Cyprus Company Registration — EU Jurisdiction, 15% Tax

A standard Cyprus company registration takes 8–12 business days from the point of submitting complete KYC documentation to Legarithm. The timeline breaks down as follows: company name check and reservation, 1–2 days; preparation and signing of incorporation documents, 1–2 days; Cyprus Registrar processing, 5–7 days; apostilles and notarisation, 2–3 days; courier delivery, 1–3 days depending on destination. Rush processing is available at the Registrar for an additional fee, reducing the Registrar step to 1–3 days. Bank account opening runs in parallel and typically adds 1–3 weeks depending on the bank and completeness of KYC.

Non-Dom (Non-Domiciled) status in Cyprus is a tax classification that exempts qualifying Cyprus-resident individuals from the Special Defence Contribution (SDIT) — the 17% tax on dividend income and 3% tax on interest income that applies to Cyprus-domiciled residents. Non-Dom status is available to individuals who are Cyprus tax residents but whose “domicile of origin” (under Cyprus succession law) is not Cyprus. In practice, this covers most foreign nationals who relocate to Cyprus. To qualify as a Cyprus tax resident without spending 183 days per year in Cyprus, the “60-day rule” applies: spend at least 60 days per year in Cyprus, do not spend more than 183 days in any other single country, maintain a permanent home in Cyprus (owned or rented), and have a Cyprus business or employment connection. Non-Dom exemption applies for 17 years from the date you first become Cyprus tax resident. Legarithm handles the Non-Dom application as part of our personal tax advisory.

Yes — full remote registration is standard. You do not need to visit Cyprus at any stage of the incorporation process. Legarithm handles everything via a power of attorney signed and notarised in your home country (apostille required if your country is a Hague Convention signatory). Once registered, the full corporate pack — Certificate of Incorporation, M&A, apostilled documents, shareholder register — is sent to your address by international courier. Company management can also be handled remotely, though if you wish to benefit from Cyprus tax treaties and the Non-Dom regime, you will need to establish genuine Cyprus tax residency (minimum 60 days per year under the 60-day rule).

Expect the following annual costs for an active Cyprus company: Annual levy to Cyprus Registrar: €350 (mandatory, due 30 June). Annual audit: €700–€1,500 depending on transaction volume (mandatory for all Cyprus LTDs). Registered office: €400–€700 per year for a professional registered office address. Accounting and bookkeeping: €1,200–€3,000 per year for a trading company (more for complex structures). Annual return (HE32) filing: included in most registered office packages. Corporate secretary: €200–€500 per year for standard filings. VAT preparation: €300–€800 per year if VAT-registered. Total annual maintenance for a straightforward holding or trading company: typically €3,000–€6,000 per year excluding audit, or €4,000–€8,000 including audit.

Yes — Cyprus is a full EU member, which means Cyprus-registered companies have access to EU-regulated banking, SEPA transfers (EUR zone), and SWIFT international transfers. Legarithm assists with account opening at three main Cyprus banks: Bank of Cyprus (largest retail and corporate bank), Hellenic Bank (strong for SME and international clients), and Alpha Bank Cyprus (Greek-owned, good for EU and Balkan business flows). Cyprus banks have implemented robust KYC/AML procedures, so account opening requires thorough documentation — source of funds, business plan, transaction projections, and UBO documentation. For companies that need faster account access or multi-currency operations, Legarithm also arranges EMI accounts with Wise Business and Revolut Business, which are SEPA-connected and significantly faster to open (typically 5–10 business days with correct documentation).