What is boat registration?
Boat registration is registration of a smaller craft on the Malta register.
The legal effect is identical to registering a large yacht — the boat gains Maltese nationality, a port of registry and an official number, and its ownership is recorded on a public register. What differs is the scale of the file: a small boat used privately carries a lighter survey and certification burden than a commercially certified vessel, so the process is usually shorter and cheaper.
Who is it for?
Owners of motor and sailing boats
Craft used privately in Malta, the Mediterranean or further afield.
Owners of tenders and RIBs
Where the tender needs its own registration separate from the mother yacht.
Buyers of second-hand boats
Where the boat has to be deleted from its current flag and re-registered in the new owner's name.
Owners wanting an EU flag
Non-EU owners who want their boat on an EU white-list register without a nationality restriction.
What you get
- The same EU white-list flag the largest yachts use.
- A short document file for privately used boats.
- Provisional registration in as little as 24–48 hours.
- No restriction on the nationality of the owner.
- A registered title that a buyer or a lender can rely on.
How the process works
Tell us about the boat
Type, length, year, current flag and how you use it — that decides the file.
Ownership
We confirm whether you register personally or through a Maltese company, and set it up if needed.
Provisional registration
We file the application and the boat can fly the Malta flag within days.
Permanent registration
We complete measurement and permanent registration, and hand you the calendar of renewals.
Requirements
- An eligible owner — personally, or through a Maltese company where that suits you better.
- Proof of ownership and clear title.
- Deletion from the previous registry, if the boat is already flagged.
- Measurement appropriate to the size of the craft.
Please note. Eligibility is assessed case by case by the Malta flag administration. Send us the vessel details and we will confirm what applies to you before you commit.
Documents you will need
- Proof of ownership — bill of sale, or the builder's certificate for a new build
- Deletion certificate from the previous registry, if the vessel is already flagged
- Passport copy and proof of address for each beneficial owner
- Company incorporation documents, where the owner is a company
- Boat details — make, model, hull identification number, year and length
- Evidence of insurance cover
- Radio licence application, where the boat carries radio equipment
Please note. Indicative list. The exact file the registry asks for depends on the vessel, its age and the regime it is registered under — we confirm your list in writing before anything is filed.