Malta: Money Laundering

Malta has introduced significant amendments to its beneficial ownership regime through the Companies Act (Register of Beneficial Owners) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, establishing a three-tier access system and new reporting requirements. Companies must now assess whether they fall within the scope of the updated regime and comply with the new Form BO4 filing obligations by January 2027, or face substantial penalties.

The Malta Financial Services Authority has issued new supervisory guidance following a thematic review of how credit institutions identify and mitigate terrorist financing, proliferation financing and sanctions evasion risks. The review reveals significant gaps in proliferation financing frameworks and sets clear expectations for governance, risk assessment, transaction monitoring and the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence in financial crime compliance.

This quarterly bulletin consolidates significant legal, regulatory, and compliance developments across Malta's financial services, gaming, consumer protection, and data protection sectors. Key regulatory bodies including the MGA, MFSA, FIAU, MCCAA, IDPC, and FSSA have issued consultations, guidance, and enforcement updates addressing artificial intelligence governance, anti-money laundering standards, decentralised finance frameworks, and enhanced consumer protections. The updates reflect Malta's ongoing al

The European Union is prohibiting cash payments that exceed ten thousand euro (€10,000), or the equivalent in national currency, with full application from 10th July 2027.

In December 2025, the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit, together with the Central Bank of Malta, issued a Question and Answers document providing interpretative guidance on the interaction between anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism obligations ...

In the coming months, subject persons must submit their updated Risk Evaluation Questionnaire, confirm their Subject Person Profile and present a complete Business Risk Assessment.

The function of the MLRO is one of the main and most important AML CFT controls subject persons are required to implement.

On the 14th of May 2025, the Malta Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (‘FIAU') issued a guidance document, bearing code SA25-01, aiding compliance professionals identify indicators...

The FIAU endorses such documents through a Guidance Note on High Risk and Non-Cooperative Jurisdictions published on February 2025 and as a result, subject persons are obliged to compl with the FATF public documents.