Services

Industrial Property Registrations Directorate

Copyright

Register a Collecting Society

Collecting Societies have the authority to license copyrighted works and collect royalties as part of compulsory licensing, or individual licences negotiated on behalf of their members. Collecting Societies collect royalty payments from users of copyrighted works and distribute royalties to copyright owners.

Designs

Application for Transmission of a Design by Assignment/Merger/Testamentary Disposition/Court Order

Application to transfer ownership of the design to a new owner by assignment, merger, testamentary disposition, or court order. Applicant must be the owner of the registered design or must have filed the application for a registration of the design.

Application to Register or Cancel a Licensee for a Design

Application to register or cancel a licence for a design, as well as the possibility to issue a licence to third parties to use the design, or to cancel the licence granted to third parties to use the design. Applicants must own the registered design.

Application to Withdraw or Amend an Application for a Design; or Amend a Registered Design

An application to amend a design application or registration, or to withdraw a design application. Owners or applicants of a design are eligible to submit this application.

Register a New Design

Application for the registration of a design which is the outward appearance of a product or part of it, resulting from the lines, contours, colours, shape, texture, materials and/or its ornamentation. The design submitted needs to be novel and must have individual character.

Renew a Registered Design

Application to renew a design registration. The design must be registered with the Industrial Property Registrations Directorate.

Request the Surrender of a Registered Design or the Withdrawal of a Design

An owner of a registered design can submit a request to surrender the design, as a result of which the design will no longer remain in force. This form can also be used by a design applicant to submit a request to withdraw the design application so that this will not be processed for registration.

Patents

Amend a Patent Application or Registration

Application to amend a patent application or registration. Applicant must have a patent application or registration.

Application for Appointment as Address for Service (Patent)

An attorney/representative can request to act on behalf of a client for a specific patent. The applicant must be the attorney/ representative acting on behalf of the client.

Convert a European Patent

Convert a European patent application to a National patent. The conversion application must be based on a European patent application.

Extend the Time Limit (Patents)

Request an extension of a time limit for the submission of patent documents. The applicant must have a patent application.

Register a New Patent

Application to request the grant of a patent for the protection of an invention. The invention for which a patent is being requested, must be novel, contain an inventive step and have industrial applicability.

Register or Cancel a Licence for a Patent

Application to register or cancel a patent licence. Applicant must be the owner of a granted patent.

Renew or Restore a European Patent drawn up in the English Language

Application for the first renewal (or restoration and first renewal) of a European Patent. The person or entity in whose name the patent is to be renewed must be the owner of the granted European patent. In the case that the person or entity is a non-EU resident, the application is to be submitted via a European representative.

Renew or Restore a Registered Patent or a Supplementary Protection Certificate

Application to request the renewal or restoration of a patent or supplementary protection certificate. Applicant must be the owner of a granted patent or representative.

Request the Surrender of a Registered Patent or the Withdrawal of a Patent

An owner of a registered patent can submit a request to surrender the patent, as a result of which the patent will no longer remain in force. This form can also be used by a patent applicant to submit a request to withdraw the patent application, so that this will not be processed for registration.

Transfer a Patent

Application to transmit a patent by either assignment, testamentary disposition, or court order. Applicant must be the owner of a filed or granted patent.

Validate a European Patent

Once a European patent is granted by the European Patent Office (EPO), the owner may select the countries where to validate the Patent. This form is used only when the European Patent is drawn up in the French or German language, and the applicant will therefore be required to provide an English translation of the patent documents.

Supplementary Protection Certificate

Extension of a Supplementary Protection Certificate (Paediatric Product)

Application for the request for an extension to a Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC) of a paediatric product. Applicant must be the owner of the granted patent on which the request for an SPC extension is based.

Renew or Restore a Registered Patent or a Supplementary Protection Certificate

Application to request the renewal or restoration of a patent or supplementary protection certificate. Applicant must be the owner of a granted patent or representative.

Request for a Supplementary Protection Certificate

Request for a Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC) of a plant protection product or a medicinal product. Applicant must be the owner of the granted patent on which the request for an SPC is based.

Trademarks

Amend a Trademark

Request a change of name or address of a trademark owner or applicant. Applicant must be the owner of a registered trademark or must have filed the application for the registration of the trademark.

Application to Oppose a New Trademark

By means of this application, a third party can submit an opposition to the registration of a trademark during the publication phase. The applicant must be the owner of a registered trademark, an earlier right or any interested party.

Appointment as Address for Service – Trademarks

An attorney/representative can request to act on behalf of a client for a specific trademark. The applicant must be the attorney/representative acting on behalf of the client.

Register a New Trademark

Application for the registration of a new trademark. The applicant needs to show that the mark is distinctive on both absolute and relative grounds examination.

Register or Cancel a Licence for a Trademark

Application to register a licence for a registered trademark. The applicant must be the owner of a registered trademark.

Renew or Restore a Registered Trademark

Applicaton for the renewal and restoration of a trademark. Applicant must be the owner of a registered trademark.

Surrender or Withdraw a Trademark

Application to request the full or partial surrender of a trademark, or the withdrawal of a trademark application. Applicant must be the owner of a registered trademark or a trademark application.

Transfer a Trademark

Application to transfer a trademark by assignment, testamentary disposition or court order. Applicant must be the owner of the registered trademark or must have filed the application for the registration of the trademark.

Crafts, SOLVIT, IMI & Copyright Unit

Crafts

Registration with the Office of the Registrar of Crafts, Craftspersons and Crafts Entrepreneurs

Registration with the Office of the Registrar of Crafts Craftspersons and Crafts Entrepreneurs to be included in the Crafts Register is on a voluntary basis and free of charge. Craftspersons and Crafts Entrepreneurs registered with the Office of the Registrar will have a profile on the online register and can also obtain certificates to attach to their products or place in their shop window. They will also be included in the Malta Crafts’ Foundation’s mailing list so as to be kept informed of any events being organised by the Foundation.

SOLVIT

SOLVIT Complaint Form

SOLVIT can help you when your EU rights as a citizen or as a business are breached by public authorities in another EU country, and you have not yet taken your case to court (although we can help if you have just made an administrative appeal). Citizens and businesses are eligible to submit this application.

Trade Services and Projects Directorate

Import and Export

Application for a Permit to Withdraw Goods from Customs Control

Consignments of pharmaceutical goods entering into free circulation and intended specifically for consumption in Malta need the endorsement of the Commerce Department before they are released by Customs. The importer or an agent representing the importer are eligible to submit this application.

Application for the Export of Dual-Use Items

The Dual-use Items (Export Control) Regulations, 2004 (SL 365.12) provides for the issue of export authorisations for items categorised as dual-use in the First Schedule to these regulations. Depending on the end-destination a licence is also needed for the transit through Malta of dual-use items.

Application for the Export of Military Items

The Military Equipment (Export Control) Regulations, 2001 (SL 365.13) provides for the issue of export authorisations for arms, weapons, ammunition, explosives, toxicological agents and other military equipment, including military vehicles, vessels of war, aircraft and electronic equipment. A list of military equipment which require an export authorisation may by found in the First Schedule to these regulations.

Export Licence

The majority of goods do not need a licence to be exported from Malta. However, a selection of goods as listed in the Schedule to the Exportation Control Regulations, 2004 (SL 117.02) need to attain prior authorisation from the Commerce Department before they can be released for export.

Import Licence

The majority of goods do not need a licence to be imported into Malta. However, a selection of goods as listed in the Schedules to the Importation Control Regulations, 2004 (SL 117.14) need to attain prior authorisation from the Commerce Department before they can be released.

Trading Licences

Application for a Credit Reference Agency Trading Licence

According to Subsidiary Legislation 441.07 Trading Licenses Regulations, a licence is required to carry out the business of a credit reference agency. The application for such a licence includes the mandatory requirement to submit several documents and is against a non-refundable fee of 500 Euros.

Auctioneer Licence (Form F)

This form secures a licence to act as an Auctioneer, once approved by the Auctioneers Board. The licence will be issued within a maximum of 10 days.

Cancellation Form for an Existing Trading Licence

This form cancels an existing trading licence. Natural persons and commercial companies or partnerships already in possession of a trading licence are eligible to submit this application.

Car Boot Sale Licence (Form G)

This form secures a licence to hold a car boot sale. The licence will be issued within a maximum of 5 working days.

Commercial Fair & Exhibition Licence

This form secures a licence to hold a commercial fair or exhibition within licensed premises, or a permit to open on a Sunday or a Public Holiday. The licence will be issued within a maximum of 10 working days.

Door-to-Door Sales (Form H)

This form secures a licence in order to provide or supply any type of goods or services (in connection with commercial activities listed in Part I of Schedule I) by means of a doorstep contract, whether the offer is unsolicited by the person to whom it is made, or is solicited by the latter person in response to any advertisement, but does not include vendors of foodstuffs and beverages who sell their goods from door-to-door. The licence will be issued within a maximum of 5 working days.

Extension of Substitution Period (Form D)

This form secures a permit to a substitute hawker to replace the principal licensee beyond 1 month for specific family reasons. A new licence will be issued within a maximum of 10 working days.

Market Hawker Licence

This form secures a food or a non-food market hawker licence. A licence will be issued within a maximum of 10 working days.

Marketing Agent Licence

This form secures a marketing agent licence. The purpose of this licence is to allow the use of a commercial vehicle for the sale of goods by retail by an employee or agent on behalf of the principal Licensee. Such licence shall be required for each and every vehicle to be used for such activity.

Street Hawker Licence

This form secures a food or a non-food street hawker licence. The licence will be issued within a maximum of 10 working days.

Substitute Street and Market Hawker Licence (Form C)

This form secures a food or a non-food substitute hawker licence for a period of not more than one month in the aggregate within the licence period of 1 year. A new licence will be issued within a maximum of 10 working days.

Transfer of Market Hawker’s Fixed Site in an Open-Air Market or Kiosk (Form E)

This form secures the transfer of an existing Market Hawker's licence (on a fixed-site in an open-air Market or fixed Kiosk) to another hawker. A new licence will be issued within a maximum of 5 working days.

Last updated

Last updated on 26th September 2025