Accreditation in Malta needs a Maltese legal entity, so we set the company up and keep it running. Incorporation, registered office, company secretarial, VAT and tax registration and ongoing filings are delivered with licensed Maltese corporate service providers, and the same team then takes your programme through accreditation. You get one route from company to accredited programme instead of a formation agent, an accountant and an accreditation consultant who never speak to each other.
Why the entity is required
MFHEA requires a provider licence applicant to prove it is a body corporate registered in Malta, and to name a legal representative based in Malta with authority to sign binding agreements. The requirement is waived for two of the five licence categories, Further Education Centres and Tuition Centres, but not for the categories that offer accredited, award-bearing programmes.
MFHEA also states that a new entity applying for programme accreditation must apply for provider accreditation at the same time. That is why the company comes first in the sequence rather than last.
What is involved
- Incorporation of the company and registration with the Malta Business Registry.
- A registered office in Malta and the company secretarial function.
- VAT and tax registration where the activity requires it.
- A legal representative based in Malta with authority to sign binding agreements, which MFHEA requires by name.
- Ongoing annual returns, accounting and statutory filings.
A private limited liability company is the usual vehicle. The Malta Business Registry sets a minimum authorised share capital of €1,165 and requires at least one shareholder. A proportion of that capital must be paid up on incorporation, and the corporate service provider confirms the current percentage at filing.
Who does what
We do not hold a Maltese corporate services licence and we do not pretend to. Company formation, registered office and company secretarial work are delivered with licensed Maltese corporate service providers, and we say so plainly rather than presenting regulated work as ours.
What we do is run the sequence: make sure the entity is structured so it satisfies MFHEA rather than merely existing, coordinate the corporate side with the accreditation side, and carry the single point of contact so you are not translating between three suppliers.
Keeping it alive
An entity that lapses on its filings is an entity whose licence is exposed at the next review. MFHEA looks at whether a provider is genuinely operating, not whether a certificate exists.
Ongoing administration is therefore part of the service rather than an afterthought: annual returns, accounting and tax filings, and keeping the registered office and company secretarial position current.
Common questions
Do I need a Maltese company to get accredited in Malta?
In most cases yes. MFHEA requires provider licence applicants to prove they are a body corporate registered in Malta, with a legal representative based in Malta. The requirement is waived only for Further Education Centres and Tuition Centres.
What is the minimum share capital for a Maltese company?
The Malta Business Registry sets a minimum authorised share capital of €1,165 for a private limited liability company, with at least one shareholder. A proportion must be paid up on incorporation.
Do you provide the corporate services yourselves?
No. Company formation, registered office and company secretarial work are regulated activities in Malta and are delivered with licensed Maltese corporate service providers. We coordinate the work and carry the single point of contact.
Do I have to move my business to Malta?
No. You need a Maltese entity to hold the licence and the accredited programme. Your delivery, your staff and your existing operation stay where they are.
Not sure which route fits?
Book a 30 minute scoping call. We will map the route, the standards that apply and a realistic timeline. No preparation needed.
Book a 30 minute scoping call