By virtue of Legal Notice 127 of 2025, a number of changes recently took place in the above-mentioned regulations.
The main aim of the Malta Beneficial Ownership Regulation changes reflect the first transposition phase of the Sixth Anti-Money Laundering Directive, specifically Article 74 of Directive (EU) 2024/1640 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2024 on the mechanisms to be put in place by Member States for the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing.
The key changes are the following:
- Broader access to beneficial ownership data has been given to individuals or entities with a legitimate interest, such as professionals working to prevent money laundering or terrorism financing. They may now access BO records (without alerting the company involved), provided they submit a written request to the MBR with supporting identification, credentials, and a legal basis of their request. Such persons shall be granted access to the name, the month and year of birth, country of residence and nationality or nationalities of the beneficial owner, and the nature and extent of the beneficial interest held.
- The Malta Business Registry (MBR) has published revised BO reporting forms. The old forms are no longer accepted.
3. Beneficial owners must now record all nationalities they hold when completing the upcoming Annual BO Confirmation.
Disclaimer
The above does not constitute tax or legal advice and is up to date on the date it was published. Please ensure that you take appropriate advice from tax or legal professionals before making any decisions based on the above.
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