The registration process in Malta is very straight forward, if you know your way around it. Malta Yacht Registrations can register your vessel with a provisional registration of 6 months within 2/3 days, if you have provided us with the correct documents. This provisional registration can be used all over the world while we continue with your permanent registration.
Anyone can own a yacht under the Maltese flag but EU, EEA and Swiss nationals may hold the yacht under their personal name while others would need to hold the yacht through a Maltese or foreign company. It is not required that the owner of the yacht resides in Malta or even in the EU. The place of residence of the owner is not relevant at all.
If the owner is not resident in Malta or the yacht is not owned by a Maltese company we will act as the vessels resident agent. This is a big advantage when compared to other EU vessel jurisdictions which usually require the person to be resident in the country concerned.
In order to receive the permanent registration, we will have to send Maltese Registrar of Ships additional documents but as mentioned we have 6 months to comply. If you cannot get all paperwork finished within 6 months we will apply for an extension giving us another 6 months to collect the papers needed.
Advantages of registering under the Maltese flag:
- All types of vessels can be registered (there are some extra requirements on ships over 15 years old)
- Temporary registration is available (2/3 days, providing all documents are supplied)
- Well known jurisdiction, no issues in Ports
- Vessels under construction can be registered
- EU / EEA and Swiss national may hold yacht in their personal name, all others need to setup a Maltese or Eu company.
- Residence of beneficial owner is irrelevant
- No restrictions on the nationality of the master, officers and crew of vessels registered under the Malta flag
- No restrictions on the sale and mortgaging of Maltese ships
- No restrictions on the sale or transfer of shares of a company owning a Maltese yacht;
- Annual yacht registration costs are low
- Bareboat charter registrations are possible
Which type of vessels can register under Maltese flag?
All types of vessels, from pleasure yachts to oil rigs, including vessels under construction, may be registered, provided that, they are wholly owned by legally constituted corporate bodies or entities irrespective of nationality, or by European Union citizens. Vessels less than 6 meters cannot be registered with the Maltese international Flag Registration.
Important: Vessels under 6 meters cannot be registered with the Maltese yacht registration.
Restrictions on certain vessels
There are no age restrictions on pleasure yachts or yachts registered under the commercial yacht code.
Note on older vessels:
- Vessels of 15 years and over, but under 20 years must pass an inspection by an authorised flag state inspector before or within a month of provisional registration end
- Vessels of 20 years and over but less than 25 years must pass an inspection by an authorised flag state inspector prior to being provisionally registered.
- Vessels of 25 years and over require express permission by the authorities to be registered.
Pleasure Vessel Registration In Malta
Documents required for the Pleasure Registration of a vessel:
- Original memorandum and articles of owning a company, only incase the owner of the vessel is a company
- Recent good standing certificate of owning company, only incase the owner of the vessel is a company
- Previous ITC (if vessel over 24 meters in length) – in case of new build ITC issued by the builder.
- Declaration of antifouling (if vessel is over 24 meters length)
Documents required for permanent registration:
- Original Builders Certificate (in case of new building)
- Original bill of sale
- Original certificate of survey
- ITC (if the vessel is over 24 meters in length)
- Carving and marking note duly signed
- Original deletion certificate
- Surrender the original provisional certificate
Commercial Vessel Registration in Malta
Documents required for the provisional registration for commercial vessels:
- Inspection Report
- Radio Report
- Radio Application
- MLC Compliance Certificate
- Certificate of Survey
- Previous tonnage certificate
- Previous certificate of survey (if applicable)
- International antifouling certificate
- International load line certificate
- Application for registration
- Declaration of ownership
- Safe manning application form
- Certified copy of previous registration certificate
Documents required for permanent commercial registration:
- Original bill of sale (dated before the provisional registration)
- Original Builders certificate
- Original deletion certificate
- International tonnage certificate obo Malta
- Certificate of Survey obo Malta
- Carving and Marking note
- Surrender of provisional registration certificate