Accommodation

Resident Host Accommodation

"Host family" means the person in whose name the licence for the accommodation of tourists has been issued and who resides in any building, howsoever described, not being a hotel, guest house, hostel or holiday premises, which is normally used for the permanent or temporary habitation of the licensee and is used or intended to be used for the concurrent habitation of guests.

An application can be filed online on this link.

Applicable Laws (Rights and Obligations)

S.L. 409.24: Tourism Accommodation Regulations, 2026 Current
Chapter 409 of Travel and Tourism Services Act

Under the 2026 Regulations

Resident Host Accommodation is one of the four accommodation regimes consolidated into the 2026 Regulations.

What changes for this application

The former Host Family Application Regulations are replaced by the single consolidated framework, with harmonised MTA licensing and quality criteria.
Licensing follows the common requirements for accurate operator information and conformity with the applicable classification and quality standards.

Across all accommodation

A single, harmonised licensing framework now covers all categories of tourist accommodation; operating without MTA authorisation is expressly prohibited.
A Tourism Policy Compliance Certificate is required, where applicable, as a prerequisite for development and licensing.
Licences are issued only to the “proprietor in title” — owners, authorised agents, lessees or other lawful holders of rights over the property.
The reform signals a clear shift from volume-driven growth towards a more sustainable, higher-value tourism model.

Source: S.L. 409.24 — Tourism Accommodation Regulations, 2026, in force after a transitional period.

Documents needed with application

Copy of both sides of Identity Card;
Valid Police Conduct;
Copy of the latest approved development permission issued by the Planning Authority related to the premises, including a copy of the approved drawings (site plan/plans/sections/elevations). The unit subject of this application needs to be clearly outlined on all the relevant drawings (in RED);
Certification by an Architect that the premises conform with the approved development planning permission, or if the premises was built pre-1968, confirming that it is a residential unit, is built according to sanitary regulations, and is fit for habitation;
Adequate Third-Party Liability Insurance;
No Objection of Parents/Guardians, if the Son or Daughter is over the age of 18 and is applying on his or her behalf and still living in the same household;
In the case of guests registered with a licensed school or educational institution, the Application is to submit documentation (a), (b), and (c): (a) The Applicant shall submit documented evidence of a formal allocation agreement with a licensed school or educational institution; (b) The Applicant shall provide an attestation by the licensed school or educational institution as possessing a good command of the English language; (c) A declaration confirming that the accommodation complies with the applicable standards shall be jointly signed by the Applicant and a representative of the licensed school or educational institution.

Timeframes

Submission of application: 0
Vetting of application: 5 days. The applicant will need to submit documents based on the specific application following the initial vetting process. The amount of time in this period depends on the applicant and the time taken by the applicant to provide such docs.
Inspection/Assessment: In such step, once again, the timeline is dependent on the applicant whether the standards are provided or not at the establishment. In the case that standards are not met then the applicant is asked to rectify, and process is paused.
Approval: 10 Days

Incomplete Application Forms

In the case of an incomplete application form, the Authority shall, without delay, inform the applicant of the need to supply any additional information or documentation, or of the need to conduct any interviews or inspection.

Nonetheless, when the Authority has not determined whether to issue a licence to an applicant, within the periods mentioned above, such applicant shall not be deemed, for all intents and purposes of law, to be licensed.

a) Complete Applications: Once the application is complete and accepted, an acknowledgment will be issued, and an inspection will be conducted in line with the requirements of Subsidiary Legislation 409.24. A license will be issued should all requisites be met.

Upon issuance of the license, the licensee shall notify the residential block administrator in writing if the property forms part of a condominium. The licensee shall submit a copy of such notification to the Malta Tourism Authority.

b) Pending Applications: At any time, whether before or after validation, if the Applicant fails to respond to a request for missing documentation, clarifications, or information within ninety (90) days from the date of the last communication issued by the Authority, the application shall be deemed tacitly withdrawn by the Applicant without entitlement to a refund. During such period of non-compliance, the sixty (60) day timeframe stipulated in sub-regulation (4) shall be suspended and shall resume only upon submission of the requested documentation, clarifications, and information to the Authority.

Means of Redress or Appeal

Any person who feels aggrieved by a decision of the Authority, as provided in article 14(1) of Chapter 409 – Travel and Tourism Services Act, may appeal to the Tourism Appeals Board, on payment of the prescribed fee (applicable fees as per Legal Notice 409.05), within fifteen (15) days from the date the decision on which the appeal is entered is communicated to the person concerned.

All information related to the Tourism Appeals Board can be found here.