Updated: January 02, 2024
You have two options if you want to relocate your business to Cyprus:
Some rules change depending on whether you are a European Union (EU) or a third-country national.
In fact, there is a third option for EU nationals. They can transform their domestically registered business into a European company, doing what is called “a cross-border conversion”.
In this guide, you will find the basic ways in which a business can be relocated to Cyprus and the actions you need to take.
If you are interested in business relocation to Cyprus, please check our Cyprus Business Visa guide.
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Cyprus is a favorite destination to relocate a business. It has one of the lowest corporate tax rates in Europe and has signed over 50 Double Taxation agreements. As a member of the European Union, Cyprus operates within a highly effective regulatory framework. The rules guarantee human rights and protection for the environment.
According to the 2020 World Bank Group Doing Business Report*, Cyprus ranks in the Top 60 (#54) of the easiest countries to conduct business.
*The World Bank has discontinued Doing Business, so there is no report for 2021 or later.
To start a company in Cyprus, you must register it with the Registrar of Companies.
There are many types of business enterprises, of which the most popular is the private limited liability company. The limited liability company is one of the most useful inventions in human history, that has contributed significantly to economic growth. This is because the limited liability company can move efficiently in the business environment, protecting members in case of company breakdown or failure.
The relevant legislation concerning limited liability companies in Cyprus is the Cyprus Companies Law (Cap 113).
For a private limited liability company, the minimum share capital in Cyprus is recommended to be EUR 1,000, with each share having a value of EUR 1.
If you are an EU national, see below for the rules that apply to you.
If you are a third-country national, and your company will have at least EUR 200,000 in share capital, you can benefit from the Business Facilitation Unit (BFU) scheme. If the share capital is lower, the general rules for entry to the Republic apply to you.
Third-country nationals should register a company with the Registrar of Companies and the Civil Registry and Migration Department Registry of Companies of Foreign Interests. For more details, please read about Cyprus company formation.
There can be one sole director who can also be the sole shareholder. This means that one person can be the single director and shareholder of the company.
The corporate tax rate is low in Cyprus, at the rate of 12,5%. It is among the lowest in Europe. There is no tax on the payment of dividends.
A private limited company in Cyprus must have a company secretary.
The fee payable at the Registrar of Companies is EUR 165 plus EUR 100 fast track. Source: https://www.companies.gov.cy/...
Note that further fees may apply for registering the whole document package.
To register the company with the Cyprus Registrar of Companies, you should do the following:
Find the list of documents at the Registrar’s official website at Applying to incorporate a Company, Business Entities
The business license will be issued for the company. Now the company can start work.
The Registrar of Companies offers help with the M&A at:
https://www.companies.gov.cy/en/business-entities/.
To register your company with the tax department, you must hand in the form T.D. 2001 (application for obtaining a tax number) and a T.D. 1101 (application for VAT registration).
VAT applies only if a minimum of profits is reached. See businessincyprus.gov.cy.
For the documents needed to submit to the Inland Revenue, see mof.gov.cy.
The forms can be submitted by hand at the closest tax department district offices.
A lawyer must sign the whole registration procedure. You should appoint a local lawyer for your company’s registration. Our firm can give you expert help and advice.
A branch of a foreign company in Cyprus is a permanent establishment of a company not registered in Cyprus. It has the same name as the parent company and offers the same services.
Under section 347(1) of the Cyprus Companies Law (Cap 113), the report that the parent company must submit to the Registrar must contain several details:
For all the details, see: companies.gov.cy/en/business-entities/overseas-company
According to the High Commission of Cyprus in the UK, Britain is the second most important trading partner for Cyprus in all aspects of business – imports, exports, and services.
A significant benefit of transferring a business from Cyprus to the UK is that Cyprus, apart from being a member of the EU, is also a common law country.
UK citizens who wish to transfer to the UK must, according to the UK official government website, use the instructions found on the websites:
the Cyprus BFU (Business Facilitation Unit) at: https://www.businessincyprus.gov.cy/...
and,
The Registrar of Companies’ Point of single contact at:
https://www.businessincyprus.gov.cy/....
Other than the information found in the BFU, the rules for third-country nationals apply (see above in setting up your own company and setting up a foreign branch).
If you are an EU national and you wish to transfer your business to Cyprus, you can:
The SE is “a type of public limited liability company that allows you to run your business in different European countries using a single set of rules” (europa.eu). The SE can only be set up within the territory of the European Union (etui.org).
The SE officially entered into operation throughout Europe on 8 October 2004. It was created after 30 years of discussion among member states.
The relevant legislation is composed of two documents. First, Council Regulation on the Statute for a European Company, EC/2157/2001 and the Council Directive about the involvement of employees (Council Directive 2001/86/EC of 8 October 2001).
The SE facilitates cross-border mergers and re-incorporations, allowing businesspeople to choose the legal system they think is more favourable for operation.
To set up a European Company (SE), you need:
To turn themselves into SEs, private limited companies must form a European holding company or a European subsidiary in another EU member state. For example, a private limited company in France can form a subsidiary in Cyprus and turn itself into an SE.
When the European company is registered, the abbreviation “SE” must be added before or after the company name.
The Official Journal of the European Union will publish the details of the SE.
The Registrar of Companies has all the details at: https://www.companies.gov.cy/en/business-entities/...
A cross-border conversion is when a company registered in a member state A converts itself to a company belonging to member state B.
The company will not be deleted from the registry of member state A (the country of origin).
Cross-border conversions are part of the freedom of establishment (one of the fundamental freedoms of the EU).
Cyprus allowed cross-border conversions in 2006. The relevant legislation is Companies Law, Cap. 113, Articles 354 A-Θ (I, in the English numbering).
The company wishing to transfer to Cyprus must:
This list (Article 354 C) includes:
Once a company converts, it will be treated as if it is set up under the Cyprus Companies law. Also, it will be under the authority of the Cyprus Registrar of Companies, exactly like a local Cyprus company.
A new Directive on cross-border conversions was transferred into national law by 31 January 2023. It aims to fill gaps and introduce uniform rules to create legal certainty. Another aim is to offer adequate legal protection to stakeholders.
To relocate your employees to Cyprus, note that there are different rules for EU nationals and nationals of a third country.
Also, note that whatever the form of your business or your country of origin, as long as you carry on business in the Republic, you must register with social insurance and the general health system (“GHS”).
For social insurance, find the documents here: http://www.mlsi.gov.cy/mlsi/
EU nationals can work and live in Cyprus without restrictions.
However:
If they are members of a regulated profession (for example, doctors, lawyers, accountants), they must contact the relevant Cyprus professional body. They will learn how they can get a professional license or get recognition for the license they already have (mlsi.gov.cy)
An EU national who relocates to begin employment in Cyprus must apply for a registration certificate from the Ministry of the Interior. They must apply within four months from the date of entry to the Republic.
The application is done in form MEU1 and must be accompanied by a long list of documents, which includes:
See the complete list in our article Cyprus Yellow Slip.
For the rights of EU workers across the EU, see the brief and informative “Moving & working in Europe” from the European Commission: Moving & working in Europe
Cyprus has adopted a new policy for employing third-country nationals: foreign companies establishing independent offices in Cyprus can apply under the BFU.
Employees who have worked legally in Cyprus for 7 years can apply for citizenship.
Under the BFU, as of January 2024, employees of foreign interest companies will be able to apply for citizenship after 5 years (4 with proof of good knowledge of Greek).
Third-country national employees can buy real estate (house, apartment, or land) but need permission from the government.
Our firm of legal professionals can give you expert help and advice on all stages of relocating your business to Cyprus. We offer professional services for registering all types of companies, from the Cyprus company to the SE and relocating your employees from your country of origin to Cyprus.
George K. Konstantinou
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