Malta Investment Service Providers must hold a valid licence, whilst the EU Passporting regime applies to all Malta Investment Service Providers.
Over the last two decades, Malta has established itself as an innovative and reliable financial services centre, hosting a variety of financial services businesses and structures including fund managers, fund administrators, forex brokers, payment services providers, investment advisors and insurance principals. The Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), is responsible for the licensing, regulation and supervision of investment services providers operating in and from Malta and is the Island’s single regulator for financial services. Malta’s appeal is also enhanced by its highly skilled workforce, multilingualism, extensive tax treaty network, and reliable IT infrastructure.
MALTA FUNDS: 580+ investment funds with combined NAVof €9.7billion TIMEZONE: Central European Time Zone (UTC+01:00) BANKING SYSTEM: 10th soundest system in theworld (WEF) GDP GROWTH: 7.5% in 2018 TOTAL ASSET VALUE UCITS: €2.4billion TOTAL ASSET VALUE PIFS:€6.6 billion FINANCIAL SERVICESFRAMEWORK: EU and OECD approved FUND DOMICILE RECOGNITION:Rated No. 1 Europe’s favoured fund
domicile (Hedge Fund Review’s 2013 and2014 Service Provider Rankings)
- Provide applicant with EU passport;
- Internationally recongised legislation;
- Offer competetive regulatory fees;
- Fast process of approvement;
- Competitive corporate taxation rates.
The principal legislation governing Investment Services’ in Malta is the Investment Services Act, 1994 (“ISA”) as subsequently amended. The ISA establishes the regulatory framework for investment services providers including portfolio managers, investment advisors, and forex brokers.
- Applicant must be a proposed or incorporated company;
- A board of at least 2 directors;
- Dedicated local presence;
- Committed share capital;
- Shareholders, directors and other employees of good repute and competent.

