Company Incorporation Malta · San Gwann
Company Formation in Malta
from EUR 750
Company incorporation in Malta with a local team: registration, virtual office, accounting and related services for investors. Contact us to get started.
We are a team of company incorporation specialists in Malta who offer a wide range of services for local and foreign investors interested in starting a business in this country.
Company formation in Malta from EUR 750
State fees and the lawyer’s or service provider’s fee apply.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
Company Formation Price (LLC) | Starting from 750 EUR |
| Types of companies which can be started by foreigners | – Limited liability company – Public company |
Minimum share capital for LTD Company and paid-in requirement | EUR 1,165 legal minimum (commonly 1,200 shares of €1 each) – 20% paid up – i.e. €233 (€240 for 1,200 shares) |
Minimum number of shareholders for Limited Company | 1 |
| Time frame for the incorporation (approx.) | 1-2 weeks |
| Corporate tax rate | 35% – but shareholders can claim a refund of 6/7 of the tax paid on trading profits (net effective tax of about 5%); an optional 15% final tax regime is available from 2025 |
| Dividend tax rate | – |
| VAT rate | 18% |
| Do you supply a registered address? | Yes |
| Local director required | No |
| Is accounting/annual return required? | Yes |
| Foreign-ownership allowed | Yes, no min. or max. requirement |
| Any tax exemptions available? | – net effective tax of about 5% via refunds; – no withholding tax on dividends paid to non-residents; – stamp duty exemption on share transfers for companies with business mainly outside Malta (conditions apply); – capital gains exemptions for non-residents (conditions apply); transfer pricing rules apply since 2024 |
Types of companies you can register in Malta
The main types of entities available for company formation in Malta are:
- limited liability companies (over 90% of our clients opt for this structure);
- limited partnerships;
- general partnerships.
As mentioned above most clients choose to open Limited Companies in Malta as these offer important benefits, among which limited liability in relation to the business’s debts and obligations (the liability of shareholders is limited to the amount of share capital).
Partnerships are also simple business structures. They require at least two members who can be individuals or companies and they have full or limited control over the business, depending on the type of partnerships established. From this point of view, it is possible to create general and limited partnerships.
We invite you to watch a video about the procedure of opening a company in Malta:
Main costs for setting up a company in Malta in 2026
- Company Incorporation fees – 750 EUR (for simple structures);
- Minimum Share Capital (This is not an expense) – 240 EUR;
- Application for a VAT number (if needed) – 350 EUR;
- Assistance with bank account opening – 750 EUR.
Other annual obligatory costs for running a company in Malta
| Costs | EUR |
|---|---|
Annual registration fees | 140 |
Use of our registered address | 500 |
Minimum audit fee (for non-trading companies with no assets) – Indicative fee only – Final fee is on case by case basis | 700 |
Tax compliance | 350 |
Annual compliance fee | 150 |
Bookkeeping and VAT compliance | Hourly rate |
Steps for opening a company in Malta – 2026 Detailed Procedure
As mentioned earlier, starting a business in Malta is not a complex process, but it does require a step-by-step approach:
Step 1: Due Diligence (for us as Fiduciary and Authorities)
Due Diligence is taken very seriously in Malta therefore be ready to supply the following documents for the incorporation:
- Certified True Copy of Passport;
- Copy of other form of identification (not necessarily certified);
- Utility Bill;
- Professional Reference Letter (from an attorney for example);
- Personal Bank Statements;
- Your CV;
- Tax Return (Previous Year Tax Return);
- Ultimate Beneficiary Owner (UBO) Questionnaire (to be provided by our company and completed by UBO’s)
Step 2: Business Name Registration
The business name needs to be verified with the Malta Business Registry (it must be unique).
Step 3: Providing to us the Company Profile Form for your Malta Company
This will contain information on:
- Main Activities of your future Maltese company;
- Company Directors;
- Company Secretary;
- Company Shareholders;
- Registered Address;
- Contact information.
Step 4: Depositing the Share Capital
The minimum share capital needs to be deposited (we will provide full assistance for this even if at this point you won’t have a bank account yet).
Step 5: Company Formation Application Finalized & Approved
This step refers to the overall checking of your documents to make sure they are all in good standing before being sent over in original to Malta.
Step 6: Originals & Forms posted to Malta
All documents required for the formation of your Maltese company will be sent over to our office in Malta to be processed.
Step 7: Filing for incorporation with the Malta Business Registry
Once the company name is reserved and the documents are in good order we proceed with filing with the authorities the final documentation, including company formation application, Memorandum and Articles of Association etc.
Step 8: Approval and Issuance of the Certificate of Registration and VAT Registration Certificate (if applicable).
You can see some examples on how these look here:
Important Note: Depending on your type of activity, a business license/permit could be required, obtainable either before or after the steps above.
Main requirements in starting a Limited Company in Malta
The private limited liability company is the most employed type of business vehicle in Malta. According to the Maltese Companies Act, a private limited liability company must have a minimum share capital of EUR 1,165. However, if the share capital does not exceed the minimum requirements, it must be fully subscribed upon incorporation. If it is over the minimum amount, at least the minimum must be subscribed; in all cases at least 20% of the nominal value of each share taken up must be paid up at registration. The private company is also required to have:
- at least 2 shareholders (a Limited Company with 1 shareholder is possible, but will be named a Single Member Company),
- one director,
- one company secretary,
- a registered office.
The legislation does not require the company’s directors to be Maltese residents. More details about how to open a business in Malta you can get from our experienced agents.
We also invite you to contact our team of company formation consultants in Malta for in-depth information and assistance about the services we can provide.