You can often "redomicile" your existing company to Cyprus without liquidating it, provided your current jurisdiction's laws allow it. Redomiciliation maintains your company’s existing legal identity, track record, and banking history, which can be vital for contracts. Our team manages this cross-border legal process entirely.

Mere registration is no longer enough. To safely benefit from Cyprus's 12.5% tax rate and double tax treaties, your company must demonstrate genuinely managed operations in Cyprus. This typically includes:

• A majority of directors residing in Cyprus.

• Board meetings physically held on the island.

• Maintaining a physical office (not just a P.O. Box) with necessary infrastructure.

• Employing qualified staff locally relevant to the business activity.

• Keeping accounting records and bank signatories in Cyprus.

If you become a Cyprus tax resident but were not born here (i.e., you have a foreign "domicile of origin"), you can apply for Non-Dom status. This exempts you completely from the Special Defence Contribution (SDC) tax for 17 years. Practically, this means zero Cyprus tax on your worldwide dividends, interest, and most rental income, regardless of whether that money is remitted to Cyprus or not.

It depends on the location of your client (B2B vs. B2B) and the nature of the service. Generally, services provided to businesses outside the EU are outside the scope of Cyprus VAT (0%). Services to EU VAT-registered businesses often use the "reverse charge" mechanism. Detailed VAT analysis is a core part of our initial corporate structuring service.

The minimum qualifying investment is €300,000 (plus VAT, where applicable). This amount must be invested in an approved category, such as new residential real estate, commercial property, Cypriot company shares, or investment funds.

Yes. You must provide legal proof that the full investment amount has been transferred to Cyprus from abroad. For real estate, at least €200,000 (plus VAT) must be paid to the developer prior to the application date.

Yes, the required minimum annual income of €50,000 (plus allowances for dependents) can be sourced from various streams outside of Cyprus, including overseas salaries, pensions, dividends, or rental income from foreign real estate.

Yes, unmarried children between 18 and 25 can be included, provided they are university students and demonstrably financially dependent on the main applicant. An additional annual income must be shown for each such dependent.

The government officially mandates a processing time of approximately two months from the date of submission. Our legal due diligence ensures your file is flawless to meet this expedited timeline.

No. A major benefit of Regulation 6.2 is the minimal stay requirement. You only need to visit Cyprus once every two years to maintain the permit's validity.

The permit does not grant the right to employment in Cyprus. However, you are permitted to be a shareholder in Cypriot companies and hold the position of a Director in the company in which you invest, and receive dividend income.

Yes, it provides the path. Holding the Permanent Residency permit is a necessary prerequisite for applying for Cypriot citizenship by naturalization after eight years of legal residency, provided you meet specific residency and language criteria.

We act as your independent legal counsel and compliance officer. We do not sell property, but we manage the legal aspects of the investment, including due diligence on the asset, contract drafting, and verifying the legal transfer of funds.

A lawyer paid by the seller acts for the seller. Their primary goal is to close the deal, not to find problems that might stop you from buying. In Cyprus, this can lead to disastrous outcomes, such as buying property built without permits or on mortgaged land. Independent counsel is your only true safeguard against total loss of capital.

This is a classic risk in Cyprus. If your lawyer did not conduct proper due diligence or failed to deposit your contract at the Land Registry ("Specific Performance") before existing pre-contract mortgages were registered, you could lose the property to the developer’s bank. Our conveyancing process is strictly designed to prevent this specific scenario.

Yes, but it is legally complex. You need tight construction contracts with rigid milestone payments, ensuring you don't pay faster than the work is completed. You also need to ensure planning zones allow for your intended build. We draft these specialized construction agreements to protect you from builder defaults.

Not necessarily. You may be eligible to apply for a reduced VAT rate of 5% on the first 200 square meters of a new primary residence. However, if your lawyer fails to process the application correctly or if the property is used for short-term rental/investment from the start, the full 19% rate applies. We structure the purchase contract to maximize your eligibility for the reduced rate.

Your sales contract must contain robust legal warranties. Under Cyprus law, developers are liable for defects for specific periods. Without independent legal counsel, the developer’s contract often minimizes their liability. We ensure the contract includes clear guarantees and procedures for recourse against major structural or construction faults.

Cyprus has "forced heirship" rules that override the terms of a foreign will. If you do not have a Cyprus-specific will drafted, your property may not pass directly to your intended heirs. As part of our conveyancing process, we provide guidance on drafting a local will to protect your legacy and ensure the property transfers according to your wishes.

The official review process by CySEC is statutorily set at six months from the date of submission. However, preparation, client readiness, and handling regulator queries often extend the total project timeline to approximately 8–12 months. Our role is to ensure zero delays from document flaws.

The required initial capital depends entirely on the services offered. For example, a firm offering Dealing on Own Account (Market Maker) requires €730,000, while a firm authorized only to Execute Orders and hold client funds (STP) requires €150,000. We first define your business model to determine the minimum legal threshold.

Non-compliance with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) laws can lead to severe penalties, including fines of up to 5% of your firm's global turnover or €40 million, license withdrawal, or criminal prosecution. We draft policies tailored to CySEC's expectations, insulating you from these critical risks.

Yes. MiFID II governs the provision of investment services across the EU. Even firms providing non-holding services (e.g., Investment Advice or Reception & Transmission of Orders) must comply with organizational, transparency, and conduct-of-business rules. We manage the compliance scope based on your specific license category.

CySEC requires verifiable local substance. This legally mandates a fully operational office in Cyprus and the employment of at least two full-time Executive Directors who are Cyprus tax residents, plus local staff to cover key compliance and risk functions. We ensure your corporate structure meets these substance tests.

Key personnel, including Executive and Non-Executive Directors, the Compliance Officer, and any employees providing investment services, must be legally vetted as "fit and proper" and registered in the appropriate CySEC public register. Our legal team manages the certification and submission process for all key persons.