The mission of the National Archives is to preserve the collective memory of the Maltese nation through the protection and accessibility of all public archives regulated by the Archives Act.

a) To safeguard the collective memory of the Maltese nation and protect the rights of citizens through the selection, preservation, and access to the archives in whatever medium to the highest of standards.

b) Establish and maintain a register to be known as the National Register of Archives.

c) To monitor with powers of inspection the recordkeeping practices within public offices.

d) Accept and acquire private records of national significance by gift, purchase, bequest, or deposit.

e) Provide leadership to Maltese archives in such areas as preservation of archival records, records management, and national cooperation schemes.

f) Promote the professional training of archivists and records managers.