The actual documents cannot be obtained but only summarised notes of contracts or wills. These notes contain important details specifically the name of the person/s involved in the deed, the name of the notary concerned and the deed draught date. Kindly contact the Office of the Notary to Government on: notarial.archives@gov.mt to be guided accordingly on how to obtain copies of contracts or wills.

There are 4 types of searches that can be ordered:

Normal Search – is ordered to determine whether an individual or company would have been involved in contracts (Notes of Transfer), mortgages or loans (Notes of Hypothec), and/or redemption of ground rent (Fidi notes). One of the three note options, a combination of the two or all three can be chosen to be included in the search. A deposit payment of €15.85 is required upon submission; a separate payment is then required depending on the total number of notes issued. The cost per note is €3.20. The search takes up to a maximum of ten (10) working days for completion.

Priority Search – is the fast-track option of a normal search procedure. This takes up to three (3) working days for completion. A deposit payment of €31.70 is required along with a separate payment of the total number of notes issued. The cost per note is €6.40.

The two search categories listed above may also contain notes carrying a €0.95 fee. These are different maternity notes (explained below) together with all GPP (Guarantee of Peaceful Possession) and D/P notes - the latter scenario relates to the client’s option of limiting the search to a property in one locality. In this case, all the notes that are retrieved referring to property in other localities (with all the parameters matching those indicated) will only be listed on the Front Page as well, with the code d/p (Different Property) next to them. These three types of notes are only listed on the Front Page and the physical copies are not included in the batch.

Warrant notes and other notes issued by the law courts mentioning a person bearing the same name as the one on whom the search is based are issued for the simple reason that these notes do not contain any reference to the other parameters and hence, we wouldn’t be able to determine whether they are referring to a different person.

Will Search - focuses entirely on notes related to wills drawn up by an individual. These notes feature in the other searches as well, if the Transfers are included, however, clients are also given the opportunity to search for will notes only. There are two standard fees attributed to this search depending on the timeframe. If the time-range starts before 1972, the fee amounts to €13.85, if on the other hand, the search covers a period starting from 1972 onwards or a later year, the fee totals €10.00. Both fees include a €1 administrative fee. These searches are issued within 7 working days from their submission and are sent by post to the mailing address indicated during the search application.

All searches can be submitted through our online portal which can be accessed from practically anywhere and the searches can thus be ordered from the comfort of one’s home.
Login here: https://pronline.identita.gov.mt:

Follow these steps:

• Click on the Continue button;


• Click ‘Login as Guest’;


• Select ‘Classic Login’ or ‘E-ID Login’;


• Read the ‘Disclaimer’ carefully and tick it;


• Click on ‘Sign In’;


• Select ‘Official Search’;


• Fill in your Personal Information in Step 1;


• Indicate the type of search you would need to order, whether you’d like to search for notes registered in the Malta Public Registry, Gozo Public Registry or both and if you’re searching for an individual or firm in Step 2;


• Fill in the details regarding the search in Step 3. In the warning box, you can indicate any fee from €20 upwards, and if during the initial stages of the search processing, there is an indication that this fee will be exceeded, a message is automatically sent by the system to the Front Officers who will then contact you to ask whether you’d like to proceed with the search or cancel it. If the warning limit is not adjusted, the default €250 value applies. It is important to note that the prepaid deposit cannot be refunded should the search be cancelled at this point. Moreover, if a reply is not received within seven days from the date when the message is sent, the search will be automatically deleted. By ticking the ‘No Different Maternity’ box, you would be instructing the unit to refrain from issuing any notes referring to a person with the same parameters as those indicated in the search criteria except the mother’s name. Should this remain unticked, the same notes will only be listed in the Front Page with the d/m code next to their reference number and will carry a €0.95 fee;


• In Step 4, you will be asked to confirm all the details provided before clicking the Submit button. The order number will now appear on screen, and it is crucial that you take note of it. You will subsequently be redirected to the payment window where you can affect the deposit payment by card.

One may also visit our offices within the client opening hours and speak to one of our Front officers who will explain the process in depth and offer the necessary guidance. The information provided will be inserted in the search application and submitted by the Front Officer on behalf of the client. Prior to the submission, the client is handed a disclaimer wherein he acknowledges that the information is correct and according to his wishes and is asked to sign it before being handed a copy. A similar disclaimer can be downloaded from our website during the online submission.

Yes, you can send an email on our generic portal: pubregsearches@identita.gov.mt and you will be informed about the processing stage of the search and the fee that would need to be settled.

Payment can be affected by credit card or cheque. Moreover, following a Central Bank Directive that became effective this year, cheques need to exceed €20 in order to be accepted.

This verification can be made by ordering a search. If a note related to the deed is retrieved, it would automatically mean that the contract was indeed registered at the Searches Unit.

The notes of Transfers re contracts, divisions, causa Mortis etc. the department is in possession of, date back to 1859. Queries on other documents drawn up at earlier dates may be forwarded to the Santo Spirito Archives at Rabat on: customercare.archives@gov.mt.

Yes, you can contact the Searches Unit through the portal, indicating the ideal date and time for an appointment to be set.

Yes, you can contact the Searches Unit through the portal, stating that you require a research to determine whether a property is decontrolled or otherwise. Kindly indicate the full address of the property, type of dwelling, and the last house owner. A certificate will be issued accordingly, and you will be advised to collect it once it is ready against a standard fee of €2.60.

Yes, you can contact the Searches Unit through the portal, stating that you require a research to determine whether a property is decontrolled or otherwise. Kindly indicate the full address of the property, type of dwelling, and the last house owner. A certificate will be issued accordingly, and you will be advised to collect it once it is ready against a standard fee of €2.60.