Same-sex marriage in Malta

Same-sex marriage became legal in Malta on 1 September 2017. A bill for legalisation passed the Parliament on 12 July 2017. It was signed by the President on 1 August 2017. On 25 August, the Minister for Equality issued a legal notice to commence the law on 1 September 2017.

The country also allows civil unions, following the enactment of the Civil Unions Act 2014. It grants civil unions the same rights, responsibilities, and obligations as marriage, including the right of joint adoption. Parliament gave final approval to the legislation on 14 April 2014 by a vote of 37 in favour and 30 abstentions. It was signed into law by President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca on 16 April and published in the government gazette on 17 April. The first civil union was performed on 13 June 2014.

Before the 2008 elections, the Malta Gay Rights Movement sent a survey to all major political parties asking them for their views on the recognition of same-sex unions. None of the parties supported same-sex marriage, however all of them supported recognition of same-sex unions to some extent. The governing Nationalist Party supported extending some rights to cohabitating same-sex couples. The Labour Party supported recognising "same-sex families and partnerships", although it was unknown whether this would be in the form of unregistered cohabitation or registered partnership. National Action supported civil partnerships that would grant to same-sex couples some of the rights extended to married couples, not including welfare benefits. Democratic Alternative/Greens supported civil partnerships providing all of the rights of marriage.

On 28 March 2010, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi announced that the Government was working on a bill to regulate cohabitation, intended to be completed by the end of the year. The draft bill (known as the Civil Partnerships and Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2012) was presented by the Minister of Justice on 28 August 2012, and a consultation process lasted until 30 September. The bill was introduced, but died in December 2012 due to the fall of the Government and dissolution of Parliament.

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