Guide
Malta company formation cost: fees and steps in 2026
Updated
Maltese incorporation is procedurally quick once the file is complete; the cost and the calendar time sit mostly in the preparation and onboarding around it. Here is the sequence, with the fee attached to each step.
The formation sequence
- Choose and check the name. The Malta Business Registry must accept the proposed name; checking availability costs nothing and a CSP will do it as part of onboarding.
- Engage a corporate service provider. Founders can in principle file directly with the MBR, but most non-resident founders use a CSP, and anyone providing formation services by way of business in Malta must be authorised by the MFSA. Onboarding involves identity and source-of-funds checks on directors, shareholders and beneficial owners; slow document delivery here is the usual cause of delay.
- Deposit the share capital. Minimum €1,164.69 authorised, of which at least 20% (€232.94) is paid up, evidenced to the registry. Most founders authorise only the minimum at formation, keeping registry fees at the bottom of the scale.
- Sign the memorandum and articles of association. These state the company's name, objects, capital, shareholders, directors and company secretary (every Maltese company must appoint one), drafted by the CSP within the package fee.
- File with the MBR and pay the registration fee. €100 for electronic filing where authorised share capital does not exceed €1,500, scaling with capital to €1,900 above €2.5 million; paper filing costs more (MBR: registration and fee structure). With a complete file, the certificate of registration is commonly issued within a few working days (typical experience, not a guaranteed timescale).
- Register for tax, and for VAT where required. The company is registered with the Malta Tax and Customs Administration; VAT registration follows if the activity requires it (Malta's standard VAT rate is 18%, BusinessFirst). Employing staff adds a PE (employer) registration.
One-off formation costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| MBR registration fee (minimum capital, electronic filing) | €100 |
| Paid-up share capital (returned to the company's use, not a fee) | €232.94 minimum |
| CSP formation package | €1,500–€3,500 typical |
| Bank or payment-institution account opening | €0–€500 typical; onboarding time is the real cost |
Treat the account-opening line seriously: Maltese and EU banks apply full onboarding checks to new non-resident-owned companies, and this is routinely the slowest part of the whole exercise, weeks rather than days (typical experience). Many CSPs also work with electronic money institutions, which tend to onboard faster; ask any provider quoting you, via the form, how they handle banking.
What moves the price
- Structure: a single trading company is the base case; adding a Maltese holding company (common for reasons covered in the tax overview) roughly doubles formation and annual fees.
- Ownership complexity: corporate shareholders, trusts or multiple jurisdictions extend the onboarding checks and the fee.
- Licensed activities: gaming, financial services and similar carry their own application and supervision fees on an entirely different scale; the figures on this page cover ordinary unregulated companies.
- Speed: the registry is quick; providers charge for compressing the preparation around it.