The Malta Business Registry (MBR) has announced that the Companies Act (Register of Beneficial Owners) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, introduced through Legal Notice 184 of 2026, came into force on the 10th of July 2026. These amendments form part of Malta's implementation of the Sixth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (EU) 2024/1640 and are intended to strengthen the country's beneficial ownership framework by enhancing transparency and reinforcing measures aimed at preventing money laundering, predicate offences, and terrorist financing.

Among the most significant changes is the introduction of a new three-tier access regime governing access to the Register of Beneficial Owners (RBO). Under the revised framework, individuals who can demonstrate a legitimate interest in preventing or combating money laundering, predicate offences, or terrorist financing may apply for access to beneficial ownership information. Such requests must be submitted in writing and must include the applicant's identification details, relevant credentials, and a declaration explaining the legal basis and purpose of the request. The Registrar may require additional supporting documentation where considered necessary. Requests for access to the Register of Beneficial Owners should be submitted to accesstobo@mbr.mt.

The amendments also introduce a new BO4 Form (Declaration on Beneficial Owners), reflecting a greater emphasis on companies proactively determining whether any individual exercises indirect ownership or control over the company. The BO4 declaration applies to companies and other commercial partnerships whose registered shareholders are all natural persons and which do not satisfy the exemption criteria established under the Regulations. Recognising that affected entities may require time to review their ownership structures, the Regulations provide for a six-month transitional period within which the BO4 declaration must be submitted where applicable.

At the same time, the Regulations preserve a simplified compliance regime for companies with straightforward ownership structures. Where all registered shareholders are natural persons, none acts as a trustee or fiduciary, no undisclosed individual ultimately owns or controls more than 25% of the company or otherwise exercises control, and no individual qualifies as a senior managing official, the company's Register of Members will continue to be deemed to constitute its Register of Beneficial Owners. In such circumstances, the company will not be required to submit additional beneficial ownership declarations.

The statutory beneficial ownership forms have also been revised to require the inclusion of additional information relating to beneficial owners, namely their place of birth and residential address. The MBR has confirmed that these updated forms must be used with immediate effect and that previous versions will no longer be accepted.

In light of these amendments, companies and commercial partnerships should carefully review their ownership structures and beneficial ownership records to determine whether they are affected by the new requirements. Particular attention should be given to the introduction of the BO4 declaration, the revised reporting forms, and the applicable transitional period to ensure that all necessary filings are completed within the prescribed timeframe.

These amendments represent a further step in aligning Malta's corporate transparency framework with evolving European Union anti-money laundering standards. Businesses are therefore encouraged to familiarise themselves with the revised regulatory requirements and take any necessary action to ensure timely compliance.

For further information or assistance in assessing the impact of these changes on your organisation, please contact our Corporate Services team at kaylie.chetcuti@pkfmalta.com.