Malta is one of the most popular EU countries for yacht registration due to important factors such as low company formation costs, low registration and annual fees, no restrictions on the nationality of the owner, no age limit for the registration of a yacht, reduced VAT rates depending on the size and type of the yacht and everything is controlled by EU norms, laws and regulations. Coupled with lifestyle factors such as the low crime rate, it is the best country in Europe to register your yacht. There are many yachting groups, boating suppliers and tradesmen on hand to ensure it is the best place to moor your vessel. There are also harbours all over the islands so there are always places to go. Our experts are on hand to handle everything for you and ensure your yacht is correctly registered and you have peace of mind.
Registration Procedure
Registration under the Malta flag takes place in two stages. The first step is provisional registration, whereby a provisional certificate of registration which is valid for six months (extendable for a further period or periods not exceeding in aggregate six months) is issued by the Registrar of Ships. For such provisional registration, certain documents must be filed with the Merchant Shipping Directorate within Transport Malta (TM).
These documents include:
- A Power of Attorney to register the vessel as a pleasure yacht under the Malta Flag;
- The Application for Registry, duly completed;
- A copy of the International Tonnage Certificate (applicable if over 24m in length);
- A declaration of ownership made before the Registrar by the owner or authorised representative upon delivery of the yacht to the new owner.
Upon provisional registration, registration fees and the first year's annual tonnage tax must be settled with TM.
During the period of provisional registration, the owner needs to have the yacht surveyed for the issuance of the certificate of survey. Such survey is undertaken by a Maltese Government-appointed surveyor or alternatively by one of the recognised classification societies. In order for the permanent registration of the yacht under the Malta flag to be completed, the following documentation would need to be filed with the Merchant Shipping Directorate:
- Builder's certificate (if it is new or has never been registered anywhere previously);
- A bill of sale (if applicable), evidencing the ownership;
- Cancellation certificate from the previous flag (if applicable);
- Carving and Marking Note duly completed;
- An International Tonnage Certificate (ITC 1969) and a Certificate of Survey if the yacht is over 24m in load line length in terms of Art. 2(8) of the Load Line Convention. If it is less than 24m in load line length, a certificate of survey (tonnage measurement) is required;
- Return of the original provisional certificate.
When all of the above is submitted and proof of ownership is established, a Certificate of Registry is issued by the Registrar of Ships valid up till the first anniversary year of the yacht. A Certificate of Registry is subject to renewal on the anniversary of the registration of the vessel.