Malta vs Gibraltar
Gibraltar is £135 cheaper in year 1 and £20 a year cheaper after that.
| MaltaPrivate limited company (Ltd) | GibraltarPrivate limited company | |
|---|---|---|
| Costs | ||
| Minimum, year 1 | £1,065 | £930 |
| Minimum, per year after | £550 | £530 |
| Typical year 1 | £5,160 | £2,515 |
| Government fee | £85From €100 online (scales with capital) | £100About £100 |
| Indirect setup | £430–3,155 | £800–1,900 |
| Running per year | £550–6,015 | £530–3,600 |
| Share capital | €1,16520% (€233) paid up | £1 |
| Rules | ||
| Directors | No local directorLocal directors are usual for substance. | No local director |
| Remote setup | Through a providerRemote through a corporate service provider. | Through a providerRemote through a licensed company manager. |
| Audit | No audit below €93,000 turnover, €46,600 assets and 2 staff. Above that you need an audit or a review report. | No audit for small companies |
| Time to form | 1 to 2 weeks | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Ease for foreign owners | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Tax and banking | ||
| Corporation tax | 35%35% headline, about 5% after the shareholder refund. Since 2025 a company can choose a flat 15% instead, with no refund. | 15%15%, on profit earned in Gibraltar only. |
| Dividend withholding | None | None |
| VAT / GST | 18% | None |
| Banking | 1/5Maltese banks take weeks to months and often refuse. Payment institutions open accounts in days. | 2/5Gibraltar banks are very selective. |
| All company setup fees in Malta | All company setup fees in Gibraltar | |
Questions
Is Malta cheaper than Gibraltar for company setup?
No. Gibraltar is cheaper, at least £930 in year 1 against £1,065 for Malta.
Which is cheaper to run each year?
Gibraltar, at least £530 a year against £550 for Malta.
Which needs a local director?
Neither. You can run a company in either without a local director.
Which is faster to set up?
About the same. Both take 1 to 2 weeks.
How does corporation tax compare?
Malta: 35% headline, about 5% after the shareholder refund. Since 2025 a company can choose a flat 15% instead, with no refund. Gibraltar: 15%, on profit earned in Gibraltar only.
Sources: Malta Business Registry · KPMG · PwC · BDO · Binderr