Company Registration in Cyprus

Business registration in Cyprus implies completing several steps, among which is the incorporation with the Trade Register, which can be done with the help of our specialists. Even if this body has as a main responsibility the formation of new enterprises and supervision of existing ones, it also has other roles.

Below, Cypriot company formation agents explain how the Registrar works. We can also help you set up a company in Cyprus.

What is the Cypriot Trade Register?

The Trade Register in Cyprus falls under the administration of the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, and Industry. The role of the department is to perform registration of companies, partnerships, business names, trademarks, and keep evidence of the commercial institutions in Cyprus.

Historically, there were three sections managed by the Cypriot Trade Register. Besides the company section, the Trade Register used to deal (until 2020, when the separate Insolvency Department took over) with a bankruptcy and liquidation section, which takes care of property assets of insolvent natural and legal persons. The third section of the Cypriot Trade Register is the intellectual and industrial property section, which deals with trademarks, patents, industrial designs, and copyrights. All these have to be registered with the Trade Register in Cyprus. Our Cyprus company formation agents are experienced in dealing with the Trade Register and in registering new companies for foreign and local clients.

How can a company register with the Cypriot Trade Register?

Company registration in Cyprus has to be completed by the company section of the Cypriot Trade Register. The procedure begins with the submission of an application that contains the name of the company, details of the members and the directors, the capital, and other information. Any changes in the company’s management and organization must be announced to the Cyprus Company Registrar. The Cypriot Trade Register is also in charge of the supervision of companies. If a registered company disobeys the law, the Trade Register has to take legal action. In case you need assistance for registering a company in Cyprus, our Cypriot company formation experts are at your disposal.

Companies are also required to obtain VAT numbers in Cyprus.

The roles of the Companies Register in Cyprus

Officially the Department of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property (renamed in 2021 from the Department of the Registrar of Companies and Official Receiver),the Cypriot Trade Register, has the following functions apart from accepting and approving documents associated with business registration:

• performing searches on existing companies;
• checking commercial names before registering a business;
• updating information on existing enterprises;
• obtaining various certificates related to a company;
• filing annual returns and financial statements.

In Cyprus, the Trade Register is also in charge of registering the details of ultimate beneficial owners of all companies (not only when nominee shareholders are used).

Our company registration specialists in Cyprus can act as a liaison between your company and the Registrar to simplify communication.

Here is also an infographic on this subject:

Information that must be submitted to the Registrar for company registration

Here are the papers to file when registering a business in Cyprus:

• the name reservation form;
• the Articles of Association;
• proof of the legal address in Cyprus;
• details of the members and the directors;
• the share capital deposit bank reference.

In the case of foreign companies setting up branches or subsidiaries in Cyprus, the Certificate of Registration of the parent company must also be filed. In certain cases, other papers may also be requested by the Receiver.

Alterations to be made with the Trade Register in Cyprus

There are situations where modifications must be made to a business, and they must be notified to the Register. Here is the information to be updated in case of such alterations:

• shareholding structure modifications;
• removal/approval of new directors;
• share capital increases/decreases;
• legal address changes.

Also, upon dissolving a company in Cyprus, it is required to notify the Registrar in order to have it deleted from its records.

How can I have access to the Cypriot Company Register?

It is allowed for anyone to have access to the Department of Registrar of Companies in Cyprus, provided that the person mentions some criteria for searching for what they seek. The search can be based on name, registration number, or address.

Information found with the Cyprus Trade Register

Apart from company registration, the Cypriot Companies House also enables people and businesses to search for various information on existing enterprises in this country. Queries can be carried out based on specific terms, such as:

• company name;
• business form;
• registration date;
• status of the enterprise;
• legal/registered office;
• details of the director(s), secretary, and shareholder(s);
• date of filing of the last annual report.

While some searches are free of charge, others are subject to a fee. It is also useful to note that not only information on legal entities is available, but also on partnerships and sole traders.

When can such information be used? In most cases, when seeking to enter into an agreement or joint venture with the respective business. Also, in certain cases, it is possible to review documents, such as financial statements, submitted by the said enterprise.

You can rely on our local specialists for assistance with such searches.

The Running a Business section of the Cypriot Trade Register

The Companies Registration Office in Cyprus is one of the most complex authorities, and it also has a Running Business section through which owners can complete various actions.

This section can be accessed after the business registration process is completed. Through it, a Cypriot entity can:

• submit its financial statements and annual returns;
• obtain various certificates;
• update shareholder details, including those of Ultimate Beneficial Owners.

The latter means that the Companies House also operates as an Ultimate Beneficial Owners Register.

Certificates issued by the Trade Register in Cyprus

The Companies Registrar is the main authority to issue several types of official documents that can be used by local companies in various situations. Among them are:

• copies of Registration Certificates, used when expanding a local business abroad;
• Good Standing Certificates, which can be used for the same expansion purposes;
• Strike Off Certificates, used to demonstrate a company has ceased its activities and has been deleted from the Register;
• Certificates of Registered Office, Directors, and Shareholders;
• Commencement of Business Certificates.

Should you need assistance in filing for any of these documents, you can rely on our Cyprus company formation specialists.

Foreign companies operating in Cyprus

Overseas companies are also required to complete actions with the Cyprus Trade Register when:

• opening branches;
• setting up subsidiaries;
• registering representative offices.

They must also file annual statements, including consolidated ones, to ensure compliance with the Cypriot law or to prove they respected the legislation in their home countries.

We also have a video on this Register below:

Number of companies in Cyprus

The Companies Registrar also keeps track of the number of businesses registered and deleted. Here is some data about the activity of the Register in 2024:

• it registered 14,444 new companies;
• it issued 320,335 certified copies of various company documents;
• it recorded 163,176 searches by other parties.

If you would like to receive more information about the company registration procedure in this country, we invite you to contact our Cyprus company formation experts. Our incorporation agents can help you open offshore companies in Cyprus as well as onshore companies in this country. Our business consultants can also assist you with opening a Croatian company in 15 days, a little longer than in Cyprus where it takes 5 days.