Accommodation

Collective Accommodation

Any collective accommodation development requires a licence from the Malta Tourism Authority.

Collective accommodation includes hotels, and other hotel-type accommodation establishments like aparthotels, serviced apartments, hostels, guest houses, boutique hotels, tourist villages and other similar establishments as decreed by the Authority.

An application can be filed manually at the Product Development Directorate, Smart City, Malta.

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

New hotel and collective-accommodation projects face tighter criteria, with quality and heritage prioritised over scale.

What changes for this application

Proposals exceeding the height limits in the applicable Local Plan Height Limitation Maps will no longer be favourably considered.
New hotels, extensions or redevelopments with more than 200 rooms will not be considered, nor will establishments rated below three stars.
New one- and two-star hotels and all-inclusive resorts are excluded, particularly within Outside Development Zones (ODZ).
Guest houses are limited to a maximum of 20 rooms in urban conservation areas and must respect the architectural value of the buildings.
Boutique and luxury boutique hotel categories are formally recognised in law for the first time.
New “Heritage” and “Diffuso” labels are introduced — the latter allowing accommodation across multiple buildings in the same area, centred on a main building — with strong emphasis on the restoration and adaptive reuse of historic buildings.

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 (for both Applicant and Operator if applicable);
Curriculum Vitae (for both Applicant and Operator if applicable);
Valid Police Conduct (for both Applicant and Operator if applicable);
Copy of Full Memorandum and Articles of Association (if Applicant/Operator is a Body Corporate) or Deed of Partnership (if Applicant/Operator is a Partnership);
Company Board Resolution appointing an Official Representative of the Company (if Applicant/Operator is a Body Corporate) or Partnership Resolution appointing an Official Representative of the Partnership (if Applicant/Operator is a Partnership);
Copy of the Tourism Policy Compliance Certificate issued by the Malta Tourism Authority in relation to the Project being applied for;
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);
Architect’s Declaration stating that the establishment has been built and finished in compliance with the approved Planning Authority development permit and plans;
Compliance Certificate issued by the relevant competent Authority (Planning Authority);
Public Sewer Discharge Permit;
Food Safety Certificate;
Waste Collection Contract (Waste Collector must be registered with the Environment and Resources Authority);
Adequate Third-Party Liability Insurance.

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.