Guide · .mt, .com.mt or .com
Which domain should a Maltese business choose?
For a business that mainly serves customers in Malta and Gozo, a .com.mt or .mt address is the clearest choice, and it costs €20 for the first year and €10 a year after that. Choose a .com if you sell mostly abroad, and if you can, register both and redirect one to the other.
Your domain is the address on your van, your menu and your Instagram bio, and changing it later is a hassle. This guide explains what each option costs, what Google makes of it, and how to make sure the domain stays yours.
.mt, .com.mt or .com: the short answer
- .com.mt: the classic address for a Maltese business, such as yourbusiness.com.mt. Clear to local customers.
- .mt: shorter, such as yourbusiness.mt, with the same price and the same Malta signal.
- .com: best if most of your customers are outside Malta, or if your brand already uses it.
All three work for a website and an email address. The difference is what they tell customers and search engines about where you are.
What does each domain cost?
| Domain | New registration | Renewal, 1 year | Renewal, 2 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| .mt | €20 (€10 set-up + €10 first year) | €10 | €18 |
| .com.mt | €20 (€10 set-up + €10 first year) | €10 | €18 |
These are the fees on NIC Malta’s fee list, which says they include 18% VAT. NIC Malta runs the .mt registry, and you can register with it directly or through a billing agent. A .com is sold by commercial registrars, at prices that vary from one to the next, so check the renewal price as well as the first-year offer.
What does Google make of a .mt domain?
Google’s own guide to sites for more than one country describes country-code domains as a strong signal to users and search engines that a site is intended for a particular country. So a .mt or .com.mt address tells Google you serve Malta.
The domain is one signal among many. A .com site can rank well in Malta when its content, Google Business Profile and local links all point to Malta, and a .mt site with thin content will not rank just because of its address. What matters most is a fast site that clearly answers what your customers search for.
Which domain should you choose?
- You serve customers in Malta and Gozo: use .com.mt or .mt as your main address.
- You sell mainly abroad, or plan to: use .com, and target Malta through your content where it matters.
- Your name is taken on one ending: check the others before changing the name. A short, easy-to-spell address beats a long one with hyphens.
- You can get two: pick one as the main address and redirect the other to it. Never run two copies of the same site.
Use the same domain for your email, such as info@yourbusiness.com.mt. It looks more trustworthy than a free email address and keeps working if you change email provider.
Keep the domain in your name
The single most important thing about a domain is who owns it. Register it in your own or your company’s name, with an email address you control, and keep the login somewhere safe. If a web designer or agency registers it for you, ask them to put it in your name from day one. Otherwise, changing supplier can mean losing the address your customers know.
Our website cost guide covers the other running costs, and our guide on choosing a web designer in Malta lists the ownership questions to ask any supplier.
Questions
How much does a .mt domain cost?
NIC Malta charges €20 for a new .mt or .com.mt domain (a €10 set-up fee plus the €10 first year), then €10 a year to renew, or €18 for two years. Its fee list says all fees include 18% VAT.
Who can register a .mt or .com.mt domain?
NIC Malta’s FAQ says the registrant can be an individual, a company or an organisation with a distinct legal personality. You can register directly with NIC Malta or through a billing agent.
Is .mt better than .com for Google in Malta?
A country domain such as .mt tells Google and visitors that the site is meant for Malta. Google calls country-code domains a strong signal for a country. A .com can still rank well in Malta, but it does not carry that signal on its own.
Should I buy both .com.mt and .com?
If both are available and affordable, yes. Use one as the main address and redirect the other to it, so customers who type either one reach you and nobody else can take it.
Who should own my domain?
You should. Register it in your own or your company’s name, with an email address you control, even if a web designer sets it up for you. If the designer owns it, you can lose your address when you change supplier.