Cyprus company formation
Updated: January 15, 2026
Cyprus company formation refers to the process of incorporating a legal entity — commonly referred to as a Cyprus Company — in the Republic of Cyprus. This procedure is also known as company registration or incorporation.
Setting up a company in Cyprus is generally easier and faster than in many other EU jurisdictions. The process begins with submitting a company name for approval, followed by the Registrar of Companies completing the registration. In most cases, incorporation is finalized within 7–10 days.
Company formation covers all preliminary steps before registration. Company incorporation specifically involves preparing the Memorandum and Articles of Association, which define the company’s constitutional framework and outline the duties of directors and shareholders.
If the formation and registration process is handled by a law firm in Cyprus, due diligence on the company’s beneficial owners is legally required before incorporation.
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💼 Company Formation Procedure
The incorporation process in Cyprus must be handled by a licensed Cyprus lawyer, who is responsible for preparing and signing all required documents and submitting them to the Registrar of Companies. Under Cyprus Companies Law, only licensed lawyers may prepare and execute the incorporation documents.
A company officially comes into existence once the Registrar of Companies issues the Certificate of Incorporation.
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🏢 The Department of the Registrar of Companies
All Cyprus companies are registered with the Cyprus Registrar of Companies, which maintains the official Register of Companies and must be informed of any corporate changes.
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☑️ Cyprus Company Name Approval
The first step of incorporation is submitting the preferred company name for approval. The name must:
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End with Ltd or Limited
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Not be identical or too similar to an existing registered name
In addition, specific terms are restricted and allowed only in exceptional or justified cases:
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The following words are permitted only for valid, justified reasons:
national, international, democracy, Europe, Euro -
The following words are generally not permitted:
cooperative, municipal, privileged, acknowledged -
Names containing a primary name different from the first or last name of a director/shareholder require justification.
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Names including: Bank, Banking, Investing, Trust, Insurance, Broker require special justification and approval.
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Names identical or similar to associated companies require written consent.
To expedite approval, we recommend using unique names, often including the owners’ initials. We also maintain a list of pre-approved company names available for immediate registration.
🔖 Name approval typically takes 1–3 working days.
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📄 Required Documents for Cyprus Company Registration
The following documents are prepared by the lawyer and submitted to the Registrar of Companies:
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Articles of Association
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Memorandum
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Statutory Declaration by a Lawyer (Form HE1)
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Forms HE2 and HE3
🔹 Articles of Association
The Articles of Association of a Cyprus company must include:
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The approved company name
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The company’s intended business activities
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Confirmation that all activities are lawful
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A statement that members’ liability is limited
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The company’s share capital and the nominal value of each share
Most Cyprus companies are incorporated with a standard share capital of 1,000 ordinary shares with a nominal value of €1 each.
The Articles should be drafted broadly to allow flexibility for future business activities.
🔹 Memorandum
The Memorandum sets out the fundamental rules governing the company’s operations. Together with the Articles, it binds the company and its members, effectively serving as a contractual agreement between them.
🔹 Statutory Declaration by a Lawyer (HE1)
Form HE1 is an affidavit signed by the lawyer confirming that all incorporation documents have been prepared in accordance with Cyprus Companies Law.
🔹 Form HE2 – Registered Office
Form HE2 specifies the company’s registered office address in Cyprus. Every company must maintain an official registered address, which may be provided as an additional service by the lawyer.
🔹 Form HE3 – Directors and Secretary
Form HE3 lists the company’s appointed director(s) and secretary. Every Cyprus company must have at least:
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One director, and
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One secretary
These roles may be filled by natural persons or legal entities. Professional directorship and secretarial services may also be provided upon request.
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🗃️ Submission of Documents
Once all incorporation documents are prepared, they are submitted to the Cyprus Registrar of Companies. Upon approval, the Registrar issues the official certificates:
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Certificate of Incorporation
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Certificate of Directors & Secretary
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Certificate of Registered Office
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Certificate of Shareholders
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Copy of the Articles of Association & Memorandum
Certificates can be issued in Greek or English. English versions require an additional fee due to translation and Registrar costs.
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⌛ Registration Timeline
Once the application is submitted, company approval and registration are typically completed within 2–4 working days.
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💶 Cost of Setting Up a Company in Cyprus
The total cost of forming a company in Cyprus ranges between €1,802 and €2,102, or €2,042 to €2,342 if you choose to have the incorporation documents issued in English.
Government Fees
The mandatory government fees for Cyprus company formation and registration are:
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€30 — Company name approval
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€52 — Stamps for Form HE1
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€485 — Company registration fees
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€240 — Articles of Association & Memorandum in English (optional)
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€35 — Courier fees
Legal Fees
Our legal fees range from €1,200, depending on the scope of services required.