If you rent — or plan to rent — a property to tourists in Malta or Gozo, you need a licence from the Malta Tourism Authority before operating. The MTA paused new applications when the new Tourism Accommodation Regulations came into force on 15 June 2026, and resumes accepting them on 27 July 2026. Here is exactly how the application works under the new regime: who can apply, what goes in the file, what it costs, how long it takes, and what you're signed up for once the licence is issued.
The short version
- Applications reopen 27 July 2026. Operating (or continuing to operate) unlicensed risks a 3-year disqualification for you AND the property address.
- You don't have to own the property — owners, mandated agents, tenants (lessees) and usufructuaries can all be licensees.
- The file: ID, police conduct certificate, planning permission + approved drawings, architect certification, insurance, and a waste management plan.
- Costs: €46.59 processing fee, then ~€186/year for a typical Malta apartment — and licences issued after 1 July pay half the annual amounts for that year.
- The MTA decides within 60 days of validation — but ignoring an MTA request for 90 days kills the application, without a refund.
Step 1 — Check you can actually apply
The licence must be held by the "proprietor in title" — a wider notion than "owner". It covers the owner, a mandated agent, a lessee (yes: if you rent the property long-term and operate it as a short let, you can be the licensee — with the owner's written consent), a usufructuary, or a director acting for a company. You'll also declare how the property is operated: directly, through a sub-contracted manager, or via a third party.
Two eligibility conditions trip people up. First, the property itself: it needs a valid development permission from the Planning Authority covering this use — this is the single most common source of delays, so check your planning situation before anything else. Pre-1968 properties without formal permits can rely on a Pre-1968 Compliance Certificate or an architect's declaration. Second, the person: the applicant (and operator, if different) must be "fit and proper" — concretely, no conviction carrying 6+ months' imprisonment in the preceding five years, evidenced by a police conduct certificate.
Step 2 — Gather the file
Here is the document set the MTA expects. Collect it before 27 July if you want to be in the first wave:
- Identity documents — ID card (both sides) for the applicant, the designated contact person, and the operator where applicable. Companies add their Memorandum & Articles and a board resolution naming a representative.
- Police conduct certificate — recent, for applicant and operator. Obtainable from the Malta Police Force, including online.
- Planning permission + approved drawings — with your unit outlined in red. Pre-1968: compliance certificate or architect declaration instead.
- Architect (perit) certification — confirming the property conforms to its permission and is fit for habitation. Budget time to engage a perit; this is often the slowest piece.
- Insurance — liability cover for the property, extending to common parts if it's in a condominium.
- Waste collection management plan — a short document describing how guest waste is stored, separated and collected. One clear page is acceptable; it's required at every application and renewal.
Step 3 — Make sure the property passes the new standards
Under the 2026 regulations, your licence application is assessed against the new Sixth Schedule standards — over a hundred requirements covering occupancy, safety and equipment. The full detail is in our rules overview; the ones to verify before applying:
- Occupancy: max 2 guests per Planning-Authority-approved bedroom, 10 per unit unless the property has independent street access. Your listings must match — and no bedrooms below street level, no bunk beds.
- Safety kit: smoke detector, fire extinguisher and fire blanket in the kitchen, gas detection if you cook on gas, first aid box, emergency lighting.
- The basics guests are entitled to: Wi-Fi throughout, safe, blackout curtains, bathroom ratios (at least one bath/shower, WC and basin per 4 guests), and a long tail of equipment standards.
- Air-conditioning becomes mandatory in bedrooms, living and dining areas from 15 April 2028 — not blocking for today's application, but plan for it.
Step 4 — Submit, and what it costs
Applications go to the MTA's licensing unit (the Authority has been modernising its process — expect the current channel to be confirmed when applications reopen; we'll publish the specifics the day they do). The money side, under the Fees (Tourism) Regulations currently in force:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application processing (one-off) | €46.59 |
| Annual licence fee — Malta apartment | €130.00 (€104.00 in Gozo) |
| Annual MTA contribution | €56.00 — −20% if paid within 3 months of the 1 January due date |
| Villas with pools / farmhouses | Higher bands: ~€354 / ~€273 per year in Malta |
| Licence issued after 1 July | Half the annual fee and contribution for that year |
That last line matters right now: anyone licensed in the second half of 2026 pays half the annual amounts — applying at the 27 July reopening is cheaper than it looks.
Want your exact figure? Try our free fee calculator — instant estimate for any property type, island and group size.
Step 5 — The waiting game (and its two traps)
Once the MTA validates your application as complete, it must issue a decision within 60 days. Two rules to respect while you wait. One: if the MTA asks you for something and you don't respond within 90 days, the application is deemed tacitly withdrawn — no refund. Track every request and answer fast. Two: a refusal (or any decision you contest) can be appealed to the Tourism Appeals Board within 15 days — a short window that's easy to miss.
Realistically, between engaging an architect, chasing planning documents and the MTA's own queue, owners should expect the end-to-end journey to take several weeks to a few months. The single biggest accelerator is arriving with a complete, well-organised file on day one.
Do not operate while you wait. The 2026 regulations attach a 3-year disqualification to unlicensed operation — covering both the operator and the property address, and surviving a sale. With platforms now feeding activity data to authorities under EU Regulation 2024/1028, "quietly listing while the paperwork clears" is a bet against increasingly good visibility.
Step 6 — Licensed. Now the ongoing obligations start
The licence is the beginning, not the end. From day one you must: fix the entrance sign (address, licensed status, licence number, 24/7 contact — uniform format specs are expected from the MTA), display the energy performance certificate inside the unit, keep a 24/7 responsible person reachable, notify your block administrator in writing with a copy to the MTA if the property is in a condominium, respect the 90-day cap on individual bookings, inform the MTA of any material changes, and be ready for unannounced inspections. Renewals — due annually, fees each 1 January — are assessed against the new standards, with a waste plan required every time.
And one more identifier is on its way: under EU Regulation 2024/1028, every unit will receive a registration number distinct from the MTA licence number, to be displayed on all listings. The rollout has started: existing licence holders can already retrieve their STR number via the MTA's STR Licence Validator — once licensed, plan for this extra five-minute step.
Preparing an application? Let Lisenza carry the checklist.
Every document, every standard, every deadline of the application — tracked per property, with plain-English explanations and reminders before anything expires. Built on the actual legal texts, by Malta-based operators. Free during early access.
Start free with LisenzaFrequently asked questions
When exactly can I apply?
The MTA resumes accepting new applications on 27 July 2026. Pending applications and renewals continue to be processed in the meantime.
I rent the apartment — can the licence be in my name?
Yes. Lessees qualify as "proprietor in title" and can hold the licence, with the owner's written consent. Note that the consequences of non-compliance (including the 3-year disqualification) attach to the property address too — which is why owners increasingly ask their operator-tenants for visibility on compliance.
How long will the whole process take?
The MTA must decide within 60 days of validating a complete file — but assembling the file (architect certification and planning documents especially) typically stretches the journey to several weeks or months. Arrive complete, respond to every MTA request quickly, and remember the 90-day tacit-withdrawal rule.
Is there an inspection before the licence is issued?
The MTA assesses applications against the new standards and can inspect — and once licensed, unannounced inspections are part of the regime. Treat the Sixth Schedule standards as a pre-application checklist, not a post-licence afterthought.
What about the new EU registration number?
It's separate from the MTA licence and will be required on every listing. Existing licence holders can now retrieve their number via the MTA's STR Licence Validator — display requirements are being confirmed, and we alert Lisenza users as each piece lands.
This guide is provided for general information by Lisenza, an independent product not affiliated with or endorsed by the Malta Tourism Authority. It is not legal advice. Requirements summarised here are drawn from S.L. 409.24, S.L. 409.05 and Regulation (EU) 2024/1028 as at 7 July 2026; procedures may be updated when applications reopen — always refer to the official texts and current MTA guidance, and consult a professional for your specific situation.