Malta officially removed from FATF greylist

Malta Grey List: FATF Acknowledges Malta’s Regulatory Improvements

Malta was officially removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list just 12 months after being added. The development reflects Malta’s focused efforts to strengthen its anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-financing of terrorism (CFT) framework.

The country was first placed on the FATF grey list in 2021 due to concerns around beneficial ownership transparency and enforcement. Since then, Malta implemented targeted reforms and dedicated additional resources to address the FATF’s recommendations.
 

How Malta Addressed Grey List Concerns

The FATF noted that Malta’s removal from the grey list was the result of various actions taken at a national level. These included increasing the resources available to the Malta Business Registry (MBR), conducting detailed risk assessments, and demonstrating success in identifying entities attempting to conceal their true ownership. Malta has now addressed all the shortcomings previously identified by the FATF.

Prime Minister Robert Abela welcomed the outcome, stating that Malta’s removal from the grey list reinforces its position as a reliable jurisdiction for international business. “Malta’s whitelisting will further strengthen the country’s reputation as a serious business jurisdiction,” he said.

The Government of Malta also expressed its satisfaction that the FATF had taken note of the work done in a relatively short period of time. The result sends a positive message to investors, international institutions, and regulatory partners regarding Malta’s ongoing commitment to financial oversight and transparency.

Looking ahead, Malta’s return to the FATF whitelist is expected to encourage renewed confidence in the jurisdiction and support its standing as a trusted location for financial services and cross-border business activity.