A guide for international clients
Establishing a Company in Cyprus
Cyprus pairs a full EU, common-law framework with one of Europe's most competitive tax regimes — a long-standing choice for holding, financing, trading and shipping structures.
Download the guide (PDF)Why Cyprus
A credible base in the European Union.
EU & common law
A full EU member state with a legal system rooted in English common law, operating bilingually in English and Greek.
Competitive tax
A 15% corporation tax on profits, broad exemptions on securities and dividends, and an extensive treaty network.
Handled remotely
Shareholders and directors need not be in Cyprus — we manage incorporation and bank onboarding end to end.
Cyprus tax at a glance
- 15%
- Corporation tax on profits
- 0%
- Tax on gains from securities & shares
- 0%
- WHT on dividends & interest to non-residents*
- 65+
- Double tax treaties
- 80%
- IP-box deduction on qualifying IP profits
- NID
- Notional interest deduction on new equity
*Subject to anti-abuse rules for payments to low-tax or EU-blacklisted jurisdictions. Highlights are general and subject to conditions.
One island. Full access to the EU single market.
English common-law roots, a euro economy and an extensive treaty network — a stable base for holding, financing and trading structures.
Taxation
A competitive tax regime.
Corporation tax in Cyprus is 15% on profits. Gains from transactions in titles and securities — including shares — are fully exempt, and foreign-sourced income is generally exempt, subject to certain exceptions.
Exempt income
Profit on the disposal of titles and securities (including shares) is exempt from corporation tax. Foreign-sourced income is generally exempt, subject to certain exceptions.
Foreign dividends
Dividends from foreign investments are exempt from corporation tax — except dividends that are deductible for the paying company, which are taxed at corporation tax (and exempt from Special Defence Contribution).
No tax on dividends — the participation exemption
Non-deductible foreign dividend income is exempt from Special Defence Contribution (the Cyprus withholding tax on dividends) under the participation exemption — unless both of the following apply:
- more than 50% of the foreign paying company's activities result, directly or indirectly, in investment income; and
- the foreign tax is significantly lower than the Cyprus tax burden — an effective tax rate below 7.5% (less than half the Cyprus corporation tax).
Other notable reliefs include a Notional Interest Deduction on new equity and an 80% IP-box deduction on qualifying IP profits. Tax treatment depends on the specific facts and is subject to change.
Formation
What you need to incorporate.
Company name
Give us 2–3 names in order of preference for approval by the Registrar. We also hold a number of pre-approved names you may use — a list is available on request.
Registered office
A company must keep a registered office in Cyprus at all times. We provide this, with mail forwarding by email or post.
Optional service
Shareholders
We need the shareholders' details and their shareholdings. Nominee shareholder services are available, held under a trust deed for the beneficial owner.
Optional service
Director
At least one director is required. For Cyprus tax residency, the board should be controlled from Cyprus. We offer professional director services.
Optional service
Company secretary
Every company needs a secretary, who maintains the statutory books and registers, convenes meetings and prepares agendas. We provide professional secretary services.
Optional service
Indicative timeframe
Name approval
~3 working days
Registration
expedited from ~3 days
Company ready
incorporated & UBO filed
Opening a bank account is a separate process and typically takes several weeks to a few months, depending on the bank's due diligence.
After incorporation
Register of Beneficial Owners &
Banking.
UBO register
Cyprus companies must register their ultimate beneficial owners on the national register. The initial filing is handled as part of the incorporation. There is also an obligation to update the register following changes in the company structure and a further obligation to submit an annual confirmation. Where we act as an officer of the company we carry personal liability for filing, so timely instructions are essential.
Banking
A Cyprus company may hold a bank account in any country, subject to the requirements and policies of the relevant bank. Through our network and established connections, we provide assistance with the opening of bank accounts with banks in Cyprus and abroad.
We can also assist with obtaining certified or apostilled corporate documents, as may be required by the relevant bank, and provide general support throughout the account opening application process.
No physical presence in Cyprus is required for the opening of a bank account.
Onboarding
Documents we will need.
For each director, shareholder and beneficial owner:
Passport
Copy of the photo / data page
Proof of address
Utility bill within the last 3 months
Bank reference
Confirming the individual is known to the bank (no balance required)
Curriculum vitae
A short professional CV
*For opening a bank account, the bank will additionally request source of funds and wealth for each individual.
Ongoing
Compliance & accounting.
Audited accounts
Every Cyprus company — active or dormant — must prepare and file audited financial statements.
Book-keeping & VAT
Book-keeping, VAT returns and audit support, scoped to the volume and activity of the company. We can also introduce trusted audit firms.
Ready to begin?
Send us 2–3 proposed company names and the documents listed above, and we will handle name approval, incorporation, UBO filing and bank introductions on your behalf.
This leaflet is for general information only and does not constitute legal or tax advice.