Malta

Malta, a member state of the European Union, has one of the most widely used registers in yachting. Agenzia Magnum helps you register your boat under the Maltese flag, for private or commercial use.

Who runs the register

The register is kept by the Merchant Shipping Directorate of Transport Malta and governed by the Merchant Shipping Act; the Maltese flag is on the Paris MoU white list. Official information is available on the Transport Malta website.

Who can register a yacht

• nationals of the European Union, the European Economic Area, Switzerland and the United Kingdom;
• duly incorporated companies and bodies, whatever their nationality;
• owners not resident in Malta must appoint a resident agent to represent them.

Private and commercial yachts

A yacht can be registered as a private yacht, for the owner's exclusive use with no fare-paying passengers, or as a commercial yacht, carrying no cargo and no more than 12 passengers. Commercial vessels have dedicated technical codes: the Small Commercial Yacht Code (sCYC 2024), in force since 1 April 2024 for commercial yachts under 24 metres, and the Commercial Yacht Code (CYC 2025), in force since 1 July 2025, which applies to larger commercial yachts.

How registration works

The yacht is first registered provisionally for six months, which can be extended by up to a further six, while the documents for permanent registration are completed: proof of ownership, deletion from the previous register, tonnage certificate and proof of marking. The certificate is renewed every year.

Advantages for an Italian owner

• the flag of an EU state, well recognised and widely used in international yachting;
• clear rules for commercial use (charter) thanks to the dedicated codes;
• no nationality requirement for the captain and crew, provided they hold recognised certificates;
• mortgages can be registered, and the vessel can be registered under a bareboat charter.

The flag does not change the VAT and customs status of the boat: for tax matters, specific advice is recommended.

How we help

We check the requirements, prepare the documents, including deletion from the previous register, and coordinate the application with the Maltese register and the resident agent until the certificate is issued.

Contact us using the form at the bottom of the page with your boat's details and intended use, and we will suggest the best route.

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