The Maltese government issued Legal Notice 133 of 2025 to bring
the Trusts and Trustees Act (Register of Beneficial Owners)
(Amendment) Regulations 2025 into force on 11 July, which expand
the scope of beneficial ownership reporting and tighten compliance
requirements for trustees.
The most significant amendment is to extend the existing
beneficial ownership reporting regime for authorised and registered
trustees to private trustees, which are defined as individuals who
act as trustees by virtue of family ties or long personal
connections with the settlor and who must meet specific criteria
including non-remuneration and limits on the number of settlors
they serve.
Private trustees are now required to submit a beneficial
ownership declaration for each trust they administer, within 14
days of appointment. Under transitional provisions, existing
private trustees are required to submit their declarations by 11
January 2026.
