Company in Cyprus: open, run and keep it in good standing

A company in Cyprus for a foreign founder is almost always a private limited company (Cyprus Ltd). We register it with the Registrar of Companies in 1–3 weeks, with the incorporation forms signed by a licensed Cyprus advocate as the law requires, then get its tax and VAT numbers and prepare the file for a bank account, which takes another 2–8 weeks. You need a company name, at least one director and one shareholder, a registered office in Cyprus, and a passport and proof of address for each person. If you work alone and limited liability is not needed, we register you as self-employed instead, also in 1–3 weeks. After registration we keep the books and file the tax return and the annual return every year.

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Company in Cyprus: 20 services

Company formation

Cyprus Ltd, with help applying for a bank account

1–3 weeks

Registered office and secretary

Address and statutory roles

yearly

Accounting and bookkeeping

Monthly books and annual accounts

monthly

Switching accountant

Move your books without gaps

2–4 weeks

VAT and VIES

Registration and returns

quarterly

Audit and annual return

Audit or statutory review and registry filing

yearly

Corporate tax return

Annual company tax filing

yearly

Company bank account

Prepare a file banks accept

2–8 weeks

UBO register

Beneficial owners on record

yearly check

Company closure or redomiciliation

Strike off, liquidate or move abroad

3–12 months

Substance in Cyprus

Real management for company tax residency

ongoing

IP Box

Reduced tax on qualifying IP income

2–4 weeks

Transfer pricing

Intra-group prices and documentation

yearly

Self-employed registration

Work as a freelancer in Cyprus

1–3 weeks

Holding company

Own subsidiaries and investments from Cyprus

2–4 weeks

Trademark registration

Protect your brand in Cyprus or the EU

4–8 months

GDPR compliance

Privacy policies and data processes

2–4 weeks

Business licences

Permits for your activity and premises

up to 4 months

Financial licences

CySEC and Central Bank authorisations

6–12 months

Office and coworking

Desk, coworking or office

1–4 weeks

Company in Cyprus: the registry, the paperwork and the yearly cycle

Every Cyprus company is registered with the Registrar of Companies. The register is public: a Cyprus company search shows the name, status, directors and filed documents. Registering a company in Cyprus means reserving the name, filing the memorandum and articles, and then registering for tax, for VAT when needed and as an employer for social insurance.

After that the work comes every year: bookkeeping, financial statements, the tax return and, if you rely on tax treaties, real substance in Cyprus.

We prepare the documents and keep the steps in order; the incorporation forms are signed and filed by a licensed Cyprus advocate, as the law requires.

Questions

What does a Cyprus company need after registration?

Every year: bookkeeping, financial statements and their audit, the corporate tax return and the annual return to the Registrar, plus VAT returns and payroll if the company is registered for them. Setting the company up is covered on company registration.

How can I check a Cyprus company?

Use the Registrar's free eSearch for the basics; a detailed search with the full history costs €10. Our company search guide explains what each shows.

Guides

All company guides

Company, 6 min read

Your Cyprus company in years one and two

Company, 6 min read

Accounting or audit: what your Cyprus company needs

Company, 6 min read

Opening a bank account for your Cyprus company

Not sure which company service you need?

Tell us your situation. A coordinator suggests the services and the order to do them in.