Do I need an MTA licence to rent my flat on Airbnb in Malta?

What kind of licence should I check?

The relevant category is now “Short-Let Rented Accommodation”, covering apartments, studios, villas, farmhouses, terraced houses and maisonettes. If you come across “Holiday Furnished Premises” on older paperwork or a government service page, compare the details with the current category rather than relying on the name alone.

From there, identify the flat, its approved use and the proposed applicant. That gives you a specific property to assess against the newer rules.

What changed in 2026?

Legal Notice 92 of 2026 brought in new rules for short lets. The limit is two guests per bedroom, with a cap of ten per unit unless it has independent access from a road; bedrooms cannot be underground or at basement level, and a single booking cannot exceed 90 consecutive days. A named contact must be available for complaints at any hour, and operating without a licence can bar the operator for three years and make the property ineligible for a short-let licence for that period. Separately, an EU rule (Regulation 2024/1028) brings in a new registration number that must appear on every listing and advert; MTA has said it will explain how owners obtain it.

What should I prepare?

With the category and rules in view, the next step is the paperwork for this applicant and flat. MTA lists identity documents, approved planning permission and drawings, an architect’s certification, third-party liability insurance and a waste management plan. It also calls for police conduct certificates for the applicant and operator; ID copies for the applicant, designated person and operator; company papers and a board resolution if a company applies; and, for a building put up before 1968, a Pre-1968 Compliance Certificate.

The live MTA checklist sets out the exact package. Your insurance must cover the property and, where relevant, the common parts. If the flat is in a residential block, the licence holder must notify its administrator in writing after issue and send MTA a copy.

How does the application move forward?

Once the paperwork is ready, the owner or authorised party applies to MTA, which reviews the documents and premises before deciding whether to issue a licence. After a complete application is accepted, an inspection follows; if standards are not met, the process pauses while they are put right. The current MTA page provides the online route.

Keep the application, MTA requests and final decision together so you can follow the sequence without promising an opening date while questions or work remain.

What mistakes should I avoid?

At this point, the main mistake is assuming an old listing, a previous owner’s licence or another flat in the block proves yours is covered. Check this applicant and property with MTA. If you change the layout or operation, make sure the application still reflects the premises.

When the position is settled, keep the correspondence and issued licence with the property records. Approval answers the legal question, but it cannot predict bookings or income.