign ownership permitted, and every submission handled by Equitrust Group's MFSA-licensed team directly with the Malta Business Registry. Incorporation is complete in 3 to 7 business days. Full operational status depends on your banking setup.
Choose Your Structure
We assess your business model, target markets, tax position in your home country, and whether you need regulated EU activity or a holding vehicle. You leave with a confirmed structure: Private Limited Company, Holding Company, Branch, or PLC. If your activity requires a sector licence (iGaming via the MGA, fintech or e-money via the MFSA), we flag this at the outset. Licensing is a separate process that runs alongside company formation, not inside it.
Reserve Your Name and Prepare Your Documents
We check name availability with the Malta Business Registry (formerly the Maltese Registry of Companies) and reserve your chosen name for up to three months. We then prepare every incorporation document: the Memorandum and Articles of Association, Form K1 (director consent), Form BO1 (beneficial ownership declaration), and certified KYC for all directors, shareholders, and UBOs. Document completeness at this stage determines how fast everything moves.
File with the Malta Business Registry
We submit your file electronically via the BAROS platform, the MBR’s official digital filing system. Electronic submissions are processed in 24 to 72 hours. Your Certificate of Incorporation is issued within 3 to 7 business days of a complete file. This certificate is the legal birth of your Maltese company.
Register for Tax and VAT
We handle your application for a Tax Identification Number with the Office of the Commissioner for Revenue and a PE number. If your projected turnover exceeds the Maltese VAT threshold or you are supplying EU B2B services, we submit your VAT registration in parallel. This step takes 3 to 7 business days and completes your company’s standing as a fully compliant Maltese legal entity.
Open Your Corporate Bank Account
Banking is the most variable step in the Malta formation process. We introduce your file to the right option for your profile: a traditional Maltese bank (BOV, HSBC Malta, MeDirect) for full local banking presence, or an EMI provider (Revolut Business, Wise Business, Verifo) for faster onboarding and immediate EU IBAN access. Traditional bank onboarding typically runs 4 to 10 weeks due to AML and KYC checks. Most founders open an EMI account first to begin operations while the traditional bank application progresses.
Why Choose Malta for Company Formation
~5% effective corporate tax on trading income. Not a flat rate. A 35% statutory charge offset by a 6/7ths shareholder refund, fully EU-legal and fully OECD-compliant. On €1,000,000 in profit, that is approximately €75,000 saved per year versus Ireland or Cyprus.
80 double tax treaties covering the UK, Germany, France, the US, UAE, Singapore, and China. Full access to the EU Parent-Subsidiary Directive and the Interest and Royalties Directive. No withholding tax on dividends, interest, or royalties paid to non-residents.
Certificate of Incorporation issued in 3 to 7 business days via the BAROS digital filing platform. Entire process handled remotely by Equitrust Group's MFSA-licensed team. No travel to Malta required.
€1,164.69 minimum share capital. Only 20% paid up at incorporation. 100% foreign ownership. No local director required. No exchange controls.
Full EU member since 2004. English is an official language. A Maltese company registered under the Companies Act trades freely across the EU single market of 500 million consumers. No passporting restrictions, no third-country status.
3,376 new companies registered in 2024 (Malta Business Registry). Over 75,000 entities active. Over 95% of new formations choose the Private Limited Company structure. Malta is not an emerging jurisdiction, it is an established one.
OECD-compliant. FATF-clean. EU whitelist. Malta exited the FATF grey list in June 2022. Your structure holds up to scrutiny from any foreign bank, tax authority, or institutional counterparty.
Since 2025, Malta offers an alternative to the standard refund system. Under FITWI (Final Income Tax Without Imputation), companies pay a flat 15% corporate tax with no subsequent refund mechanism. For founders who prefer predictable tax costs over the refund cycle, FITWI provides a simpler path. The two regimes are mutually exclusive and the choice requires qualified tax advice.
Ready to incorporate in Malta?
Get a free assessment based on your activity and nationality.
Who Is This For?
EU founders and remote entrepreneurs
Consultants, SaaS operators, and e-commerce businesses based in Europe looking for a fully compliant EU company with a ~5% effective tax rate on trading income and full single-market access.
This is my profile →UK entrepreneurs post-Brexit
UK-based founders who lost their EU passporting rights after Brexit and need a credible EU entity to contract, invoice, and operate across European markets without third-country friction.
This is my profile →iGaming and fintech operators
Licensed gaming operators, payment service providers, and crypto businesses seeking Malta's MGA or MFSA regulatory framework, the most established licensing environment in the EU for these sectors.
This is my profile →International holding and wealth structuring
Entrepreneurs with multiple operating companies in different countries looking to consolidate under a Malta holding structure that qualifies for the participation exemption on dividends and capital gains.
This is my profile →African and Latin American founders
Entrepreneurs based outside the EU looking for a credible European entry point. A Malta Ltd provides full EU legal status, access to 80 tax treaties, and an internationally recognised corporate address without requiring physical relocation.
This is my profile →Asian investors and holding structures
Investors from China, Singapore, and the wider Asia-Pacific region establishing European holding vehicles to manage EU investments, access treaty networks, and consolidate international assets under a fully compliant EU jurisdiction.
This is my profile →Not sure which profile fits your situation?
Get a free assessment and we will identify the right structure for your activity, nationality, and tax position.
Company Structures Available in Malta
Private Limited Company
Standard vehicle for trading, holding, consulting, and IP structures. Full EU legal status. Access to Malta's 6/7ths refund mechanism.
Public Limited Company
For enterprises raising capital publicly or listing on the Malta Stock Exchange. Stricter governance and mandatory detailed financial reporting.
Limited Partnership
Two distinct partner roles with separate liability exposure. Common for investment funds, private equity, and family office structures.
General Partnership
Simplest multi-party structure. All partners bear unlimited personal liability. Holds separate legal personality from its members.
European Company
Supranational EU corporate form. Registered office can transfer to any EU member state without dissolution or re-incorporation.
Branch / Overseas Company
Foreign company presence in Malta without a separate legal entity. Parent company bears full liability for all branch obligations.
Not sure which structure fits your situation?
That is exactly what a free assessment is for.
What You Need to Incorporate in Malta
We collect and prepare every document on your behalf. You provide the originals. We handle the rest.
Certified copy of passport for each director, shareholder, and UBO
Proof of residential address issued within the last three months
Bank or professional reference letter from a warrant-holding professional or financial institution
Source of funds documentation demonstrating the origin of capital contributed to the company
Completed UBO questionnaire disclosing any beneficial owner holding more than 25% of shares or voting rights
Company name proposal verified for availability against the Malta Business Registry
Description of business activities to be carried out by the company
Minimum share capital deposit confirmation of at least 20% of authorised share capital paid up at incorporation
Non-EEA nationals may require apostilled documents and additional certified identification.
Full requirements by structure →
Register a Malta Company Fully Online
No travel to Malta required. No in-person meetings. No local presence needed. The entire process runs remotely, from document signing to Certificate of Incorporation.
Whether you are searching for Malta company registration or company formation services, the process is identical. It is governed by the Companies Act, Cap. 386, administered by the Malta Business Registry, and can be completed without setting foot in Malta.
The incorporation itself is 100% remote
Malta company registration is processed entirely through the Malta Business Registry via its official BAROS digital filing platform. We prepare and submit every document digitally on your behalf: the Memorandum and Articles of Association, director and shareholder consent forms, beneficial ownership declarations, and proof of share capital. The Certificate of Incorporation is issued electronically within 3 to 7 business days of a complete file.
Document signing does not require your physical presence
All incorporation documents can be signed electronically. We send you a secure signing pack. You review, sign, and return remotely. Certified copies of your passport and proof of address are submitted as digital uploads. Non-EEA nationals requiring apostilled documents arrange this through a local notary in their home country and send us the scanned originals.
Share capital deposit is handled remotely
You do not need a Maltese bank account to deposit your share capital at incorporation. The minimum paid-up amount (20% of your authorised share capital) is transferred directly to Equitrust Group’s designated client account. We issue the deposit confirmation required by the MBR. No temporary Maltese account is needed.
Banking is remote for most profiles
EMI providers (Revolut Business, Wise Business, Verifo) offer fully remote onboarding with EU IBAN issuance within days of your Certificate of Incorporation. Most founders activate an EMI account first for immediate operations. Traditional Maltese banks (BOV, HSBC Malta, MeDirect) process applications remotely for the majority of low-risk profiles, though some may request a video call as part of their KYC process. We pre-screen your profile before any bank introduction to avoid rejections.
What we handle, what you provide
We manage every submission, every filing, and every authority communication. You provide your documents once, through a single secure onboarding flow. You do not deal directly with the MBR, the Office of the Commissioner for Revenue, or any banking institution unless you choose to.
The one exception worth knowing
If your company requires a regulated licence (MGA for iGaming, MFSA for fintech or e-money), the licensing authority may require a formal meeting at some point in the application process. This is separate from company formation and applies only to regulated activities. Standard Ltd formations have no such requirement.
Our Services in Malta
Company Formation
Full incorporation with the Malta Business Registry via BAROS. Structure selection, document preparation, MBR filing, and Certificate of Incorporation.
Annual Compliance
Annual return filing with the MBR, substance monitoring, board calendar management, and statutory deadline tracking. We do not disappear after incorporation.
Bank Account Opening
We introduce your file to the right banking option for your profile. Traditional Maltese banks or EMI providers, pre-screened to match your activity and risk profile.
Substance Services
Local director provision, board meeting organisation, and physical office solutions. Required for holdings and tax-optimised structures under post-BEPS obligations.
Licence Services
Coordination of MGA, MFSA, and VFA licence applications for regulated activities. Filed separately from and in addition to company formation.
Trustee Services
Equitrust Group acts as licensed trustee for Malta trusts and private foundations. Asset protection, estate planning, and multi-generational wealth structuring under the Trusts and Trustees Act, Cap. 331.
Accounting Services
Bookkeeping, VAT compliance, payroll, and financial statement preparation. Mandatory statutory audit coordination for companies that do not meet the small company exemption.
Company Transfer
Redomiciliation of an existing foreign company to Malta without dissolution, liquidation, or interruption of operations. Contracts, banking relationships, and legal history transfer intact.
Registered Office and Company Secretary
Mandatory legal requirements for every Malta Ltd. We provide a registered address in Malta and a qualified company secretary managing statutory records and filings.
Why Work with Our Malta Team?
Your formation and administration services are delivered by Equitrust Group, an MFSA-licensed Company Service Provider based in Balzan, Malta. Concretely, that means:
We know which Maltese banks are currently onboarding which nationalities and activity profiles, and which are not. We pre-screen your file before any introduction so your application does not sit in a queue for eight weeks before a rejection.
We know which EMI providers clear AML checks fastest for non-EEA founders, so you have a functional EU IBAN within days of your Certificate of Incorporation while your traditional bank application runs in parallel.
We know how the Office of the Commissioner for Revenue currently processes 6/7ths refund claims, what documentation they flag, and how to structure your submission to avoid delays in a process that already runs 2 to 4 months in practice.
We know which substance configurations currently satisfy MFSA expectations for holding and IP structures, and which are being challenged under post-BEPS reviews. We do not set up structures that do not hold up twelve months later.
We know how the MBR processes electronic filings via BAROS and what triggers manual review. A complete, correctly structured file goes through in 3 to 7 business days. An incomplete one does not.
We hold an active licence issued by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). We do not subcontract the regulated parts of your formation to a third party.
Advantages of Opening a Company in Malta vs the Alternatives
| Malta ✓ | Cyprus | Ireland | Dubai (UAE) | United Kingdom | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effective corporate tax | ~5% via 6/7ths refund | 12.5% flat | 12.5% on trading income | 9% (0% in qualifying free zones) | 19% to 25% |
| Tax refund mechanism | Yes (6/7ths trading, 5/7ths passive) | No | No | No | No |
| EU member state | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No (post-Brexit) |
| EU single market access | Full | Full | Full | None | None |
| Double tax treaties | 80+ | 65+ | 74 | 140+ | 130+ |
| Official English language | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Minimum share capital | €1,164.69 (20% paid up) | €1,000 | €1 | Varies by free zone | £1 |
| Local director required | No | Recommended for substance | At least one EEA director | No (free zones) | No |
| Incorporation timeline | 3 to 7 business days | 5 to 10 business days | 3 to 5 business days | 3 to 5 business days | Same day |
| Fully remote incorporation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes |
| Participation exemption | Yes (qualifying holdings) | Yes | Yes | Yes (qualifying) | Yes |
| OECD/FATF standing | Compliant | Compliant | Compliant | Compliant | Compliant |
| Residency pathway | Yes (Startup Residence Programme) | Yes | Limited | Yes | Limited (post-Brexit) |
Ready to open your Malta company?
One free assessment. The right structure from day one.
