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Company formationCyprusEU

Register a company in Cyprus

From €1,2007–15 working days

Government fees are paid separately at cost and are listed below with their source.

Indicative prices; the final quote depends on your case.

  • Name approval
  • Memorandum and articles of association
  • Filing with the Registrar of Companies
Company registration time
10 daysChecked onsourcesecondary source
Corporate income tax
15%Checked onsource
Minimum share capital
€0Checked onsource

For founders who are moving their own tax residence and want the operating or holding company in Cyprus from day one, including non-residents who file without travelling to Cyprus.

Start company registration

We obtain the name approval, draft the memorandum and articles, file the incorporation with the Registrar of Companies and register the new company for tax. Government fees are paid at cost on top of our price.

Updated

Cyprus company facts at a glance

CyprusEU

Company registration time
10 daysChecked onsourcesecondary source
Remote registration
YesChecked onsource
Local director required
NoChecked onsource
Annual government fee
€0Checked onsource
Statutory audit
YesChecked onsource
Minimum share capital Ltd
€0Checked onsource
All company requirements

How it works

Cyprus company registration, step by step

A private company limited by shares (Ltd) can be formed without any minimum share capital, and the Registrar charges €165 to incorporate it. The rest of this section explains what that fee does not cover and how the 2026 tax reform changes the picture for an owner who is relocating.

Where the time goes

Registering a company in Cyprus takes about 10 working days including name approval, according to secondary sources; the Registrar itself publishes no official service time. Name approval costs €10 per proposed name, and an approved name stays reserved for 6 months, so you can clear the name first and file later.

If the date matters, the Registrar offers an accelerated procedure for an extra €100 on the incorporation and €20 per name on the name approval. We quote our own part of the work as 7–15 working days; the Registrar’s part is outside our control.

Who has to sign in Cyprus

Founders do not need to travel: the incorporation is filed online through the Registrar’s e-filing system. Cyprus law requires the HE1 declaration to be certified by a Cyprus-registered lawyer; we arrange this as part of the service.

Company law asks for at least 1 director and 1 company secretary for a private company, with no residency requirement for the director. A sole director of a single-member company may also act as secretary.

Tax residence of the new company

Corporate income tax in Cyprus is 15% from 1 January 2026; until tax year 2025 it was 12.5%. The same reform, Income Tax (Amending) Law N. 244(I)/2025, made a company incorporated in Cyprus tax resident by incorporation, unless a tax treaty provides otherwise.

Before 2026 the test was management and control in Cyprus: board meetings and decisions held on the island, usually with Cyprus-resident directors. That test still applies alongside incorporation, so an owner who is leaving another country should check its treaty with Cyprus before the board meets anywhere else.

Running costs after incorporation

Every Cyprus company prepares audited IFRS financial statements and files them with its tax return. Small private companies may use a review engagement instead if turnover stays within €200,000 and total assets within €500,000 for two consecutive years.

The €350 annual company levy was abolished from 2024 by Law N.25(I)/2024, although some Registrar pages still mention it. Filing fees for the annual return remain, and a tax identification number has to be obtained within 60 days of incorporation.

When a Cyprus company is the wrong choice

  • You only sell to Cyprus clients from abroad: that alone does not call for a Cyprus company.
  • You need a company with no office, staff or decisions in Cyprus mainly to hold a bank account: Central Bank of Cyprus guidance on shell companies makes banks decide such cases one by one.
  • Your business plan assumes the 12.5% rate: from 2026 profits are taxed at 15%.
  • You want to raise money from the public: a PLC needs €25,629 in capital, 7 members and 2 directors, and our package does not cover it.

What we do and what stays with you

We prepare and file every document up to the tax registration, which falls due within 60 days of incorporation; you provide identity documents, answer our due diligence questions and choose the registered office address, which is not part of the package.

Package

What the Cyprus formation package covers

From €1,200

7–15 working days

Indicative prices; the final quote depends on your case.

Four filings are in our price from €1,200; the Registrar’s own fees, from €165, are paid at cost. Indicative prices; the final quote depends on your case.

FilingIf you handle it yourselfHandled by us
Name approvalSubmit up to several names at €10 each and track the Registrar’s replyYes
Memorandum and articles of associationDraft the memorandum and articles in a form the Registrar acceptsYes
Filing with the Registrar of CompaniesObtain e-filing access and have the HE1 declaration certified by a Cyprus-registered lawyerYes
Tax registrationApply to the Tax Department for the tax identification number within 60 daysYes

Not included

  • Government and registry fees (paid at cost)Government fees are paid separately at cost and are listed below with their source.€165Checked on
  • Registered office address
  • Bank account opening

Documents you hold at the end

  • Certificate of incorporation
  • Name approval from the Registrar
  • Memorandum and articles of association
  • Tax identification number of the company

The same work for a UK limited company:From €4002–5 working days

Start company registrationAll our pricesHow we work with clients

Registering before you change residence?

Tell us your moving date and the activity of the company; the quote lists our price, the Registrar fees and the order of filings. Indicative prices; the final quote depends on your case.

From €1,2007–15 working days

Get a quote

Company types

Cyprus company forms and their capital

Five forms are listed by the Registrar; our package registers the first of them, the private Ltd. Indicative prices; the final quote depends on your case.

FormMinimum share capitalFits and does not fitNext step
LtdPrivate company limited by sharesRegistered by our packageFrom €1,2007–15 working days€0Checked onsourceMost common vehicle for foreign founders. At least 1 director and 1 secretary (a sole director of a single-member company may also act as secretary). Incorporation filed by a Cyprus lawyer (statutory declaration HE1).An owner-managed trading business or a holding company with 1 to 50 members.A business that plans to offer shares to the public.Ask about this form
PLCPublic company limited by shares€25,629Checked onsourceUsed for listed or widely held companies.A company heading for a listing or a wide shareholder base.A founder working alone: it needs 7 members, 2 directors and form HE9 at €2,020 before trading.Ask about this form
Ltd (by guarantee)Company limited by guarantee without share capital€0Checked onsourceTypically non-profit entities, foundations, associations.Foundations, associations and other non-profit bodies.Any business meant to pay dividends; incorporation costs €235 instead of €165.Ask about this form
Ltd (by guarantee with shares)Company limited by guarantee with a share capitalNot publishedno data: the Registrar lists this type but publishes no separate minimum capital for itChecked onRarely used hybrid form.Rare hybrid structures with a specific reason for both shares and guarantees.Standard formations: the Registrar publishes no separate capital rule for this type.Ask about this form
VCICVariable capital investment company€50,000Checked onsourceInvestment fund vehicle supervised by CySEC; not a general trading company.Investment funds supervised by CySEC.General trading or holding activity.Ask about this form
Registrar guidance:Members and Share Capital

Routes

Three ways to open a Cyprus company

The choice depends on the date you need the company and on what it will hold. Indicative prices; the final quote depends on your case.

  1. If your move is months away and the date is flexibleStandard Ltd registration

    We clear the name, then file once your documents are complete; the approved name stays reserved for 6 months.

    Downside:The Registrar sets its own pace and publishes no service time.

    You receive:Certificate of incorporation and the company tax number

    From €1,200
    7–15 working days
    Processing time
    10 daysChecked onsecondary source

  2. If the company must exist before a set dateAccelerated filing

    We use the Registrar’s accelerated procedure: €100 extra on the incorporation and €20 per name on the name approval, both paid at cost.

    Downside:Only the Registrar’s part speeds up; bank onboarding does not.

    You receive:The same documents as the standard route

  3. If the company will mainly hold shares in other companiesCyprus holding company

    We register an Ltd with articles drafted for holding activity. Dividends received by a Cyprus company are generally exempt from corporate tax, and domestic law levies no withholding tax on dividends paid to non-residents, with exceptions for low-tax and EU-blacklisted jurisdictions.

    Downside:A holding with no office or decisions in Cyprus meets case-by-case bank scrutiny.

    You receive:Certificate of incorporation and the share register

    From €1,200
    7–15 working days

Government fees are paid separately at cost and are listed below with their source.Checked on

Get a quote

Procedure

How to register a company in Cyprus

Seven steps from the first email to the tax number. Our share of the work takes 7–15 working days; the Registrar and the Tax Department run on their own timetables.

  1. 01You do

    Brief and due diligence

    You send passports and proof of address for every director and shareholder, and a paragraph on the planned activity. We check the ownership chain for the beneficial owner filing.

    Written quote and document list

  2. 02We do

    Name approval request

    We submit your proposed names at €10 each; the Registrar reserves the approved one for 6 months.

    Name approval

  3. 03We do

    Memorandum and articles

    We draft the constitutional documents and the list of directors, secretary and shareholders, and send them to you for signature.

    Signed incorporation documents

  4. 04We do

    HE1 declaration

    Cyprus law requires the HE1 declaration to be certified by a Cyprus-registered lawyer; we arrange this as part of the service.

    Certified HE1

  5. 05We do

    Filing with the Registrar

    We file online and pay the €165 incorporation fee at cost; the accelerated procedure adds €100.

    Application under review

  6. 06Registrar

    Incorporation

    The Registrar of Companies registers the company and issues the certificates.

    Certificate of incorporation

  7. 07We do

    Tax registration

    We apply for the tax identification number, which is due within 60 days of incorporation.

    Company tax number

    In your hands at the end

    • Certificate of incorporation
    • Memorandum and articles of association
    • Company tax identification number
Our part
7–15 working days
Registrar’s partDepartment of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property
10 daysChecked onsourcesecondary source

Deadlines that start after incorporation

  • Change of registered office: notify the Registrar on form HE2 within 14 days.
  • First financial statements: presented to the general meeting within 18 months of incorporation.
  • Annual return: filed with the financial statements within 28 days of its drafting date.
  • VAT: registration becomes mandatory once taxable supplies pass €15,600 in 12 months.

A business bank account is a separate decision of the bank and is not in the package. Remote onboarding is possible, but non-resident owners face enhanced due diligence; secondary sources put the typical time at 3–4 weeks.

Start company registrationDocuments and requirements

Requirements

Cyprus company register requirements

Nine published requirements, each with the date we last checked it against the Registrar or the Tax Department.

Capital and timing

Minimum share capital of an Ltd
€0Checked onsource
Time to incorporate
10 daysChecked onsourcesecondary source
Filing without a visit
YesChecked onsource

People and address

Cyprus-resident director
NoChecked onsource
Registered office in Cyprus
YesChecked onsource

Yearly obligations

Audit of financial statements
YesChecked onsource
Annual company levy
€0Checked onsource

Tax, in one line

Corporate income tax
15%Checked onsource
Standard VAT
19%Checked onsourcesecondary source

Register of Beneficial Owners

Each company files and keeps up to date the details of its beneficial owners in the register kept by the Registrar of Companies. The filing is not in the base package; we add it to the quote on request.

When you can skip a Cyprus company

Selling to customers in Cyprus from another country does not in itself require a local company; a non-established business making taxable supplies in Cyprus generally registers for VAT instead, without a threshold.

Business account for a non-resident company

difficultChecked onsourcesecondary source

Incorporation does not open a bank account; the bank runs its own checks and makes its own decision.

Issued once the company is registered

  • Certificate of incorporation
  • Memorandum and articles as filed
  • Company tax identification number
Get a quote

Price

Cyprus company formation cost

Our fee starts at €1,200; the Registrar charges €165 to incorporate an Ltd and €10 per name, and those Registrar fees are paid at cost on top of our fee. Registered office and bank account are quoted separately.

Government fees are paid separately at cost and are listed below with their source.Indicative prices; the final quote depends on your case.

ServiceCountryOur fee fromOur working daysGovernment fees
Cyprus company formation
What is included

What's included

  • Name approval
  • Memorandum and articles of association
  • Filing with the Registrar of Companies
  • Tax registration

Not included

  • Government and registry fees (paid at cost)
  • Registered office address
  • Bank account opening
CyprusFrom€1,2007–15working days€165Checked onGet a quote

Quote

Ask for a Cyprus company quote

Five short questions. The reply names our price, the Registrar fees at cost and the documents each director and shareholder has to send.

Privacy Policy

We use these details only to prepare this quote.

We usually reply within one business day.

Legal disclaimer

The information on this site is general and is not legal advice for your specific situation.

Legal disclaimer

Questions

Registering a company in Cyprus: questions

Answers use the Registrar and Tax Department figures checked on 25 September 2026.

Setting up

How long does it take to register a company in Cyprus?

About 10 working days including name approval, based on secondary sources, because the Registrar publishes no official time. Our own part takes 7–15 working days.

How much does it cost to open a company in Cyprus?

Our fee starts at €1,200. On top come the Registrar fees at cost: €165 to incorporate a company with share capital and €10 per proposed name. The accelerated procedure adds €100, plus €20 per name. A registered office address is not in our package, so it appears as a separate line in the quote. Indicative prices; the final quote depends on your case.

Can a non-resident register a company in Cyprus without visiting?

Yes. The filing is made online, and there is no residency requirement for directors. Cyprus law requires the HE1 declaration to be certified by a Cyprus-registered lawyer; we arrange this as part of the service.

What share capital does a Cyprus Ltd need?

None: a private company limited by shares has no minimum share capital and can have 1 to 50 members.

Is a Cyprus offshore company still possible?

Not in the old sense. From 1 January 2026 a company incorporated in Cyprus is tax resident there by incorporation unless a tax treaty says otherwise, and it pays 15% corporate income tax on its profits. Banks also examine companies with no physical presence case by case under Central Bank of Cyprus guidance.

After registration

Does my Cyprus company make me personally tax resident in Cyprus?

Not by itself. Under the 60-day rule an individual becomes Cyprus tax resident by spending at least 60 days in Cyprus in the year, not living more than 183 days in any other single state, carrying on a business or holding an office in Cyprus, and keeping a permanent home there, owned or rented.

When does a Cyprus company have to register for VAT?

Once taxable supplies exceed €15,600 over the last 12 months, or are expected to in the next 30 days. The standard rate is 19%.

Is there still an annual fee for a Cyprus company?

The €350 annual levy was abolished from 2024, though levies unpaid for 2011–2023 are still due. What remains is the annual return with its filing fee and audited financial statements; a small private company may use a review engagement instead of a full audit if it stays within €200,000 turnover and €500,000 assets for two consecutive years.

Sources

Where the Cyprus figures come from

Registrar of Companies pages, Tax Department documents and the secondary summaries we cross-checked them with.

14Sources
DocumentPublished byKindLast checked
Government pages
Applying to incorporate a CompanyDepartment of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual PropertyGovernment pagesChecked on
Directors and SecretaryDepartment of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual PropertyGovernment pagesChecked on
Income Tax (Amending) Law N. 244(I)/2025 - Tax Department presentationTax Department, Ministry of Finance of CyprusGovernment pagesChecked on
Registered Office AddressDepartment of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual PropertyGovernment pagesChecked on
Abolition of the annual company fee for the year 2024 onwardsDepartment of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual PropertyGovernment pagesChecked on
After IncorporationDepartment of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual PropertyGovernment pagesChecked on
Financial Statements and Annual returnDepartment of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual PropertyGovernment pagesChecked on
Members and Share CapitalDepartment of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual PropertyGovernment pagesChecked on
Types of CompaniesDepartment of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual PropertyGovernment pagesChecked on
Secondary sources
How to register a company in Cyprus in 2025Spencer WestSecondary sourcessecondary sourceChecked on
Cyprus Statutory Audit Requirements 2026Iacovou & CoSecondary sourcessecondary sourceChecked on
Cyprus - Corporate - Taxes on corporate incomePwC Worldwide Tax SummariesSecondary sourcessecondary sourceChecked on
A new era for Cyprus taxation: the key insights of the 2026 Cyprus tax reformHarneysSecondary sourcessecondary sourceChecked on
Cyprus - Corporate - Other taxesPwC Worldwide Tax SummariesSecondary sourcessecondary sourceChecked on
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Register a Company in Cyprus from €1,200 | Clearfile