Corporate Service Providers (CSPs) are firms licensed by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) to assist third parties with the formation and administration of companies in Malta. CSPs typically offer services such as company formation, provision of the registered office, company secretary services, nominee services and ongoing corporate governance. Any natural or legal person offering these services commercially must hold a valid CSP licence.
The MFSA issues CSP licences in three classes. Class A only permits the provision of a registered office. Class B additionally covers company secretary and nominee services. Class C is the most comprehensive licence and entitles the holder to offer the full spectrum of corporate services, including company formation, the administration of fiduciary structures and advice on corporate governance matters. The licence class determines the scope of the CSP's AML obligations and regulatory requirements.
When choosing a CSP, international entrepreneurs should look at the licence class, the language capabilities of the team and its knowledge of home-country tax law. A CSP with a Class C licence and experience with international clients understands the interaction between Maltese company law and the rules of the client's home jurisdiction - for UK clients, for example, the Statutory Residence Test, the Temporary Non-Residence rule and HMRC's view of central management and control. A purely domestic Maltese provider without that specialisation may not cover these aspects.
