A trade licence in Malta is a legal authorisation that allows an individual or company to engage in commercial activities such as retail, wholesale, manufacturing, or services within Maltese territory.

It is governed primarily by the Trade Licensing Act (Cap. 441 of the Laws of Malta) and overseen by the Commerce Department under the Ministry for the Economy, EU Funds and Lands.

In simple terms, if you intend to sell goods, provide services, import/export, or run a physical or online shop in Malta, you will likely need a valid trade licence before you can operate.

A trade licence is mandatory for most commercial and trading activities. This includes but is not limited to:

• Retail outlets & shops – fashion boutiques, electronics, grocery stores, etc.
• Wholesale & distribution businesses – import/export traders, logistics providers.
• E-commerce & online retailers – selling to Maltese or EU customers.
• Hospitality & tourism providers – restaurants, cafés, catering businesses.
• Manufacturers & assemblers – even small-scale production facilities.
• Professional services with commercial components – repair services, rental businesses, delivery services.
• Foreign companies opening a Maltese branch or subsidiary for trading purposes.

Note: Certain regulated industries—such as financial services, gaming/iGaming, crypto-assets, pharmaceuticals, and health-related activities—need specialised permits or sector-specific licences in addition to the basic trade licence.

Trade licences in Malta are administered by the Commerce Department (Trade Licensing Unit).

For specific sectors:

• Tourism-related activities (hotels, travel agencies) require approvals from the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA).
• Food & beverage businesses also need health and safety clearance from the Environmental Health Directorate.
• Financial and virtual assets businesses require approval from the MFSA (Malta Financial Services Authority) or FIAU (Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit).

Binderr’s Corporate Concierge coordinates all these approvals on your behalf, saving you weeks of paperwork and follow-up.

The most common licence categories include:

1. Retail Trade Licence – for physical or online sales to consumers.
2. Wholesale Trade Licence – for B2B trading and distribution.
3. Manufacturing Trade Licence – for local production or assembly.
4. Services Trade Licence – for activities like cleaning services, repair works, rentals, etc.
5. Import/Export Trade Licence – for businesses trading across Maltese borders.
6. Branch/Foreign Company Licence – for non-Maltese entities expanding locally.
7. Temporary Trade Licence – for fairs, seasonal pop-ups, or market stalls.

Some activities fall under notifiable but exempt lists—Binderr will help you check whether your planned activity needs full licensing or just a notification.

Not always. You can apply for a Maltese trade licence as:

• A sole trader (self-employed) registered with JobsPlus.
• A Maltese-registered company (Ltd).
• A foreign company opening a branch or representative office in Malta.

However, most foreign entrepreneurs and non-residents prefer to set up a Maltese Ltd company because it provides:

• Limited liability protection.
• Easier VAT registration and banking access.
• EU Single Market benefits for cross-border trading.

To qualify for a Maltese trade licence, you typically need:

• Valid ID documents – passport or Maltese ID card for shareholders/UBOs.
• Proof of address (local or foreign).
• Business registration certificate (for companies).
• Tax Identification Number (TIN) and VAT number (if applicable).
• Lease agreement or title deed for premises OR confirmation of virtual office/registered address.
• Sector-specific approvals – e.g., health permits, MTA approvals, or MFSA authorisation.
• Compliance documentation for high-risk sectors – AML policies, fit-and-proper forms, etc.

Binderr’s compliance team prepares and organises these into a KYC/KYB pack, ensuring smooth submission.

• Standard trade licence applications: usually 5–10 working days once all documents are in order.
• High-risk or regulated activities: 4–8+ weeks depending on the authority’s due diligence.
• Seasonal or temporary licences: typically 2–5 working days.

Binderr’s Fast-Track Concierge reduces delays by pre-screening your application and liaising directly with the Trade Licensing Unit.

Yes. Non-residents can apply provided they:

• Have a Maltese registered address (physical or virtual office).
• Appoint a local representative/director if operating as a company.
• Meet AML/KYC due diligence requirements.

Binderr assists non-resident founders with end-to-end support—company formation, licensing, visa/residency permits, and business banking.

High-risk sectors such as crypto exchange, iGaming, fintech, forex, nutraceuticals, and adult-related services will require enhanced due diligence, including:

• Detailed business plan with projected transactions.
• Source of funds / wealth declarations for shareholders.
• AML and compliance policies.
• Background checks and police conduct certificates.
• Regulator-specific forms (MFSA, FIAU, MGA, etc.).

Binderr’s High-Risk Expertise increases approval success by preparing compliant submissions and managing regulator communication.

In Malta, a trade licence and VAT registration are two separate but often connected obligations:

• If your annual turnover exceeds €30,000, you are legally required to register for Value Added Tax (VAT).
• Businesses selling intra-EU goods or services—for example, shipping from Malta to Italy, Germany, or France—must register for VAT even if turnover is below the €30,000 threshold.
• Certain sectors, such as hospitality, catering, digital products, and e-commerce marketplaces, often need VAT registration from day one because of their nature of trade.
• Voluntary VAT registration is possible for startups below the threshold that want to reclaim input VAT on purchases or look more credible to suppliers.

Failure to register when required can lead to back-dated VAT payments, fines, and interest charges.

Binderr Advantage: We can bundle VAT registration with your trade licence application so that both approvals are granted in sequence—allowing you to invoice EU clients with valid VAT numbers and claim input VAT from day one. This also helps with bank account opening, as many banks ask for a VAT certificate as proof of active trading.

he answer depends on the nature of your business:

• Retailers and hospitality businesses (like boutiques, restaurants, and cafés) must provide proof of a leased commercial premises that complies with fire, safety, and health regulations. This often includes inspection by the Environmental Health Directorate and, for food businesses, hygiene approvals.
• Wholesale, service-based, and online businesses can typically use a registered office or virtual office address. This is sufficient for licensing and compliance as long as it is a real Maltese address that can receive official correspondence.
• E-commerce sellers and consulting firms often choose affordable virtual office packages in Malta to meet the legal address requirement without renting a physical shop floor.

A proper Maltese business address strengthens your application, improves credibility with regulators, and is frequently required by banks before opening a business account.

Binderr Advantage: We help you source compliant office solutions—whether it’s a cost-effective virtual office for online sellers or full commercial premises for retail operators—ensuring that your licence application isn’t delayed due to address issues.

Trade licences in Malta are generally valid for one calendar year and must be renewed annually before expiry to continue trading legally.

The renewal process involves:

1. Completing the official renewal form issued by the Commerce Department’s Trade Licensing Unit.
2. Paying the applicable renewal fee, which is usually the same as the initial licence fee.
3. Submitting any updated documentation such as a renewed lease agreement, or notifying changes in company structure, directors, or activities.
4. For some sectors (like food & beverage or manufacturing), fresh health, safety, or environmental approvals may be requested if premises or processes have changed.

Missing the renewal deadline can lead to penalties, interest charges, or even suspension of your licence—resulting in operational downtime.

Binderr Advantage: We offer an automatic renewal reminder service and can handle the entire renewal submission on your behalf, ensuring your business stays fully compliant without disruptions.

Yes. Maltese law allows for transfer, expansion, or amendment of trade licences in a range of scenarios:

• Change of premises or address: If you move your shop, office, or warehouse.
• Adding or removing activities: For example, a café adding outdoor catering or a retailer expanding into wholesale.
• Transfer of ownership: When a business is sold, inherited, or merged.
• Re-branding or restructuring: If you convert from a sole trader to a limited company or update your corporate name.

In most cases you will need to submit updated documentation, and in some instances, the authorities may require fresh inspections or approvals—especially if the change affects health, safety, or environmental standards.

Binderr Advantage: We manage all amendment and transfer submissions, coordinate with regulators, and ensure changes are made swiftly to minimise downtime or operational risk.

Yes. Under Maltese law, online shops, digital marketplaces, and e-commerce platforms selling goods or services to Maltese customers or from Malta to other EU countries require a valid trade licence.

Key points to consider:

• An e-commerce business must also comply with EU consumer protection regulations, GDPR data-protection requirements, and electronic transaction rules.
• If your online shop sells regulated products (like alcohol, tobacco, vaping products, cosmetics, or health-related goods), you may need additional sector-specific permits.
• VAT registration is usually required early for cross-border e-commerce sellers, especially if you participate in EU OSS (One-Stop Shop) schemes.

Binderr Advantage: We provide end-to-end compliance support for online sellers, bundling trade licence applications with GDPR guidance, VAT registration, and payment-gateway set-ups, ensuring your online store is fully compliant and ready to trade within the EU Single Market.

Once your trade licence is issued, you are eligible to open local Maltese or EU-based business bank accounts. A dedicated business account is essential for receiving payments, paying suppliers, and proving operational substance.

• Bank of Valletta (BOV) – Malta’s largest domestic bank, trusted by established SMEs.
• HSBC Malta – an international bank suitable for import/export and trade finance.
• APS Bank – popular among smaller businesses and startups.
• Airwallex – tailored for cross-border e-commerce and FX savings.
• Payoneer – effective for online marketplaces and international payouts.

Banks typically require proof of an active trade licence, a VAT certificate, and a physical or registered Maltese business address.

High-risk sectors such as gaming, crypto, forex, and nutraceuticals may need to submit enhanced compliance documentation including source-of-funds declarations and AML policies.

Binderr reviews your business profile and risk level to connect you with banks most likely to approve your application, saving you weeks of back-and-forth and reducing the risk of costly rejections.

Binderr is not a government agency or law firm—we’re a human-led corporate concierge and B2B marketplace that connects you with vetted Maltese service providers, compliance specialists, and banks to make business setup fast, transparent, and stress-free.

Our support includes:

1. Eligibility assessments to confirm if your planned activity needs a trade licence, a special permit, or both.
2. Jurisdiction & structure guidance—we help you choose between a Maltese Ltd, branch office, or self-employed setup.
3. Preparation of complete KYC/KYB packs, saving weeks of document chasing.
4. Application submission & regulator liaison with the Commerce Department, VAT office, and other authorities.
5. Banking, VAT, residency visas, and virtual office services all bundled into one seamless workflow.
6. Transparent all-inclusive pricing—you know upfront what government fees, compliance costs, and service provider fees to expect.

Binderr Advantage: Our approach reduces delays, improves approval rates, and lets you focus on your core business while we handle all the paperwork, follow-ups, and regulator coordination.