Yacht Importation Procedures

When a yacht is imported in the EU for commercial purposes, it must undergo relative VAT and customs procedures in order to subsequently be imported into the EU. On the other hand, for a yacht to be placed in the EU indefinitely it would need to be registered in an EU member state. In that case, a yacht registration in Malta would be a fiscally advantageous alternative. Thus, yachts intended for commercial use may be imported into the EU via Malta for the relevant VAT and customs procedures to be undertaken. This would then allow the yacht to be chartered out and sail freely within EU waters.

The VAT rate on the importation of yachts for commercial use in Malta is 18%, however a VAT deferment is available which would replace the need to pay the 18% VAT.