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ARTICLE · 14 APRIL 2026

Malta’s FDI Screening Framework Amendment: Key Changes Under Bill No. 172

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Bill No. 172 (the “Bill”) has been published to amend the National Foreign Direct Investment Screening Office Act (Chapter 620 of the Laws of Malta) (the “FDI Act”). The Bill primarily integrates the National Foreign Direct Investment Screening Office (the “Office”) within the Malta Business Registry and introduces clarifications to the FDI Act.

MaltaGovernment, Public Sector
Philip Mifsud
Philip Mifsud
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Bill No. 172 (the “Bill”) has been published to amend the National Foreign Direct Investment Screening Office Act (Chapter 620 of the Laws of Malta) (the “FDI Act”). The Bill primarily integrates the National Foreign Direct Investment Screening Office (the “Office”) within the Malta Business Registry and introduces clarifications to the FDI Act. These changes are intended to provide greater certainty to investors considering investments in Malta and to streamline the framework in line with EU principles.

The key proposed changes are set out below:

  1. clarifying the meaning of “portfolio investment”, which is an activity which falls outside the scope of the FDI Act. By means of this proposed amendment, a “portfolio investment” will be defined as an investment in securities (including bonds, shares and similar instruments) intended for financial return, without any intention to influence the management or control of the company. The proposed definition broadly aligns with definition of

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