Business Facilitation Unit – Registration of Companies with Foreign Interests

Eligible businesses must meet one of the following criteria:

1. Majority share: the majority of the company’s shares are owned by third-country nationals.

2. Minority share: in case that, the percentage, of the company’s shares, owned by a third-country national is equal or less than 50%, the company is eligible if that foreign participation has a value of at least €200.000; that is on top of the initial investment of €200.000 as clarified below.

In both cases above (1&2), the ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) must deposit an amount of €200,000 in an account held by the company in a credit institution licensed by the Central Bank (payment institutions are not included). Alternatively, the company can submit evidence of an investment amounting to €200,000, for the purposes of operating its business in Cyprus (e.g. office purchase, office equipment purchase, etc.).

If more UBOs exist, then this amount can be deposited or invested by a single UBO or collectively.

For cases 3-9, the investment criterion is also applicable and the company’s initial investment in the Republic of at least €200,000, must be proven by presenting the appropriate certificates (e.g. bank statement at the time of deposit of the amount or proof of investment (purchase of office space and/or office equipment)).

3. Public companies registered on any recognised stock exchange.

4. Companies of international activities (formerly off-shore), which operated before the change of regime, whose data are held by the Central Bank.

5. Cypriot shipping companies.

6. Cypriot high-tech/innovation companies*.

7. Cypriot pharmaceutical companies or Cypriot companies active in the fields of biogenetics and biotechnology.

8. Companies of whom the majority of the total share capital is owned by persons who have acquired Cypriot citizenship by naturalization based on economic criteria, provided that they prove that the conditions under which they were naturalized continue to be met.
9. Cypriot Private Institutes of Tertiary (Higher) Education licensed by the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth.

* An enterprise qualifies as ‘High Technology Company’ if:

(a) it is already established and has a presence in the market, and

(b) it has a high level or experimental R&D intensity, and

(c) it developed product/s that fall into one of the following categories: products related to aviation and space industry, computers, information and telecommunication technology (ICT), pharmaceuticals, biomedical, research and development equipment, electrical machinery, chemicals, non-electrical machinery.

I. Provision of services relating to the establishment of businesses:

Ability to complete all registrations for the establishment of a business at the One-Stop Shop Section of the Business Facilitation Unit:

− Approval of company name and registration (in collaboration with the Department of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property)

− Registration in the Employers’ Register (Social Insurance Services)

− Entry in the Tax Register for Indirect Taxation (VAT) and Direct Taxation (Tax Department)

II. Guidance regarding the necessary permits for the activation and establishment of businesses in Cyprus:

Guidance throughout the business’s life cycle, from the development of a business plan, the guidance on necessary licensing, the placement of the business in the market, the registration of the business entity and / or the trade mark of the business, the recruitment of employees and many other related issues.

III. Registration of companies in the Register of Companies with Foreign Interests

Evaluation by the Unit whether companies wishing to employ nationals from third countries fall under the criteria of companies of foreign interests, as defined below. In case of eligibility, these companies will be registered in the above-mentioned Register, which will be notified to the Civil Registry and Migration Department (CRMD).

Businesses wishing to transfer their operations or expand their activities in Cyprus, must follow the following procedure :

a)  Submit the BFU Application e-form (at the bottom of the page).

The e-form requests a letter of expression of interest for the establishment or expansion of their activities in Cyprus. The “Letter of Intent” should include a brief description of the company’s profile, activities (nature of business as stated in the Articles of Association), number of staff, expansion plans and  be supported by the necessary documents required in the e-form (Annex I, only copies of the certificates are required in electronic form).

b) The Unit will notify the applicant of the receipt of the application and of consecutive changes in the status of the application by email.

c) If the applicant is eligible and the application fulfills the requirements the registration to the Register of Companies with Foreign Interests will be completed in no more than ten (10) business days from the date of duly submitting  the e-form.

d) A confirmation letter of the registration will be sent by email.

Business Facilitation Unit (BFU)
Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry
Trade Service Building (3rd Floor)
10 Andrea Araouzou Str.,
1421 Nicosia
FΑΧ: +357 22376493

• Email :
  bfu@meci.gov.cy

Contact information for enquiries regarding:

• The BFU policy:

Mrs. Katerina Solomou
Tel.: +357 22867193
Email: ksolomou@meci.gov.cy 

• Registration stipulations

Mr. Pantelis Petrou
Tel.: +357 22867122
Email: papetrou@meci.gov.cy 

• Taxation

Ms. Maria Nicolaou
Tel. :+357 22308006
Email: manicolaou@tax.mof.gov.cy

• Social Insurance

Ms. Chrystalla Paraschou-Constantinou
Tel. : +357 22409731
Email: cconstantinou@sid.mlsi.gov.cy