Business & Commerce
Doing business in Malta - If you are thinking of doing business in Malta we can get you in touch with one of our associates - A.I.M. Consulting. This is a leading profitability consultancy whose primary aim is assisting clients in start-ups, consolidation of business, business planning, franchising and entering new niches with the primary aim of enhancing profitability.
A.I.M. provides a comprehensive package of assistance and advisory services to foreign companies and investors wishing to set up operations in Malta. The company is dedicated to finding solutions to the particular business needs of companies and does so by delivering a range of tailor-made services which include pre-investment advice and support, and access to funding opportunities in Malta. Through its network with local enterprise, A.I.M. can source the appropriate local business venture which a foreign investor may be interested in taking over or joining.
Investing in Malta - Persons dealing in investment services in Malta or through Malta are required to obtain a licence from the Malta Financial Services Authority. Various categories of licences relating to the provision of investment services in the capacity of principal or agent, advisor, management and administration, trustee, custodian or nominee are available.
International trading companies - A Maltese company that limits its activities to trading activities outside Malta with persons outside Malta who are not residents of Malta can acquire the status of an International Trading Company (ITC). ITC’s can defer the payment of their tax liability for up to eighteen months from the end of the financial year and their non-resident shareholders are entitled to tax refunds that can reduce the effective tax suffered by them to as little as 4.17%.
International holding activities - A company may be registered in Malta for the purpose of having a “participating holding" in a foreign registered company. Non-resident shareholders of such companies qualify for a full refund of the Malta tax paid by the company on profits and gains arising from "participating holdings" when such profits are distributed.
Trust registration - Malta has enacted legislation for the creation of both private and public or charitable trusts. Malta’s Trust Law is based on the Jersey law on trusts. It defines the registration formalities to be carried out, the position of the settler, the rights of the beneficiaries and the powers and duties of trustees. Various benefits apply to Malta registered trusts.
Ship registration in Malta - All types of vessels - from pleasure yachts to cruise liners, to container ships, to oil tankers, to oil rigs, may be registered under the Malta flag provided they are wholly owned by Maltese citizens, by Maltese companies, or by bodies corporate/entities established outside Malta which appoint a resident agent. Maltese law also provides for bareboat charter registration of foreign ships under the Malta flag as well as for bareboat registration of Maltese ships under a foreign flag.
Employment Licences - Foreign nationals including citizens of the member states of the EU require a permit to work in Malta.
EU Nationals - Although nationals of the European Union require a permit to be employed in Malta, this is normally granted automatically unless the Government of Malta sees that the granting of the permit is against public policy, public security or public health. The prospective employer applies for the permit known as the Employment Licence.
Non-EU Nationals - Non-EU nationals also require a permit which is applied for by the prospective employer. This is normally granted unless apart from the reasons quoted above, there is supply on the local labour market for the post that the foreign national would eventually be occupying.
