+357 99 141822
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info@apafios.com
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Mon - Fri 09:00-17:00

Cyprus Company Formation for International Entrepreneurs

Set up and operate your Cyprus company with professional support for incorporation, tax, accounting and ongoing compliance.

Achilleas Pafios & Co Ltd supports international entrepreneurs, overseas businesses and groups through Cyprus company registration and the practical work that follows. From our Limassol office, we help you plan the ownership, management, registrations and financial reporting your business will need.

Whether you want to open a company in Cyprus for a new venture, establish a subsidiary or relocate business activity, start with a review of your commercial plans and cross-border obligations.

Request a Company Formation Consultation

Company formation for international founders

Our service is suited to founders who need a professional relationship beyond incorporation: reliable accounts, practical tax support and a clear compliance timetable as the business develops. We coordinate formation with the relevant legal professionals and agree the ongoing services appropriate to your company.

  • International entrepreneurs establishing a business in Cyprus
  • Foreign companies forming a Cyprus subsidiary
  • Non-resident founders planning genuine commercial or investment activity
  • Business owners coordinating incorporation with relocation

How to set up a company in Cyprus: step by step

1. Review your business and proposed structure

We discuss your activity, owners, funding, customers, countries of trade and where management will take place. This helps identify tax, licensing and practical issues before an application is made.

2. Complete the onboarding checks

We collect identity, address, beneficial-ownership and business information, together with source-of-funds evidence appropriate to your case. We explain any certification or translation needed.

3. Confirm the name and company details

We coordinate name approval and confirm the shareholders, share capital, directors, secretary and Cyprus registered office. These details should match the intended operation of the business.

4. Coordinate incorporation and company documents

A practising Cyprus lawyer prepares the memorandum and articles and the required legal declaration. We coordinate the incorporation process with the relevant professionals and organise the company certificates and statutory records following registration.

5. Put registrations and banking in place

We assist with tax registration and the tax identification number, assess VAT and employer-registration requirements, and coordinate beneficial-owner filings. Bank account assistance follows the chosen institution’s separate onboarding process.

6. Establish ongoing accounting and compliance

We agree how you will provide records, set up the accounting workflow and map the recurring filings. This gives your company a practical framework for its first transactions and subsequent reporting.

Documents and information to prepare

The exact checklist depends on the owners, activity and jurisdictions involved. For onboarding and incorporation coordination, typically prepare:

  • Valid passport or identity document and recent residential-address evidence for the relevant individuals
  • Details of shareholders, directors and the individuals who ultimately own or control the company
  • A description of the business, expected customers and suppliers, countries of operation and anticipated transactions
  • Business background and evidence explaining the source of funds and, where required, source of wealth
  • Proposed company names, shareholdings, management arrangements and registered-office details
  • For a corporate shareholder, registry documents, constitutional documents and an ownership chart tracing the ultimate beneficial owners

Certified copies, translations, authorisations or further evidence may be required. We provide a case-specific checklist before you arrange documents.

Support after incorporation

Company formation is the beginning of an ongoing business relationship. Depending on the agreed engagement, we support:

  • Tax: tax registration, corporate tax compliance and advice on transactions and cross-border issues. The standard Cyprus corporate income tax rate is 15% from 2026; the tax treatment of your company and its owners needs a separate assessment.
  • VAT: assessment of registration obligations, VAT returns and relevant EU reporting. Requirements depend on the nature and location of supplies, including cross-border transactions.
  • Beneficial ownership and corporate administration: UBO filings, updates and confirmations, statutory records and coordination of annual returns.
  • Accounting: bookkeeping, reconciliations, financial statements and useful financial information for management.
  • Payroll: employer-registration support and payroll compliance where the company employs staff.
  • Audit and compliance: assessment and coordination of the applicable audit or review requirements, reporting deadlines and ongoing compliance work.

Explore our corporate services, accounting services and business relocation support.

Frequently asked questions

Can foreigners and non-residents form a Cyprus company?

Yes, Cyprus company formation is available to international entrepreneurs, including non-resident shareholders. We review the proposed owners, beneficial owners, business activity and countries involved before proceeding. Regulated activities, sanctions and other restrictions require separate checks.

Can a foreign founder be a director?

A foreign founder can be considered for appointment as a director. The board structure should reflect who actually manages the business and where decisions are made. We review the proposed arrangements and their tax implications before incorporation; appointing a director alone does not settle the company’s tax position.

Do I need to visit Cyprus or have a local office?

Some formation steps can be coordinated remotely, subject to identity checks and document-signing requirements. The company needs a registered office in Cyprus. Operational premises, local management and any visit required by a bank or authority depend on your circumstances; a registered address alone does not demonstrate business substance.

How long does Cyprus company registration take?

The timetable depends on name approval, complete documents, compliance checks and Registrar processing. We confirm the expected stages after reviewing your case. Incorporation, tax/VAT registrations and bank account opening have separate timelines, so registration does not mean the company is immediately ready for every transaction.

Can you help open a company bank account?

We assist with the application and supporting documents, including the ownership structure, business profile, expected transactions and source of funds. Each bank applies its own checks and may request a meeting or additional evidence. Approval and timing remain the bank’s decision.

What are the annual obligations after incorporation?

Plan for bookkeeping, financial statements, the applicable audit or review, corporate tax returns and the Registrar’s annual return. Keep company particulars and beneficial-owner information current, including required confirmations. VAT, VIES and payroll filings depend on registrations and activity. We establish a filing calendar for your company.

What does company formation cost?

The scope depends on the ownership structure, documentation, legal work and registrations required. We discuss incorporation costs together with recurring accounting, tax, corporate administration and compliance needs, then agree a tailored engagement before work begins.

Does incorporation give me Cyprus residency or non-dom status?

No. Company incorporation, personal tax residence, non-dom status and immigration permission are separate matters. If you plan to relocate or work in Cyprus, these should be assessed alongside your business plans and your obligations in other countries.

Start your Cyprus company with a plan for what follows

Tell us your proposed activity, country of residence, ownership structure, main trading countries, expected start date and whether you plan to relocate or hire staff. We will use this overview to discuss formation and the ongoing support your business needs.

Start Your Cyprus Company — Request a Consultation

Contact our Limassol office on +357 99 141822 or info@apafios.com.

Information reviewed September 2026. Official guidance: Registrar of Companies — incorporation, 2026 tax reform, beneficial ownership register. Requirements depend on individual circumstances.