Cyprus is one of the best places in Europe to set up a business. Low corporate tax, a straightforward registration process, an extensive network of double tax treaties, and full EU compliance, all from a jurisdiction that takes your business seriously. Based in Paphos, we handle the full incorporation process and connect you with the right legal, tax, and banking partners from day one.
Get in touch and we will take it from here.
Takes under a minute. Private and confidential.
To open a Cyprus company you clear the name with the Registrar of Companies, file the constitutional documents, receive the Certificate of Incorporation, register with the Tax Department for a Tax Identification Number, and then open a bank account. A licensed company secretary must be appointed. The process can be completed remotely with certified or apostilled documents.
Corporate tax is 15%. Dividends paid to a Cyprus resident non-dom shareholder carry 0% Special Defence Contribution, there is no withholding tax on dividends to non-residents, and capital gains on the disposal of shares are 0%.
The structure only holds if the company is managed and controlled from Cyprus. A company whose sole director lives abroad and makes decisions there is tax resident where that director is, not in Cyprus.
No other EU jurisdiction combines all four of these advantages simultaneously. And they all apply to your Cyprus company from day one.
Flat rate on net profits. Compared to 25% in Germany, 19 to 25% in the Netherlands, and 25% in the UK from 2023.
Competitive EU rate80% of qualifying IP income (patents, software, trademarks) is exempt, leaving a 3% effective rate on your IP revenue. OECD-compliant Nexus approach.
OECD Nexus compliantNo withholding tax on dividends paid to non-resident shareholders. For non-dom resident shareholders, personal SDC on dividends is 0%. Note: from 2026, a 5% WHT applies only on dividends paid to associated companies in jurisdictions with a CIT rate below 7.5%.
0% WHT to non-residents (standard)No CGT on disposal of shares in Cyprus companies or foreign companies, subject to standard exceptions. A major benefit for exit events and restructurings.
No CGT on share disposalsNot all Cyprus companies are the same. The right structure depends on your business type, ownership, and whether you are combining it with personal residency.
The standard vehicle for trading, consulting, and professional services. No minimum share capital required, single director permitted, registered by the Registrar in 10 to 13 working days.
Two-tier structure: a Cyprus IP holding company licenses intellectual property to an operating company. The royalty income at the holding level qualifies for the 3% IP Box rate.
Used to hold shares in operating companies in other jurisdictions. Participates in dividends and capital gains from subsidiaries, with tax-efficient repatriation.
One point of contact from name reservation to bank account opening. No handoffs, no surprises, no hidden extras.
Name reserved with the Cyprus Registrar of Companies before you commit to anything.
Full legal constitution drafted to your exact ownership and management structure.
Mandatory registered office address provided for the first year. Required for all official correspondence.
Cyprus TIN, VAT registration, and VIES EU cross-border VAT registration where applicable.
Direct introduction to Cyprus banking partners with a full KYC pack prepared for you. Significantly faster and more successful than applying cold, as most cold applications are declined.
Every step handled personally, from name reservation to a live, trading company with a Cyprus bank account.
We review your case before you pay anything.
Cyprus against the high-tax jurisdictions where most of our clients come from.
| Feature | Cyprus | Germany | France | Italy | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate Tax Rate | 15% | ~30% (CIT + trade tax) | 25% | 24% (+ IRAP ~3.9%) | 25% |
| IP Regime Effective Rate | 3% | ~10% (nexus box) | 10% | ~13% | 10% |
| WHT on Dividends (outbound) | 0% | 25% (treaty reduced) | 28% (treaty reduced) | 26% (treaty reduced) | 0% |
| CGT on Share Disposals | 0% | ~27% | 30% | 26% | 20 to 28% |
| Non-Dom Personal Regime | ✓ 17 years, 0% on dividends | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ (flat €100k/yr) | ✗ (abolished 2025) |
| Personal Income Tax (top rate) | 35% (or 0% non-dom dividends) | 45% + 5.5% solidarity | 45% | 43% | 45% |
| Substance Requirements | Moderate, manageable | High | High | High | Low |
| Setup Time | 10 to 13 working days | 2 to 4 weeks | 2 to 4 weeks | 3 to 6 weeks | Same day |
| Combined with PR Residency | ✓ Straightforward | Complex for non-EU | Complex for non-EU | Complex for non-EU | Post-Brexit complex |
| Rates as at Q1 2026. Individual circumstances vary. Always verify with a qualified tax adviser. | |||||
A fast, clear process with no waiting for you to chase.
We review your business, ownership structure, and tax objectives. We confirm the right structure and give you the total cost in writing.
Day 1Name reserved with the Registrar. M&A, share structure, and director/shareholder documents prepared by our licensed law firm.
Days 2 to 5Filed with the Cyprus Registrar of Companies. Certificate of incorporation, TIN, and VAT number issued. Registered address active.
Days 5 to 14We introduce you to our banking partners with a complete KYC pack. Account opened and operational. You are ready to trade.
Days 14 to 21Free strategy call · Full cost breakdown provided upfront
A Cyprus company is only a Cyprus tax resident if it is managed and controlled from Cyprus. This is not a technicality and it is the part that decides whether the whole structure works.
It means board meetings and strategic decisions happen in Cyprus, directors are genuinely based here, and the company has real substance including local banking and accounts maintained in Cyprus.
A Cyprus company where the sole director lives abroad and makes all decisions from there is a tax resident of wherever that director is, not Cyprus. This is the most common structural mistake and it can result in significant back tax liability in the owner's home country.
Owning or working for a Cyprus company satisfies the connection requirement for Cyprus tax residency. Once you qualify as a Cyprus tax resident you can claim non-dom status, which gives 0% on dividends and interest for up to 17 years.
A modest salary from your Cyprus company establishes the employment connection. Profits above that, extracted as dividends, fall under the non-dom exemption. The detail is on the tax residency and non-dom page.
Forming a Cyprus company is faster than most people expect and can be completed remotely. Getting each step right from the start avoids delays and compliance problems later.
Each step requires correctly certified identity and address documents. If you are not physically in Cyprus, documents are certified by a notary or apostilled remotely, and your formation agent handles the filings on your behalf.
Cyprus companies must prepare audited annual accounts, file an annual return with the Registrar, and file a corporate tax return with the Tax Department each year. A local accountant is required to manage this.
Failing to file results in fines and potential strike off. This is an ongoing obligation, not a one off at formation, and it is the part that catches people who set a company up cheaply and then leave it unattended.
Direct answers to the questions we hear most before clients proceed.
A Cyprus company alone is powerful. Combined with Cyprus personal tax residency and non-dom status, it becomes one of the most complete, legally sound tax structures available in the EU, and it is available to all nationalities.
What the combined structure achieves for you personally:
30 minutes. We identify the right route, give you the real costs, and tell you if Cyprus makes sense for you. No pitch. No pressure.