How to Register a Company in Cyprus: A Complete Step-by-Step 2026 Guide

How do you register a company in Cyprus?

You register a company in Cyprus in eight stages: approve a name, have an advocate draft the Memorandum and Articles and HE1, set the structure and provide KYC, file for incorporation at €165, receive the certificates, file beneficial owners on the UBO register, register for tax and VAT, and open a bank or EMI account.

The vehicle almost everyone uses is the private company limited by shares (Ltd). Cyprus has been an EU member since 2004 and uses the euro, and its company law is based on English common-law principles, which makes the structure familiar to international founders. Formation must be carried out by a licensed Cyprus advocate, who signs the statutory declaration confirming the requirements of the Companies Law have been met.

What are the requirements to register a Cyprus company?

A Cyprus Ltd requires at least one shareholder, one director, one company secretary and a registered office address in Cyprus. There is no statutory minimum share capital, though a typical company issues around €1,000. 100% foreign ownership is permitted, and there is no legal requirement for a Cypriot shareholder or director.

The same person can, in many cases, act as both shareholder and director, and roles can be filled by individuals or corporate entities. While a Cypriot director is not required by law, appointing a Cyprus-resident director helps establish that the company's management and control sit in Cyprus, which supports tax residency and substance.

What documents do you need to register a company in Cyprus?

To register a Cyprus company you need identification and due-diligence documents for every shareholder, director and beneficial owner: a valid passport, proof of residential address, and information on source of funds. Your advocate then prepares the incorporation documents, and a power of attorney lets them act for you remotely.

KYC (know-your-customer) checks are a legal obligation for the advocate, so gathering clean, certified documents early is the single biggest factor in a fast, smooth incorporation. The documents fall into two groups: what you supply, and what the advocate produces on your behalf.

Preparing KYC documents

• Passports and address proofs are usually certified (by a lawyer, notary or bank) and, where needed, translated.
• Corporate shareholders provide their own constitutional documents, certificates of good standing and details of their beneficial owners.
• The advocate may ask follow-up questions about the business activity and expected source and flow of funds.
• Having documents ready before name approval means incorporation can be filed the moment the name is confirmed.

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

Registering a company in Cyprus takes around 5 to 10 working days end to end. Name approval typically takes 3 to 5 working days, and incorporation plus issue of the certificates takes about 5 to 7 working days. Bank and tax registrations run in parallel, so they do not usually add to the timeline.

Accelerated processing at the Registrar (an extra €100) can shorten the incorporation stage. Using a pre-approved or shelf name removes the name-approval wait altogether. In practice the slowest part is often opening a traditional bank account, which can take 2 to 6 weeks; an EMI (electronic money institution) account can frequently be opened within days.

Step 1-3: Name approval, drafting and structure

The first three steps set up the company on paper: you get a name approved by the Registrar, your advocate drafts the Memorandum and Articles and the HE1 declaration, and you confirm the structure (shareholders, director, secretary, registered office and capital) while providing KYC and signing a power of attorney.

Choosing and approving a name

You submit one or more proposed names to the Registrar, which checks they are not identical or too similar to existing names and are not misleading or restricted. Approval usually takes 3 to 5 working days. Offering a couple of alternatives reduces the risk of a rejection and a repeat wait.

Drafting the constitution

A licensed Cyprus advocate drafts the Memorandum and Articles of Association, which set out the company's objects and internal rules, together with the HE1 statutory declaration and the forms recording the directors, secretary, registered office and shareholders. This is the core legal work of incorporation and is why the process must run through an advocate.

Setting the structure and signing remotely

1. Decide who the shareholder(s), director(s) and secretary will be, and choose the registered office address.
2. Set the share capital (a typical company uses €1,000 of authorised and issued capital; there is no statutory minimum).
3. Provide KYC documents for everyone involved (passport, proof of address, source of funds).
4. Sign a power of attorney authorising your advocate to incorporate the company on your behalf, so no travel to Cyprus is needed.

Step 4-5: Filing incorporation and receiving certificates

Your advocate files the incorporation documents with the Registrar of Companies for the official fee of €165 (or €235 for a company without share capital), plus €100 if you choose accelerated processing. Within roughly 5 to 7 working days the Registrar issues the company's certificates, at which point the company legally exists.

Stamp duty on the formation documents was abolished from 1 January 2026 (stamp duty now applies mainly to real estate, banking and insurance transactions), and the €350 annual company levy was abolished from 2024, so there is no government fee simply to keep the company active. Certified copies of documents, where you need them, cost around €120 to €130.

The certificates you receive

• Certificate of Incorporation, confirming the company exists and its registration number.
• Certificate of Registered Office, showing the official Cyprus address.
• Certificate of Directors and Secretary (the HE3 form details).
• Certificate of Shareholders, listing the members and their shares.
• The Memorandum and Articles of Association (M&A), the company's constitution.

Step 6-8: UBO register, tax, VAT and banking

After incorporation you file the company's beneficial owners on the Registrar's UBO register, obtain a Tax Identification Code, and register for VAT, VIES and OSS where required. You then open a corporate bank or EMI account. These steps activate the company for trading and tax compliance.

Filing beneficial owners (UBO)

Every Cyprus company must record its ultimate beneficial owners (the individuals who ultimately own or control it) on the Registrar's UBO register shortly after incorporation. Keeping this filing accurate and up to date is an ongoing compliance obligation.

Registering for tax and VAT

The company obtains a Tax Identification Code from the Tax Department. VAT registration is mandatory once taxable turnover exceeds €15,600 in any rolling 12-month period (or is expected to within 30 days); voluntary registration is also possible. Businesses trading with other EU countries also register for VIES (intra-EU B2B) and, for cross-border B2C sales, OSS, where an EU-wide distance-selling threshold of €10,000 applies. Our Cyprus VAT registration guide covers this in detail.

Opening a corporate bank or EMI account

The final step is opening a corporate account. An EMI account can often be opened within days, while a traditional Cyprus bank account typically takes 2 to 6 weeks because of the bank's own due-diligence process. See our guide on opening a Cyprus corporate bank account for what documents banks expect and how to prepare.

Can you register a Cyprus company as a foreigner or remotely?

Yes. Cyprus allows 100% foreign ownership, and there is no requirement for a Cypriot shareholder or director. With certified KYC documents and a signed power of attorney, a licensed advocate can complete the entire registration on your behalf, so the company can be set up fully remotely without you travelling to Cyprus.

Although a Cypriot director is not required, appointing a Cyprus-resident director helps demonstrate that management and control sit in Cyprus, which supports company tax residency and substance. From 1 January 2026, a company incorporated in Cyprus is generally treated as Cyprus tax resident unless it is resident elsewhere under a double tax treaty, so structuring should be discussed alongside registration. See our Cyprus company formation cost guide to plan the total budget.

How much does it cost to register a Cyprus company?

The official cost to register a Cyprus company is the Registrar fee of €165 (€235 without share capital), plus an optional €100 for accelerated processing. On top of that you pay professional fees to your advocate, which vary by provider and by how complex the structure is. Stamp duty and the annual levy no longer apply.

Because the government fees are fixed and modest, the main variable in your total is the advocate's professional fee, which typically covers name approval, drafting, filing, the secretary and registered office, and often the first UBO and tax registrations. Confirm exactly what is included and what recurs annually before you commit.

What happens after your Cyprus company is registered?

Once registered, the company must meet ongoing obligations: file an annual return, prepare and file audited or reviewed financial statements, submit corporate tax and VAT returns, and keep the UBO register up to date. Corporate income tax is 15% from 1 January 2026, with several exemptions depending on your activity.

• File the company's annual return and financial statements each year.
• Submit corporate tax returns; the corporate income tax rate is 15% from 1 January 2026.
• File VAT returns (usually quarterly) and VIES (monthly) where you are registered.
• Maintain proper accounting records and keep the UBO and Registrar filings current.
• Review your structure for substance and tax residency, especially if you have EU or cross-border activity.