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With extensive experience in the Maltese superyacht sector, CSB Group delivers end-to-end Malta Flag yacht registration services through a single point of contact. We support both private and commercial yachts, assisting with provisional registration (valid for up to 6 months and extendible), permanent registration, coordination with recognised organisations, such as RINA, and radio licensing and MMSI allocation with Transport Malta.
Yachting in Malta
Malta has, for years, been a maritime nation of repute. Its strategic location in the centre of the Mediterranean, natural harbours and extensive range of maritime services such as shipbuilding and repair, Freeport, bunkering, ship supplies and towage services have contributed to making Malta a leading maritime hub. The island’s location has given it great strategic importance and Malta is now recognised as being an entrepôt to the EU. Malta remains Europe’s largest ship registry (and 6th globally) after ~10% growth in 2024.
Besides offering world-class berthing facilities to the superyacht industry, Malta provides yacht owners a range of attractive legal and fiscal solutions. As a one-stop shop, CSB Group’s dedicated team assists with temporary importation, commercial yacht registration (CYC/sCYC) and VAT-efficient finance leasing structures, taking into account the use-and-enjoyment rules under Article 59a of the EU VAT Directive and the Malta VAT Act (Cap. 406).
Private & Commercial Malta Yacht Registration (CYC/sCYC), VAT, Crew & Compliance
Under Maltese law, yachts may be registered either as private (pleasure) yachts or as commercial yachts, depending on their intended use and length.
A private (pleasure) yacht must be at least 6 metres in length and is intended exclusively for personal use. Such yachts may not carry passengers for reward or be used in trade. However, a privately registered yacht may conduct charters within Maltese territorial waters only, provided that a Commercial Vessel Certificate (CVC) is obtained from Transport Malta.
Alternatively, a yacht may be registered as a commercial yacht, provided it is not less than 12 metres in length and is intended for commercial use, including chartering. Commercially registered yachts may operate and charter both within and outside Malta’s territorial waters. Yachts under 24 metres fall under the Small Commercial Yacht Code (sCYC 2024), while yachts of 24 metres or more are regulated by the Commercial Yacht Code (CYC 2025).
Where applicable, commercial yachts are also subject to relevant international conventions, including STCW 78, MLC 2006, SOLAS, MARPOL, and ISM/ISPS.
As at April 2025, 20,497 yachts were registered in Malta, including those on the Small Ships Register. By Q1 2025, Malta surpassed 10,000 ships on the main register, maintaining its position as Europe’s largest ship register.
The benefits of registering a yacht under the Malta flag
- Competitive yacht registration costs: Malta offers attractive and transparent registration fees. For commercial yachts under 24 m, the registration fee starts at approximately €115 with annual fees from €150 plus tonnage tax. For larger commercial yachts (≥ 24 m), the first-year fee is around €625, with subsequent annual fees of about €1,095 plus tonnage tax. Full details are available in the Transport Malta fee schedule;
- Low company formation and registration costs;
- Attractive tax incentives to yachts and superyachts owners, encouraging commercial operation;
- No restrictions on crew nationality: There are no nationality restrictions for the master, officers, or crew under Transport Malta policy, subject to STCW endorsement;
- No restrictions on the nationality of shareholders and directors of Maltese shipping companies;
- Liberal trading & mortgage regime: Maltese-registered yachts enjoy no trading restrictions and may be freely sold or mortgaged, with statutory mortgage deeds recognised under Merchant Shipping Act (Cap. 234), including clear priority rules;
- Straightforward registration process: Yachts can be registered through a single EU authority with English-language documentation;
- Serious and efficient maritime administration: Transport Malta offers 24/7 technical officer support and is rolling out e-certificates for vessels, streamlining registration and compliance processes;
- Flag state inspectorate to ensure adherence to international standards;
- A sovereign state, member of the European Union with political, fiscal and social stability;
- Dynamic international registration: Malta maintains one of the largest ship registers in the world and is highly active in the EU and with international organisations such as the IMO and the Maritime Identification Digits (MID) scheme;
- Easy access to decision-makers within the competent authorities, backed by a qualified and efficient team of technical officers available for urgent matters on a 24-hour basis.
Malta Yacht Registration Process
The CSB Group team of advisors provides full support throughout the whole process required to register a yacht in Malta.
1. Submission of Documents
The CSB Group team will assist you from start to finish to successfully obtain a permanent registration certificate smoothly and efficiently. As your advisors, we would act as an intermediary between yourself and Transport Malta to draft certain documents and submit all the documents required to complete the two-step registration process, consisting first in obtaining a Provisional Certificate of Malta Registry, valid for six (6) months; extendible up to an aggregate 6 months, and subsequently a Permanent Certificate of Malta Registry.
2. Provisional Registration
After the necessary initial documentation is provided to Transport Malta, and if the application for registration of a yacht under the Maltese flag is satisfactory to the authority, a Provisional Certificate of Malta Registry will be issued upon payment of the applicable fee. The certificate is valid for six months (subject to renewal), and the required documentation includes, but is not limited to, the bill of sale, deletion certificate, builder's certificate, and declaration of conformity, to name a few.
3. Permanent Registration
Once provisionally registered, for permanent registration to be obtained, we would assist in submitting any additional original documentation required by Transport Malta during the term within which the yacht holds the provisional registration certificate.
Once obtained, the Permanent Certificate of Malta Registry is renewable on an annual basis from the date of initial registration at a fee, which we can also assist with as owner representative and/or resident agents.
A typical registration path for a commercial yacht, for illustrative purposes only, may include: name reservation → provisional registration → class survey and SMS/MLC compliance setup → commercial certificate → permanent registration.
Ancillary Yacht Services
Yacht Financing
Through a healthy working relationship with independent and licensed European yacht leasing partners, CSB Group can assist in coordinating financial and operating leases to support the financing of yachts. This includes guidance on related formalities such as mortgage registration under the Merchant Shipping Act (Cap. 234 of the Laws of Malta) and the typical security package, which may involve a statutory mortgage and deed of covenants.
Tax Structuring & Administration
CSB Group can assist in the structuring of a tax-efficient yacht ownership framework, in coordination with the Malta Tax and Customs Administration(MTCA), ensuring compliance with Maltese regulations and international standards.
Co-ordination of Temporary Importation Procedure
This procedure enables yacht owners who are non-EU residents and whose yachts do not fly a EU flag to remain within the EU and move freely within EU territorial waters for a period of up to 18 months. Extensions may be possible for laid-up vessels under certain conditions (some Member States allow up to 24 months), and a security or guarantee may be required by Customs. During this period, the yacht may move freely without additional customs formalities, and any laid-up period may be disregarded when calculating the 18-month timeframe. Temporary admission is governed by UCC Articles 250–253, and “reset” mechanics apply, such as exiting the EU customs territory.
At the end of the temporary admission period, the yacht must be exported out of the EU, with no customs duties or VAT payable on the value of the yacht, provided the conditions of temporary admission have been met. The Customs Authority in Malta will require a security or guarantee to cover any customs duties or VAT that could become due if the yacht does not leave EU territory.
Change in Registration Type with the Malta Flag
We can also assist in changing from the type of registration the yacht has been registered under the Malta Flag. Notably, changing from a commercial registration to a pleasure one would be a smoother transaction since there are fewer criteria to be satisfied for a yacht to be registered for private use. On the other hand, we may assist with changing a pleasure registration to a commercial one, provided that the yacht is 12 metres in length or more but not more than 3000 gross tonnes, does not carry cargo, carries not more than 12 passengers and is operated by the owner or body corporate owning the yacht for commercial use. In this regard, the Malta Commercial Yacht registration considers the following classes of yachts:
- Yachts in commercial use of not less than 12 metres in length and not more than 24 metres;
- Superyachts in commercial use of more than 24 metres in length and less than 500 gross tonnes; and
- Superyachts in commercial use of more than 24 metres in length and 500 gross tonnes and over but less than 3000 gross tonnes.
Upon satisfaction of the above criteria, we will assist in the sorting out of all necessary elements for obtaining the commercial yacht certification, once the Commercial Certificate of Survey and the International Tonnage Certificate (if applicable) have been duly issued by the surveyor. This includes liaison with the registration and technical departments at Transport Malta in order to progress with the issuance of the Commercial Certificate of Registry. Simultaneously, we will also assist in liaison with the radio licencing department at Transport Malta to enquire whether anything would need updating considering the change in registration.
Documentation Reviews
Evaluation of various documentation, including, amongst others, loan and security agreements, sale and purchase agreements, and mortgages. This may include the review of Memoranda of Agreement (MoA)/SPA, Protocol of Delivery & Acceptance, Bareboat Charterparty, as well as the registration, transfer, or discharge of statutory mortgages.
Statutory Mortgage Deeds Procedures
Registration, amendments, transfer & discharge of contracts registered over Malta registered yachts.
Crewing & Compliance Regulations
CSB Group assists with ongoing formalities with the relevant Maltese authorities. Commercial superyachts (≥ 24 m, CYC) require a Minimum Safe Manning (MSM) Certificate, while commercial yachts (< 24 m, sCYC) follow the manning tables set out in the Small Commercial Yacht Code (sCYC). Foreign certificates under the STCW 78 Convention require endorsement from Transport Malta, and the MLC 2006 applies to commercial yachts exceeding 500 GT or engaged in international voyages.
Crewing is highly flexible: there are no nationality restrictions for masters, officers, or crew, subject to STCW compliance.
Deletion from Registry
When the owner of a Maltese-registered ship or yacht wishes to transfer to a foreign registry, an application must be submitted to Transport Malta. CSB Group can assist with the process from start to finish to ensure a smooth attainment of a Deletion Certificate from the Malta Registry.
While the exact documentation required is determined by Transport Malta and provided upon engagement, the process is handled via the Merchant Shipping Directorate, and may include items such as consent from any registered mortgagee, the original Certificate of Registry (if applicable), and the deletion application.
For questions or clarifications, please contact us at [email protected], and should you wish to engage CSB Group, we can guide you step-by-step regarding due diligence, fees, and the overall process.
FAQs – Malta Yacht Registration
- How quickly can I obtain a Provisional Certificate under the Malta flag, and how long is it valid?
A Provisional Certificate can be issued once Transport Malta receives the required documentation. It is typically valid for six months and may be extended, depending on the readiness and completeness of the submitted documents. - What code applies to a 22m charter yacht—sCYC or CYC—and do I need class?
Yachts under 24 m fall under the Small Commercial Yacht Code (sCYC 2024). Compliance with class/RO requirements depends on the yacht’s size, type, and intended commercial activity. - Can a non-EU owner operate a Malta-flag charter in EU waters under Temporary Admission?
Temporary Admission (TA) allows non-EU yachts to enter and move within EU waters without paying customs duties or VAT, generally for up to 18 months. Commercial use may impact eligibility or conditions, so owners should seek bespoke advice before relying on TA for charter operations. - What’s the difference between a Private/Pleasure Yacht and a Commercial Yacht?
A Private/Pleasure Yacht is intended for personal use and cannot carry passengers for reward, while a Commercial Yacht is used for commercial purposes, must meet manning and safety requirements, and complies with CYC or sCYC regulations depending on size. Class and safety inspections are required for commercial operations. - Can I bareboat charter-in a non-Maltese yacht to Malta temporarily?
Yes, yachts may enter Malta under bareboat charter registration rules. Core conditions include submitting a charter agreement, complying with registration formalities, and ensuring the yacht meets Maltese safety and compliance standards.
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Testimonial
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"We have used CSB Group's Yachting Services in Malta and we would like to highlight the team's professionalism and reliability throughout the registration process of our vessel. We were very pleased and very appreciative of the great availability of the staff to help us and answer our questions."
Stephanie Butikofer
Tikiaora Inc Limited of Tikiaora
This is to express my absolute satisfaction in my dealings with Sacha Farrugia in the process of opening my company over the last few weeks. I was really blown away with their level of professionalism and customer service. They went above and beyond to ensure that all of my questions and curiosities were met and understood, and their level of knowledge was excellent. I would have no problem recommending your company to others in the future and will continue to use your services myself.
Phoenix Classic Charters Limited
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CSB Group is authorised by the MFSA to register vessels under the Maltese flag in terms of the Company Service Providers Act, 2013. Get support from our specialised professionals.
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