Commercial Code in Malta
Foreign investors opening companies in Malta are bound to respect the requirements of the country’s Commercial Law. The legislation for opening companies in Malta is comprised of several parts, each one of them referring to certain procedures. The Maltese commercial legislation is made up of:
- - the Commercial Code,
- - the Consumers Affairs Act,
- - the Doorstep Contracts Act,
- - the Standards Authority Act,
- - the Trade Descriptions Act,
- - the Trading Licenses Act,
- - the Product Safety Act.
The Commercial Code and its subchapters refer to the requirements companies must fulfill after their incorporation, while business registration falls under the Maltese Company Law.
Our lawyers in Malta can help foreign investors who want to open companies in this country.
The Malta Company Law
Company registration in Malta must abide by the Company Law which is made up of 6 chapters:
- - the Business Promotion Act, which provides for the incentives granted to companies in Malta;
- - the Co-operative Societies Act, which provides for the creation of non-profit organizations in Malta;
- - the Companies Act, which covers all the aspects related to registering a company in Malta;
- - the Competition Act, which prescribes the regulations related to the fair competition on the market;
- - the Companies Fees Regulations, which is part of the Maltese Companies Act;
- - the Malta Enterprise Act, which provides for the creation of corporations in Malta.
Among these, the Maltese Companies Act refers strictly to the conditions a company must fulfill in order to be allowed to operate in the country. The Companies Act was issued in 1995 and was last amended in 2004. The Malta Companies Act allows for the formation of several types of companies:
- - limited liability companies in Malta, which can be private or public;
- - general partnerships, which require at least two members with unlimited liability;
- - limited partnerships, which require a member with unlimited liability and one with limited responsibility
- - branch offices, subsidiaries and representative offices of foreign companies.
The new Maltese Companies Act also provides for investment companies, such as the SICAV (open-ended collective investment scheme) and INVCO (closed-ended collective investment scheme) companies.
For legal assistance with the company registration procedures, you can refer to our Maltese lawyers.
Requirements to open a company in Malta
Under the Commercial Law, those who want to register companies in Malta must:
- deposit a minimum share capital which depends on the type of structure chosen;
- comply with the regulations applicable to company shareholders and directors with respect to their residency;
- appoint company secretaries, in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Law;
- have a registered address for the company in Malta, this address must appear in the records of the Trade Register.
Our law firm in Malta can help with the preparation of the documents related to opening a company. We can also assist with EORI registration in Malta.
Opening a company under the Maltese Companies Act
Under the Maltese Commercial Law, local and foreign investors can incorporate a company under the same conditions. Depending on the type of company one wants to set up, at least one shareholder and a minimum share capital are required when starting a business in Malta. Under the Malta Companies Law, the minimum share capital to open a private limited company is 1,165 euros. For public companies, the Companies Law requires a minimum share capital of almost 46,600 euros of which 25% must be deposited before registration.
Our lawyers in Malta will explain what documents you are required to file when setting up a company. You can also contact us if you need other information related to the Maltese Commercial Code.
