Company registration in Cyprus

The Registrar lists five company types, and most clients choose a private limited liability company by shares. The name must end with “Limited” or “Ltd”, must not be too similar to an existing entity or a registered trademark, and restricted words need the consent of the competent body. The Registrar approves the name before incorporation.

They are signed in Greek. A private company can adopt the standard regulations in Table A of Schedule I of the Companies Law instead of writing its own articles. A certified translation can be filed if you want certified copies in another language.

Before filing you decide the registered office address, the first directors and secretary, the members and share capital, and the objects of the company.

Online filing runs through the Registrar’s e-filing system with a statutory declaration (form HE1) sworn before a court by the lawyer and a declaration of witness of signatures. The fee is €165, and the accelerated procedure adds €100. Filing by hand or post is also possible with forms HE1, HE2 and HE3.

When the Registrar is satisfied that the requirements are met, it publishes the registration in the Official Gazette and issues the certificate. Legal existence of the company begins with the certificate.

Within 60 days of incorporation the company must apply to the Tax Department for a tax number. A VAT registration form is needed if the company has made taxable supplies in the last 12 months or will make them above €15,600 in the next 30 days, and an employer registers with the Social Insurance Services.

According to the Government’s Tax Reform page, the corporate tax rate rises from 12.5% to 15% from 1 January 2026, the tax on actual dividends falls from 17% to 5% and the deemed dividend distribution is abolished. Crypto-assets are taxed separately at 8% of net profit. Whether these rules fit your company depends on its tax residence and on the owners’ own position, so we check them against the other countries involved.

Once a year the company files an annual return with a copy of its financial statements at the Registrar. At the end of each tax year it prepares audited financial statements and files them with its tax return at the Tax Department. Every company pays an annual fee of €350 by 30 June, and changes in directors, secretary, share capital, registered office or articles are notified to the Registrar.

The Registrar keeps the central Register of Beneficial Owners, set up under Law N.13(I)/2021 that transposed the 5th EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive. A beneficial owner is a natural person who ultimately owns or controls the entity through shares, voting rights or other means. We prepare the ownership chart before filing.

A Cyprus company does not authorise any regulated activity. Crypto exchange, payments or gambling need a licence or registration where you serve customers. We show you which, see licensing and compliance and our article on choosing a jurisdiction.

Opening an account depends on the bank, not on the registry. We prepare the business description and documents the bank will ask for.