Company setup in Malta

Start with the right structure

Explore legal entity forms and registration sources for Malta. Use the local terminology below when discussing your application with the relevant authority.

Detailed foreign-investor rules for this jurisdiction have not yet been independently reviewed here. The registry sources below are the starting point for confirming the available formation route.

Company & entity types

Listed forms include commercial companies and other legal entities. A listing is not confirmation that a foreign founder can establish that form. Local names are preserved to avoid misleading legal translations.

Find a legal form or sub-jurisdiction

11 legal forms listed

foundation

MaltaELF 3U3Y

government entity

MaltaELF 9QHJ

Partnership en commendite or limited partnership / Soċjetà in akkomandita jew soċjetà limitata

Partnership en commendite or limited partnership

MaltaELF BVJ0LP;limited partnership;Limited Partnership;L.P.

Public Limited Liability Company / kumpanija pubblika

Public Limited Liability Company

MaltaELF C061PLC;P.L.C;plc;p.l.c.

European Company / Societas Europaea

European Company

MaltaELF CR7NSE

sole trader

MaltaELF DJ2D

cooperative

MaltaELF F5X7

association

MaltaELF J4S1

Partnership en nom collectif / soċjetà f’isem kollettiv

Partnership en nom collectif

MaltaELF JOZN

Private Limited Liability Company / kumpanija privata

Private Limited Liability Company

MaltaELF V89CLtd;Ltd.;Limited

European Economic Interest Grouping

MaltaELF YB0UEEIG

Source: GLEIF ELF v1.6, February 2026 ↗. Active codes only; language variants grouped by code. The source is not an exhaustive list of all available legal forms.

What to confirm before applying

These are planning questions, not verified Malta requirements.

Foreign ownership & activity

Ask whether your nationality, ownership percentage and proposed business activity require investment approval, a local partner or a sector licence.

Directors & local presence

Confirm the required directors, shareholders, registered office, local representative and any residency or company-secretary rules.

Capital & incorporation costs

Obtain the current minimum capital, filing fees, notarisation costs, translations and annual renewal or service charges for the selected legal form.

Tax & ongoing compliance

Verify corporate tax, VAT or sales tax, withholding, beneficial-ownership reporting, accounting, audit and annual-return obligations.

Banking & immigration

Check bank onboarding and source-of-funds evidence separately. Company registration should not be treated as approval for banking, residence or work permission.