If you are thinking of opening a business in Malta as a foreigner, this article can help you understand some of the challenges and advantages of being a company owner in this country. In the following lines, we will not go into detail about the legal procedures for company incorporation in Malta(you can read that here), but rather what it entails to run a business in this country, startup costs, characteristics of the local business market, pros and cons, and many more.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Types of companies available in Malta | – private and public limited liability company, – general and limited partnership, – sole proprietorship, – holding company, etc. |
Most popular business structure in Malta | Private limited liability company (LTD) |
Minimum share capital for a private LLC in Malta | EUR 1,165 |
| Office rental costs in Malta (approx.) | Around EUR 100 – EUR 350 per square meter/year for an office in Valletta |
| Average monthly gross salary | Around EUR 1,824 (about EUR 1,501 after taxes) |
| Investment recommendations for Malta | – tourism, – real estate, – financial sector, – gaming, blockchain, etc. |
| Malta’s economy in numbers | 6% GDP growth in 2024, around 23% growth in total tourist expenditures in 2024 |
| Tax benefits/deductions | – tax credits, – subsidies on interest rates on loans, – cash grants, etc. |
| Level of bureaucracy | Reduced compared to other European countries |
| Banking in Malta | Stable and highly appreciated. It benefits from technological progress and the fast transformation in customer needs |
| Pros of doing business in Malta | – strategic location within the EU, – great tax regime, – skilled and multilingual workforce, – strong financial services sector |
| Cons of doing business in Malta | – high costs for company administration, – limited domestic market, – slow legal system |
| Time frame to start a business in Malta | Around 2 weeks for an LLC in Malta |
| Is Malta encouraging foreign investments? | Yes, through incentives like grants and tax credits in sectors like tourism, technology, and finance. |
| We provide company formation services in Malta (YES/NO) | YES |
Table of Contents
How much does it cost to start a business in Malta as a foreigner?
The first thing a foreign entrepreneur interested in doing business in Malta considers is the formation and administration costs of a firm. Here are some of the most important ones:
- the registration fee for opening a company in Malta ranges between EUR 100 and EUR 1,500. Electronic and paper registration are two options available.
- a virtual office package in Malta may be acquired for around EUR 125 per month. Extra facilities come with additional costs.
- renting an office space in Malta starts at EUR 250 per square meter in the main cities.
- accounting services in Malta start at EUR 100 per month, but the price depends on the number of transactions. We can put you in touch with our Maltese accountants when starting a business as a foreigner here.
These are some of the costs for doing business in Malta in 2025. Extra details about the company formation in Malta can be found if you get in touch with our local representatives. Plus, you can also discover this infographic with details on this topic:
Timeframe to set up a business in Malta
Setting up a business in Maltaas a foreigner can take around 1-2 weeks. In most cases. The time for registering a company depends on formalities, procedures, the type of business entity, and other such factors. We recommend that when you want to open a business in Malta, you consider the support of our local agents in order to start your activities in a fast and reliable manner. We can also help you open a company in Luxembourg, where it takes 3 weeks for business incorpoation.
Plus, you can watch this video presentation with information on this topic:
Pros and cons of starting a business in Malta as a foreigner
Every business environment is different and can be quite challenging for international entrepreneurs relocating for company formation in a foreign country. In the case of Malta, foreign investors can enjoy a stable economy and business climate, among other things:
- Malta is one of the most digitalized countries in the world, which makes opening a business as a foreigner a safe and fast process, with a low level of bureaucracy;
- Malta has strong connections with the European and African markets due to its geostrategic position;
- with a highly educated and experienced workforce, Malta is an excellent business and investment destination. For example. The employment rate in Malta was over 80% in Q1 of 2025. As for the unemployment rate, this stands at a rate of around 2.7%;
- 35% is the corporate income tax in Malta, but this rate can be lower under certain conditions;
- on the other hand, foreign entrepreneurs might find the limited domestic market of Malta a bit challenging, especially if they want to operate as a large company;
- Malta is known as a country with a fairly high tax system compared to other European countries. Company shareholders in Malta can claim the 100% tax refund of the Maltese tax paid, under certain conditions;
- as for foreign direct investments (FDI) in Malta, an increase of around EUR 4814.60 million has been registered in Q1 of 2025.
How can I register a startup in Malta?
The incorporation of a startup in Malta begins with the decision on the proper business structure for future operations. In Malta, the limited liability company is the most popular business structure because it suits most of the needs of investors and business persons. We have gathered a few important steps to follow when opening a startup in Malta:
- One must make a name verification in the first place.
- The activities, the owners, the general rules and regulations, the name of the business, and place of establishment are mentioned by the Articles of Association.
- If licenses and permits are required, the application must be made in time.
- The registration for tax purposes and social contribution is required.
How does the government sustain startups in Malta?
There are many government initiatives that aim to sustain the local and foreign developers. The reduced operational costs, plus the possibility of accessing top business hubs in the world are quite appealing to individuals interested in startups in Malta and a safe place for development. There are also tax incentives that weigh much at the time the business conditions for startups are analyzed by a person who wants to open a company in Malta. More than that, Malta’s startup system continues to develop and to align with other important startup ecosystems in Europe and in the world. If you believe that Malta is the right destination for your startup, please do not hesitate to call one of our specialists and ask for advice and support.
Relocate Your Company in Malta
Malta released in 2002 a legislation regarding the relocation of foreign companies in the country. The same legislation allows Maltese companies to be relocated to other countries. Relocation of a company to Malta is subject to certain regulations and applies to foreign companies in several countries only. Among the countries the legislation allowing company relocation refers to are countries in the European Union and European Economic Area. In order to redomiciliate a company to Malta, the legislation of the country where the foreign company is registered must allow company relocation. Also, the foreign company’s articles of association must permit company relocation.
Company relocation procedure in Malta
Foreign companies relocating their business activities must first submit a request to the Maltese Companies Register. The application must be accompanied by the following documents:
- a resolution allowing the company to relocate to Malta,
- a copy of the articles of association amended in order to comply with the Maltese Companies Law,
- a certificate of good standing issued by the Trade Register in the country where the company was registered,
- a declaration signed by two administrators stating the relocation of the company to Malta,
- the registration fee that depends on the share capital of the company to be redomiciliated.
The declaration stating the migration of the company to Malta must contain certain elements, such as the original name of the company and the name under which it will carry out the business in Malta, the country where it was incorporated and the date of its incorporation and the decision to relocate the company. The company must announce the authorities in the country it was registered in about the redomiciliation to Malta. Additionally, the names the company’s directors and secretary must be declared.
With this useful information, you can get an idea of how challenging or not it is to start a business in Malta as a foreigner. And if you have already made a business decision, we invite you to contact our experts in company incorporation in Malta to benefit from personalized support in terms of registration and more.