Cyprus company setup

Immediate action: reserve the proposed trading name with the Registrar and submit the Memorandum and Articles of Association plus certified ID and proof-of-address for all directors and shareholders; typical completion timeline with clean documentation is 3–7 business days.

Minimum governance: appoint at least one director (natural person or corporate), designate a secretary, and maintain a registered office address on the island. One shareholder is required; nominee shareholdings are common but record the ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs) in accordance with transparency rules.

Capital and taxes: there is no statutory minimum paid-up capital for private limited-liability firms, yet a practical authorised/issued capital of €1,000 (divided into €1 shares) is frequently used. Standard corporate tax rate in the jurisdiction is 12.5%. VAT registration threshold is generally €15,600 of annual taxable turnover; register for VAT when projected or actual turnover exceeds that amount.

Due diligence and compliance: collect certified passport, recent utility bill (within three months) and a bank reference for each director, shareholder and UBO. Record UBOs who own or control >25% of voting rights or economic interest in the entity and submit required entries to the central beneficial-ownership register; retain KYC files for regulatory inspection.

Banking and operational setup: expect bank account opening to require a business plan, copies of corporate documents and detailed source-of-funds explanations; processing time commonly ranges from 2–6 weeks. Engage a local legal or corporate services provider to obtain tax identification, register for payroll and VAT, prepare statutory books and advise on tax residency based on where central management and control are exercised.

Select legal form, share structure and company name: choosing Ltd vs branch, minimum shareholders/directors, reservation process

See also: Company registration cyprus limited liability.

See also: Company registration cyprus private limited.

Prefer a private limited liability (Ltd) for trading, contracting and asset protection; choose a branch only when the parent wants an extension with direct liability and no separate legal personality.

Minimum statutory requirements: one shareholder (natural person or corporate) and one director (natural person or corporate). Appoint a company secretary (natural or corporate). Maintain a registered office and keep statutory registers at that address.

Share capital: you can issue a single share to start, but market practice is to set an authorised capital (e.g. 1,000 shares at €1 each) and issue a practical issued capital that reflects economic exposure. Use ordinary voting shares for control; introduce preference or non‑voting classes only if specific investor rights are needed. Bearer shares are not permitted; nominee arrangements must be documented and backed by nominee agreements.

Directors and substance: at least one director is required on the statutory record. If tax and substance profile matter, ensure a majority of directors are resident where management is actually exercised, hold board meetings locally, and keep minutes evidencing decision-making. Consider at least two directors if the parent is non‑resident and more robust substance is desired.

Name reservation process: search the Registrar’s public index for identical or confusing names, prepare three alternative names, and submit an online name application. Avoid restricted words (bank, insurance/assurance, government, university, cooperative) unless prior approval from the relevant regulator is obtained; supporting documents or licences may be required for those terms. Typical turnaround is 1–3 business days; successful reservation is valid for the statutory period (reserve only as long as you can complete incorporation/incorporation formalities within that window).

Practical checklist: include the suffix "Ltd" or "Limited" as required; reserve multiple variants (exact match, abbreviated, translation) to prevent rejections; secure matching domain names and trademarks before finalising; document shareholder agreements and share classes at incorporation to avoid cumbersome later amendments.

Prepare and file incorporation documents with the Registrar of Companies: required forms, memorandum/articles, signature/notarisation, filing fees, expected timelines

See also: Form company Cyprus.

Reserve the intended trading name immediately via the Registrar's name-reservation form (HE1) and assemble the signed incorporation pack before submission to avoid delays.

Documents to prepare and attach: the Memorandum and Articles of Association (tailored or model), the incorporation application (available on the Registrar portal), full particulars of founders/subscribers, director(s) full name, nationality, residential address and ID/passport copies, registered office address, statement of share capital and allotment schedule, directors’ consents, secretary appointment, and, where a subscriber is a legal person, a certified board resolution and certified certificate of incorporation and directors list for that legal person.

Signature and authentication: original signatures required on the Memorandum, Articles and subscriber pages. If any signatory signs outside the jurisdiction of filing, have signatures notarised and then apostilled under the Hague Apostille Convention (or consular legalisation where apostille is not applicable). Copies of ID must be certified by a public notary or by an embassy/consulate; translations must be certified when not in English or Greek.

Filing route and fees: file electronically via the Registrar’s e-portal for fastest turnaround; paper filing remains acceptable but is slower. Government filing fees are calculated on authorised share capital; for small-authorised capital entities expect a government fee in the low hundreds of euros (agent and legal drafting fees are additional). Request a fee estimate from your local filing agent before submission to cover Registrar fees, notary/apostille charges, and professional fees.

Timelines to plan for: name reservation (HE1) – typically 1 business day online; full incorporation approval via e-filing – commonly 24–72 hours if documentation is complete and accurate; paper filing – 5–10 business days; notarisation of signatures and apostille – 1–7 business days depending on local notary/apostille service; allow extra time if the Registrar issues queries (add 3–10 business days for resolution).

Practical checklist before submission: HE1 name approval, final signed Memorandum & Articles, incorporation application with complete director/subscriber data, certified IDs, registered office confirmation, payment of calculated Registrar fee, notarisation/apostille for foreign-signed docs, and certified corporate documents for corporate subscribers. Retain originals for bank and compliance uses after filing.