Regulatory & Licensing Services
Advice and support for licensing strategy, regulatory approvals, governance, policies, audits, reporting, renewals, variations, and transfers.
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Regulatory & Licensing
Business licensing and regulatory approvals in Malta
For anyone starting or changing a business in Malta: which licence or approval applies to the activity, how to apply, and how to keep it in good standing.
Is this your situation?
- I want to open a business. What licence do I need?
- I’m not sure my activity needs a licence at all
- We need to prepare a licence application
Initial enquiry
Tell us what has happened
Submission does not confirm acceptance, representation or engagement.
Common situations
Is this your situation?
If one of these sounds familiar, the practice can help. Tell us what has happened using the enquiry form.
- “I want to open a business. What licence do I need?”Business licence assessment
- “I’m not sure my activity needs a licence at all”Whether a licence is required
- “We need to prepare a licence application”Licence applications
- “We want to operate in a regulated sector”Sector-specific approvals
- “Our licence is due for renewal or needs changing”Renewals & variations
- “We are buying a licensed business”Transfers & change of ownership
- “We are changing our activity or premises”Changes to a licence
- “A regulator has contacted us”Regulator enquiries & inspections
What the practice can help with
From the first licence question to ongoing compliance
Which licence or approval a business needs, licence applications, renewals, variations, transfers and dealings with regulators.
Business Licensing
- Business licence assessment
- Identifying licences required for a proposed activity
- New business licence applications
- Operational permits
- Commercial activity licences
- Sector-specific approvals
- Licence documentation
- Authority correspondence
Licensing Strategy
- Preliminary regulatory assessment
- Determining whether a licence is required
- Regulatory structuring before business launch
- Application strategy
- Regulatory roadmap
Licence Applications
- Preparation of licence applications
- Supporting documentation
- Business plans required for licensing
- Regulatory questionnaires
- Authority submissions
- Follow-up correspondence
Existing Licences
- Licence renewals
- Licence variations
- Licence transfers
- Change of ownership
- Change of business activities
- Change of licensed premises where applicable
Compliance
- Regulatory compliance reviews
- Compliance frameworks
- Internal policies
- Procedures
- Regulatory reporting
- Gap analysis
- Compliance audits
- Risk assessments
Authorities
- MFSA-related regulatory matters where applicable
- MGA-related matters
- Commerce and business licensing authorities
- Other competent Maltese authorities
- Responses to regulator enquiries
- Inspection and audit preparation
Malta context
How licensing works in Malta
A summary of the general position. Which licence applies depends on the activity, the sector and the structure, and the practice confirms it for your business.
It depends on the activity
Whether a licence or approval is required depends on what the business will do, the sector and how it is structured. Different activities fall under different competent authorities.
Regulated sectors
The practice’s regulatory work covers financial services, investment services, electronic money and payment services, FinTech, digital assets, gaming, corporate service providers and other regulated commercial activity.
Gaming
Regulated remote gaming activity can require an MGA gaming service licence, depending on the activity and structure.
After approval
Licences can need renewal, and changes of ownership, activity or premises may require a licence variation or transfer.
A Diligent Four-Phase Regulatory Framework
Regulatory Gap Analysis
Evaluating proposed operational models against statutory rules, supervisory directives, and capital thresholds.
Documentation & Governance Build
Drafting policies, compliance procedures, risk matrices, and fit-and-proper submission dossiers.
Authority Liaison & Submission
Submitting formal applications to regulatory bodies and managing regulatory queries through to approval in principle.
Post-Licensing Compliance
Providing continuous advisory support for systems audits, statutory filings, and ongoing supervisory compliance.
Common questions
Business licensing in Malta: common questions
Short answers based on published guidance. For advice on your own circumstances, contact the practice.
I want to open a business in Malta. Do I need a licence?
It depends on the activity. The practice can carry out a business licence assessment, identify the licences or approvals required, and set out a regulatory roadmap before launch.
Can you prepare and submit the application?
Yes. Support covers licence applications, supporting documentation, business plans required for licensing, regulatory questionnaires, authority submissions and follow-up correspondence.
Can you help with a licence we already hold?
Yes. The practice assists with renewals, variations and transfers, including changes of ownership, business activity and licensed premises where applicable.
Do you handle gaming licences?
Yes. MGA and overseas gaming licensing, structuring and compliance are covered in more depth under Gaming & iGaming Advisory.
Does submitting an enquiry create a lawyer-client relationship?
No. Submitting an enquiry does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Representation begins only after the scope and formal engagement have been confirmed separately.
Related
Related legal help in Malta
Company formation
Incorporation, Malta Business Registry registration, company structure, directors and shareholders, statutory setup and startup support.
Read the guide
Single Permit & work permits
New applications, renewals, change of employer or role, job loss, refusals, revocations, delays and employer compliance.
Read the guide
Employment rights & disputes
Unpaid salary, unpaid overtime, unlawful deductions, dismissal, redundancy, discrimination, DIER complaints and Industrial Tribunal matters.
Read the guideReady to take the next step?
Request a consultation
Contact the practice to discuss regulatory authorizations, compliance policies, or authority liaison in Malta.
