The
importation of certain goods is subject to authorisation, that is, an import
licence issued by the Trade Services and Projects Directorate, Commerce
Department, in accordance with the Importation Control Regulations – Legal
Notice 242 of 2004. The goods needing a licence are listed in the Schedules to
this regulation, with the First Schedule listing items which require an
authorisation when transferred to Malta from the European Union, and the Second
Schedule listing goods which require an import licence when imported from any
country outside the European Union.
Applications for import licences are to
be filed online through e-forms. For some products, external entities are
consulted in the authorisation process and unless they signal their no
objection, the licence is not issued. This process is coordinated by the
Commerce Department.
Information
about which products need an import licence - depending on whether they are
imported from an EU or a third country - and which entities are involved in the
approval process can be found in the table below.
On
conclusion of the process, the licence will be provided by email. The FAQs and Guidelines sections can be
referred to for further explanations on the import application process.