Relocate your business to Malta
Europe
Thinking about business immigration to Malta? Below are the residency routes for founders, investors and startups, and the set-up services a foreign-owned business needs: company registration, a bank account, tax, payroll, trademark and licences. Set-up comes first, because a company does not grant residency on its own. See also business immigration explained and relocating your business abroad.
316 km²
in total, the smallest EU country by area
About 5,600
years old: the Ġgantija temples
About 300
sunny days a year
- Capital
- Valletta
- Population
- About 540,000
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Languages
- Maltese, English
Best things about doing business in Malta
- EU and eurozone member
- English is an official language
- Established in iGaming, finance and shipping
Fun facts
- Malta's Ġgantija temples are older than Stonehenge and the pyramids of Egypt.
- Malta has two official languages: Maltese and English.
Figures are rounded and approximate.
Business Setup Services
Company, bank, payroll, brand and licencesNot a residency routeWe handle company incorporation, bank account and payroll set-up, trademark filing and the licences and permits your business needs. Tell us what you need.
Cards without a "last verified" date have not been independently checked yet. Confirm the details with the official source before you act.
Warning: These do not grant residency on their own. A separate visa is required.
Company Registration
Set up your legal entity so you can operate, hire and pay tax.
Malta Limited Liability Company Registration (MBR)
Last verified October 2026 · Official source: mbr.mt
Voluntary Organisation Registration
Official source: voluntaryorganisations.gov.mt
Business Bank Account
Opening an account with a bank in Malta
Open a business bank account for your new company. ORBIZLY prepares the application, and the bank decides.
Official source: mfsa.mt
Employer and Payroll Registration
Registering as an employer in Malta
Register as an employer so you can hire and run payroll. Handled by the Commissioner for Revenue (final settlement system) and Jobsplus.
Official source: cfr.gov.mt
Trademark Filing
Trademark Filing (Industrial Property Registrations Directorate)
Last verified October 2026 · Official source: commerce.gov.mt
IP and Patent Filing
IP and Patent Filing (IPRD)
Protect your invention with a patent. Filed with the Industrial Property Registrations Directorate.
Official source: commerce.gov.mt
Licences
Permits that let your products and business operate legally: import permits, tax and goods/services registration, sector-specific permits, export licences, drug and health, food safety, lab test reports and product trials.
EORI Number and Import Permits
Register as an importer and get permits for regulated goods. Handled by the Malta Customs Department.
Official source: customs.gov.mt
Tax and Goods/Services Registration
Register for tax and for goods and services tax. Handled by the Commissioner for Revenue (VAT registration).
Official source: cfr.gov.mt
Sector-Specific Permits
Permits for regulated industries. Overseen by the sector regulator and Malta Enterprise.
Official source: maltaenterprise.com
Export Licence
Get permission to export controlled goods. Handled by Malta Customs.
Official source: customs.gov.mt
Drug and Health Product Licence
Approval to sell medicines, devices and health products. Handled by the Malta Medicines Authority.
Official source: medicinesauthority.gov.mt
Food Safety Licence and Registration
Register your food business and get approval to import or sell food. Handled by the Environmental Health Directorate of the Ministry for Health.
Official source: health.gov.mt
Lab Test Reports and Product Certification
Get your product tested and certified for the market. Overseen through the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.
Official source: mccaa.org.mt
Product Trial and Sample Approval
Approval to trial a new product before launch. Handled by the Malta Medicines Authority.
Official source: medicinesauthority.gov.mt
Residency & Visa Pathways
Programs that grant residenceThese grant a right to live and work in the country. Talk to an expert before you apply.
Startup Residence Programme (MSRP)
€25,000 minimum tangible investment for innovative startups under 7 years old. Requires 183+ days/year physical presence.
Last verified September 2026 · Official source: startup.residencymalta.gov.mt
Questions about moving a business to Malta
What business immigration options are there for Malta?
ORBIZLY lists startup visas (Startup Residence Programme (MSRP)). Each is shown on this page with its status, the official source and when it was last verified. Rules change, so confirm the details with the official source before you apply.
Can I relocate my business to Malta?
It depends on your business and the route you choose, and it is really two separate things: setting up or moving the business, and getting the right to live there. Company registration, a bank account, tax and licences are the set-up side. A visa or residence permit is the residency side. Start with the free eligibility check to see which routes fit your business.
Does registering a company in Malta give me residency?
No. Registering a company does not give you the right to live in Malta on its own. Residency needs a separate visa or residence permit.
What do I need to set up a business in Malta?
The usual order is: plan, register the company, open the tax and bank accounts, register as an employer, protect your brand, then get any licences and permits. For Malta, ORBIZLY lists drug and health licences, import permits, export licence, food safety, ip and patent filing, lab test reports, company registration, business bank account, product trials, employer and payroll registration, sector-specific permits, tax and goods/services registration, and trademark filing. Government fees are paid to the authorities and are separate from ORBIZLY's fees.
How do I start moving my business to Malta?
Take the free eligibility check, which takes about three minutes, or book a free 15-minute discovery call. ORBIZLY then shows which routes look like a fit and what to do first. ORBIZLY gives directional guidance and is not a law firm or immigration adviser.
Dreaming of Malta?
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Brands built in Malta
Well-known companies from Malta, including unicorns and businesses that grew a global presence.
Bank of Valletta
Malta's largest bank
Simonds Farsons Cisk
Brewer of the Cisk lager
GO plc
Telecoms and media group
Examples only. Logos belong to their owners and are shown to identify the companies. A unicorn is a private start-up valued above US$1 billion at some point.
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