Regulatory Update: Changes to Companies Act (BO Regulations) in Line with 6th AMLD
We wish to inform you that recent amendments have been introduced to the Companies Act (Register of Beneficial Owners) Regulations, SL 386.19, to implement the first phase of the transposition of the 6th Anti-Money Laundering Directive (Directive (EU) 2024/1640).
A summary of the key changes is as follows:
1) Nationality Reporting:
a) Beneficial owners (BOs) are now required to declare all nationalities held, where applicable.
2) Cross-Border Transactions:
a) The scope of the regulations has been expanded to cover companies formed as a result of cross-border conversions, mergers, or divisions under relevant EU regulations.
3) Access to BO Data:
a) Any natural or legal person who demonstrates a legitimate interest in preventing or combating money laundering, predicate offences, or terrorist financing may request access to beneficial ownership information.
b) Requests must be submitted in writing and supported by documentation demonstrating the legal basis for the request.
c) The Registrar may refuse requests and will communicate refusals in writing. Applicants have the right to appeal such decisions to the Civil Court (Commercial Section) within 20 working days.
d) The Registrar may also share beneficial ownership information with competent authorities, including authorities in other jurisdictions with which Malta has cooperation arrangements.
e) Where electronic access is not possible, the Registrar may provide printed extracts from the BO register.
4) Partnerships:
a) General partners of limited partnerships who fall under the definition of BOs in terms of the Prevention of Money Laundering and Funding of Terrorism Regulations (PMLFTR) are now required to disclose BO details.
5) Form Changes:
Updates have been made to various forms, including:
a) New fields to report multiple nationalities of BOs.
b) An option in Form BO2 to report only changes relating to the extent or nature of beneficial ownership interests.
c) Updates to other forms (e.g. Annual Confirmation BO, changes in Senior Managing Officials) to enhance transparency and simplify reporting.
For further and full details visit the official Malta Business Registry website here: Public Notice: BO Regulations Amendments: https://mbr.mt/2025/07/10/public-notice-bo-regulations-amendments/
For guidance, you may also refer to the User Guidelines provided by the Malta Business Registry, which you may find in attachment to this email.
Important:
Please ensure you review your company records and filing obligations in light of these changes. Non-compliance may result in penalties.
Subject Persons fulfilling Customer Due Diligence (CDD) obligations, are required to verify that clients have complied with their duties to register and maintain accurate beneficial ownership information with the Malta Business Registry, as required under the Companies Act
Digital Filing Requirement: MBR Transitions to BAROS Platform
As of September 1, 2025, the Malta Business Registry (MBR) will require that various relevant notifications — including updates to personal details of individuals listed in the Companies Register — be submitted exclusively through its online platform, BAROS (Business Automation Registry Online System).
This shift is part of MBR’s broader digital transformation strategy aimed at becoming a fully paperless agency. The move is expected to significantly improve processing efficiency, reduce administrative burdens, and support a more sustainable, eco-conscious approach to corporate governance.
