Company registration · Cyprus
Company registration in Cyprus an EU jurisdiction with a 15% tax
- Support
- from €2 200
- Registration time
- 15%
- Corporate income tax rate from 2026
- 15%
An EU company that banks and counterparties understand: one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the Union, English-language document flow and a wide network of double tax treaties.
Registration
from €2 200
Turnkey work by BRIDGES. Government fees and duties appear as a separate line in the estimate at actual rates.
See packages15%
Corporate income tax rate from 2026
7-14 days
Incorporation with the registrar
EU
Full access to the single market
Who it suitsCyprus
Who Cyprus suits
Working on the company structure- 01Holding companies owning shares in European businesses
- 02IT and services working with EU clients
- 03Trading companies that need a VAT number
- 04Groups using the intellectual property regime
- 05Owners planning to relocate to the island
Does not suit
- You need a company with no reporting at all
- The business is entirely outside Europe and has no EU clients
- There is no budget for an accountant and an audit
- You are counting on anonymity: the beneficial owner register is maintained
Company forms4
Which company to open
The private limited company covers almost every scenario; the other forms solve narrower tasks.
- 01Private Company Limited by Shares · Ltd — the main form
Holdings, trading, IT and services.
Recognised by banks, suitable for both holding and operations.
Requires a secretary, a registered office and annual audited accounts.
- 02Public Company · PLC
Large groups and companies preparing for a listing.
Access to public capital.
Higher capital requirements and stricter disclosure.
- 03Branch · branch of a foreign company
An existing business entering the European market.
No new legal entity is needed.
The parent company carries the liability.
- 04Partnership · general or limited
Professional practices and joint projects.
Transparent for tax purposes at partner level.
Rarely used by international clients.
Packagesfrom €2 200
Three ways to launch
The scope is built from real scenarios. The amount depends on substance and on whether VAT registration is needed.
01 · 2-3 weeks
Company
from $2 900
A holding or a structure for owning assets
- Name approval and drafting of the constitution
- Incorporation with the registrar
- Registered office and secretary for the first year
- Full set of corporate documents
- Registration with the tax department
02 · 4-8 weeks
Company and account
from $5 400
An operating business with real settlements
- Everything in the Company package
- VAT registration where the model requires it
- Bank file and submission to suitable banks
- Accounting set-up and preparation for the audit
- Support with bank correspondence
03 · from 6 weeks
Turnkey with substance
by project
The rate and the treaties must hold up
- Everything in the Company and account package
- Office and resident directors on the island
- Hiring and payroll administration
- Bookkeeping, reporting and the statutory audit
- Tax residency certificate
Registry fees, the annual levy and audit costs appear as separate lines in the quote.
TaxesCyprus
Taxes in Cyprus
A low rate plus exemptions that matter for holding structures.
Taxes in Cyprus
Cyprus
- 15%
- Corporate income tax rate from 2026
- from $2 900
- BRIDGES fee
- 7-14 days
- Incorporation with the registrar
- EU
- Full access to the single market
- Corporate income tax
- A flat rate of 15% on taxable profit from 1 January 2026.
- Dividends received
- Usually exempt from corporate tax under the participation rules.
- Dividends paid out
- No withholding tax on payments to non-residents.
- Intellectual property regime
- Up to 80% of qualifying IP profit may be exempt from tax.
- VAT
- The standard rate is 19%; reduced rates apply to certain supplies.
- Obligations at home
- Owning a foreign company creates obligations in the beneficiary country of residence.
Annual upkeep
- Annual levy
- Registered office and secretary
- Financial statements
- Statutory audit
- Tax return
- VAT returns
- Tax residency certificate
- Bank compliance
Registry fees, the annual levy and audit costs appear as separate lines in the quote.
Bank
The bank account after incorporation
Cypriot banks work with international clients but ask detailed questions.
- 01What the bank looks at
The activity, the counterparties, expected turnover, the source of funds and the connection to the island.
- 02Which documents are needed
The corporate set, beneficiary profiles, contracts and evidence of the source of funds.
- 03Where the account is opened
With local banks, elsewhere in the EU and with payment institutions for operating settlements.
- 04What we do
We prepare the file, choose the institution and run the submission through to the result.
A company with no connection to the island and no substance will face questions. We assess this before incorporation, not after.
Stages2-3 weeks
How the work runs
Timelines are split by who is responsible.
- 01Consultation and structure
Activity, tax position, VAT, substance, banking.
One meeting - 02Quote and contract
We fix the scope of work and the amount.
1-2 days - 03Compliance and documents
Verification, collection of the set, translations and certifications.
3-10 days - 04Incorporation
Filing with the registrar and issue of the documents.
7-14 days - 05VAT registration
Application and issue of the number where required.
2-4 weeks - 06Account and launch
Bank file, submission and account opening.
The bank sets the timing
Result: The outcome is an EU company with a defensible tax position: full corporate documents, a VAT number where needed, a bank account and accounting in place.
ComparisonCyprus
Cyprus or Malta
| Cyprus | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate tax | 15% | 35% with a shareholder refund |
| How the rate works | applies directly | the refund requires the right ownership structure |
| VAT | 19% | 18% |
| Dividends to non-residents | no withholding tax | no withholding tax |
| IP regime | up to 80% of qualifying profit exempt | a patent box exists |
| Audit | mandatory for every company | mandatory for every company |
| Who it suits better | holdings and operating companies | gaming and refund structures |
Cyprus gives a low rate straight away, Malta gives it back later through the refund. When the ownership structure is simple, Cyprus is more predictable.
TeamBRIDGES
Company team
Questions
Registration questions
What is the corporate tax rate in Cyprus?+
15% on taxable profit from 1 January 2026, after the tax reform enacted on 31 December 2025.
Is an audit really mandatory?+
Yes. Every Cypriot company files audited financial statements, regardless of turnover.
How long does incorporation take?+
7-14 days with the registrar once compliance is complete.
Do I need a local director?+
Not formally, but tax residency depends on management and control being exercised on the island.
Is withholding tax charged on dividends?+
No withholding tax is charged on dividends paid to non-residents.
Can I get a VAT number?+
Yes, where the business model requires it. Registration takes a further two to four weeks.
How hard is it to open a bank account?+
It is realistic with a clear business and a connection to the island; a shell company will face refusals.
Is the owner visible?+
A beneficial owner register is maintained and is available to the competent authorities.
What is the IP regime?+
A regime under which qualifying intellectual property income is up to 80% exempt from tax.
Do I have to declare the company at home?+
As a rule yes: owning a foreign company creates obligations in your country of residence.
What does upkeep cost?+
Levy, secretary, accounting and the audit. We set it out three years ahead before the contract.
Can an existing company be moved to Cyprus?+
Yes, redomiciliation is available. We assess whether it makes sense before starting.
A company for your task
Tell us what the company will do: we will check whether the country fits and show the launch and upkeep budget before the contract.
- Other jurisdictionsA comparison of countries for company registration.
- A company in MaltaThe alternative with the refund system.
- Corporate accountsHow an account is opened and what the bank checks.
- EstoniaRegistration: 1-5 days · from €900
- Hong KongRegistration: 5-7 days · from $1 600
- SingaporeRegistration: 3-7 days · from $3 200
Company registration
Want a company in Cyprus?
Write to us, we will set it up. We will choose the form, calculate the launch and the annual upkeep, register the company and help open the account.
