The Malta Business Registry (MBR) has announced the entry into force of key amendments to the Companies Act.

The amendments introduce significant updates to company administration and dissolution procedures in Malta. Provisions 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 32 and 47(b) of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act No. XVIII of 2025) came into effect on 16 December 2025 following the publication of Legal Notice 286 of 2025.

At the same time, revised legislation governing statutory forms has been implemented through the Companies Act (Forms) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations, 2025, published as Legal Notice 287 of 2025. These regulations introduce updated and new forms aligned with the amended provisions of the Act.

To facilitate implementation, the MBR has issued User Guidelines aimed at assisting companies and their officers, corporate service providers (CSPs),  and other stakeholders in navigating the revised procedures. The guidelines offer practical instructions on completing and submitting the relevant forms and should be read in conjunction with Legal Notice 287 of 2025.

The MBR has also confirmed that all forms related to the simplified dissolution procedure must be submitted exclusively through its online platform, Business Automation Registry Online System (BAROS). 

Commenting on the changes, MBR CEO and Registrar Geraldine Spiteri Lucas stated that the mandatory shift to online submissions and the introduction of updated dissolution forms mark an important milestone in the Registry’s ongoing digitalisation strategy.

She explained that the simplified dissolution procedure is designed to reduce administrative burdens, shorten processing times, and enhance transparency for companies wishing to wind up their operations in an orderly manner.

Dr Spiteri Lucas noted that the measure complements last year’s reforms to company incorporations, reinforcing the Registry’s overarching objective of making it “easy to incorporate, easy to dissolve.” She added that the new framework would strengthen Malta’s competitive position while ensuring the Registry remains efficient and up to date.

The simplified dissolution procedure aims to prevent companies from remaining idle and to spare businesses and CSPs from engaging in unnecessarily complex, lengthy, and costly legal processes.

By standardising forms and moving the process entirely online, the MBR seeks to minimise errors, improve regulatory oversight, and deliver a clearer, faster, and more cost-effective dissolution route.

The MBR has encouraged all companies and corporate service providers to familiarise themselves with the new framework to ensure compliance and avoid delays.