Malta Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a Malta Business

TL;DR. The Malta Business Registry (MBR) is the official source for company verification in Malta. Basic searches are free; certified documents cost EUR 5-25 (approximately USD 5-27). The portal is fully in English with no account required for basic searches. Malta is an EU member state fully integrated with BRIS, and complies with EU 5AMLD beneficial ownership access rules, including restricted but accessible UBO data.

What is the official Malta business registry?

The Malta Business Registry (MBR) is the statutory body responsible for company registration, maintenance, and public disclosure in Malta, a European Union member state in the central Mediterranean. The MBR was established by the Malta Business Registry Act (Chapter 591 of the Laws of Malta) and consolidates functions previously split between the Registry of Companies and the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) company registration unit.

The MBR’s public portal is at www.mbr.mt, providing free company search and paid document access. The MBR operates under the Companies Act (Chapter 386) and related legislation, which closely follows the UK Companies Act framework adapted to Maltese and EU law.

As an EU member state, Malta participates in the Business Registers Interconnection System (BRIS), the EU-wide framework that links national business registers under Directive (EU) 2017/1132 (the Company Law Directive). BRIS allows compliance teams to pull basic registration data on Malta companies through any connected EU register portal (including the European Business Register EBR) alongside direct MBR access.

Malta’s economy and company registry are notable for several sectors:

• Financial services and investment funds: MFSA-regulated. Malta is a significant EU fund domicile, particularly for UCITS and Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs).
• Online gaming: Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)-regulated. Malta licenses a large number of B2C and B2B gaming operators globally.
• Shipping and aviation: Malta has a maritime flag registry and an aircraft registry, separate from the MBR.
• Fintech and digital assets: MFSA supervises virtual financial assets (VFA) under the Virtual Financial Assets Act 2018.

Entity types registered with the MBR include:

• Private limited liability companies (Ltd): the dominant form for trading, holding, and services companies.
• Public limited liability companies (PLC): for listed or larger entities.
• Partnerships: general partnerships (en nom collectif) and limited partnerships (en commandite).
• Foreign companies: overseas companies registered to maintain a presence in Malta.
• European Companies (SE) and European Economic Interest Groupings (EEIG): EU-law vehicles registered in Malta.

What can you search?

The MBR portal provides the following capabilities, with basic functions available without an account:

• Company name search (exact or partial)
• Company registration number search
• Director and officer name search
• Current status: active, struck off, in dissolution, dissolved, in winding-up

For each located company, the portal returns:

• Registered company name and registration number (C followed by a numeric sequence)
• Date of incorporation
• Entity type
• Current status
• Registered office address
• Directors and company secretary as filed
• Filed documents available for purchase: annual returns, memorandum and articles, accounts, director change notices

Malta companies are required to file annual returns including a list of directors and shareholders (for private companies) or a shareholder register extract. Filed accounts (where required) are also publicly accessible via the MBR for a fee.

Data updates on a filing-event basis. Annual return filing deadlines trigger status review.

How much does it cost?

EUR/USD conversion used: 1.09 (approximate; verify at point of purchase). Pricing based on MBR published fee schedules as of May 2026.

Do you need a local account or ID?

Basic company searches and publicly available document browsing require no account and no Maltese identity document. An account (registered on the MBR portal) is required to order certified documents and UBO register extracts. Account registration uses an email address; no Maltese e-ID or national identification is required from foreign buyers.

Foreign compliance teams can complete registration with a standard email address and place document orders using an international credit or debit card.

Is the website in English?

Yes. Malta has two official languages: Maltese and English. The MBR portal is available in English throughout, covering all search functions, document ordering, and account management. Company filings and constitutional documents may be in Maltese or English depending on the company’s choice; the MBR does not translate documents, but the English-language portal interface is comprehensive.

What’s the turnaround time?

Basic search results and publicly available status information are available instantly. Document orders placed through the MBR portal are typically available for electronic download within one business day and frequently within a few hours during MBR office hours (Monday to Friday, 08:00-16:00 CET). Malta’s registry has invested in digital delivery as part of its EU digital single market obligations.

Is there an API?

No. The MBR does not offer a public API for programmatic data access as of May 2026. Malta’s BRIS participation means that EU-level interoperability is available through the Business Registers Interconnection System for basic company data; the e-Justice portal (e-justice.europa.eu) provides pan-EU company searches drawing on BRIS-connected registers including Malta.

What you legally cannot do

Malta is an EU member state and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, Regulation (EU) 2016/679) applies directly. Director names, company secretary details, and shareholder information extracted from the MBR are personal data when processed by private entities; GDPR lawful basis requirements apply to all processing, storage, and onward transfer.

Automated bulk downloading from the MBR portal is prohibited under the portal’s terms of use. The BRIS system is the sanctioned mechanism for cross-border programmatic access to basic registration data.

Malta’s beneficial ownership register is maintained by the MBR under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and the Beneficial Ownership (Registration) Regulations implementing EU 5AMLD. Following the November 2022 CJEU ruling in Joined Cases C-37/20 and C-601/20, which found that unconditional public access to UBO data was incompatible with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights on privacy and data protection, Malta (like other EU member states) restricted the MBR’s beneficial ownership register to obligated entities under AML law, competent authorities, and persons demonstrating a legitimate interest. General public access that existed before the ruling is no longer available.

To access UBO data, applicants must demonstrate a legitimate interest through the MBR’s formal access process. Obligated entities (banks, law firms, accountants, notaries) can access UBO data as part of their AML obligations.

Practical tips for foreign compliance buyers

• Malta company number format. Malta company numbers use a C prefix followed by a numeric sequence (e.g., C 12345). This is the anchor identifier for all registry searches and document orders.
• MFSA for regulated entities. The Malta Financial Services Authority (mfsa.mt) maintains a public register of all licensed and authorized financial services entities in Malta, including banks, investment firms, UCITS funds, AIFs, insurance companies, and VFA agents. Any Malta-registered entity claiming to operate in financial services should be verified on the MFSA register in addition to the MBR.
• MGA for gaming operators. The Malta Gaming Authority (mga.mt) maintains a public register of MGA-licensed gaming operators (B2C) and gaming service providers (B2B). Gaming counterparties claiming Malta licenses should be verified directly on the MGA register.
• BRIS for cross-border verification. Malta’s BRIS participation means that basic registration data on Malta companies is accessible through the EU’s e-Justice portal alongside direct MBR access. This is useful for compliance teams with EU-wide entity coverage workflows.
• Annual returns include shareholder data. Malta private limited companies are required to file an annual return that includes a list of shareholders and their holdings. This filed shareholder list is publicly accessible via the MBR for a fee and provides structural ownership information at the time of filing. Note that this is the filed registry data and may differ from the current UBO register entry if there have been changes between annual return filings.
• OECD CRS and FATCA. Malta is an EU member state participating in the OECD Common Reporting Standard and has FATCA obligations. Financial institutions in Malta report under the EU’s DAC2 directive (implementing CRS) and through FATCA IGA arrangements.

For the global due diligence framework applicable to EU member states and their registry systems, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.

Alternatives if you cannot access the registry directly

• EU e-Justice portal (e-justice.europa.eu): Provides BRIS-connected access to basic Malta company data as part of the EU-wide business register interconnection.
• European Business Register (ebr.org): Aggregates EU business register data including Malta MBR records.
• Aggregator search (free, indicative only): OpenCorporates indexes Malta MBR filings. Coverage is reasonable but may lag official data; not a substitute for certified documents.

Local data suppliers

• Creditreform Malta (creditreform.com). Part of the pan-European Creditreform network. Provides commercial credit reports on Malta-registered companies, including payment behavior data, financial analysis, and risk scoring. Particularly useful for trading counterparties beyond the registry extract alone.
• CRIF Malta (crif.com). Global credit bureau with Malta coverage. Provides business credit reports and entity information for financial institutions, insurers, and corporate compliance teams.

Use the MBR for the official registry record and beneficial ownership access. Use the MFSA or MGA register for regulatory status. Use a credit bureau when payment behavior or financial risk scoring is needed on top of the registry data.

FAQ

Can a foreign company access the Malta Business Registry directly?

Yes. The MBR portal is accessible globally. Basic company searches require no account. Document orders require a simple email-based account registration accessible to any foreign buyer. No Maltese identity document is needed.

What is the company number format in Malta?

Malta company numbers use a C prefix followed by a numeric sequence (e.g., C 12345). Some older entities may have different prefixes for legacy registrations. The C-number is the primary identifier used throughout the MBR portal, in court filings, and in regulatory submissions.

What entity types are registered with the Malta Business Registry?

The MBR covers private limited liability companies (Ltd), public limited liability companies (PLC), partnerships (en nom collectif and en commandite), foreign companies, European Companies (SE), and European Economic Interest Groupings (EEIG). The private limited liability company is the dominant form across Malta’s trading, financial services, gaming, and holding sectors.

Does Malta have a beneficial ownership registry?

Yes. Malta’s beneficial ownership register is maintained by the MBR under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and implementing regulations transposing EU 5AMLD. Following the November 2022 CJEU ruling (Cases C-37/20 and C-601/20), which found unconditional public access to UBO data incompatible with EU Charter fundamental rights, Malta restricted public access. Access is now available to: obligated entities under AML law demonstrating need for their due diligence obligations; competent authorities; and persons demonstrating legitimate interest via a formal application. The CJEU ruling reflects the balance between FATF Recommendation 24 on transparency of legal persons and EU Charter privacy rights.

How current is the data in the Malta Business Registry?

MBR data reflects filings processed by the Registry. Annual return filings (required within 42 days of the company’s anniversary) update shareholder and director data. Event-driven filings (director changes, address changes, capital changes) are processed on a filing basis. For compliance purposes, a freshly ordered certified extract reflects the most current registered position. BRIS-sourced data may have a short lag relative to the live MBR database.

Is Malta on the FATF grey list?

No. Malta is an EU member state and FATF member and is not on the FATF increased monitoring (grey) list as of May 2026. Malta’s AML/CFT framework is supervised by the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) and MFSA. For current FATF status, verify at fatf-gafi.org.

What is the difference between the MBR and MFSA?

The Malta Business Registry (MBR) records all incorporated entities regardless of activity: companies, partnerships, and foreign registrations. The Malta Financial Services Authority (mfsa.mt) is the financial services regulator and maintains a separate public register of entities authorized to provide financial services in or from Malta, including banks, investment firms, funds, insurance entities, and VFA service providers. For financial services counterparties, both registers are relevant: the MBR confirms the company’s existence and status, while the MFSA register confirms regulatory authorization for the specific financial activity claimed.

Last verified: May 2026. Sources: Malta Business Registry (mbr.mt), Malta Financial Services Authority (mfsa.mt), FATF (fatf-gafi.org), CJEU Joined Cases C-37/20 and C-601/20 (November 2022), EU Directive 2017/1132/EU (Company Law Directive), Prevention of Money Laundering Act (Malta Chapter 373).