Can I become Cyprus tax resident in 60 days?

Yes. The 60-day rule applies if you spend at least 60 days in Cyprus, are not tax resident elsewhere, do not spend 183 days in any other country, and maintain a permanent home plus a business, employment or directorship in Cyprus.

What does a Cyprus company cost to run annually?

Budget EUR 3,000–6,000 for registered office, secretary, accounting and audit. Every Cyprus company must file audited financial statements, regardless of size.

Is Cyprus blacklisted?

No. Cyprus is an EU member state, fully within CRS, DAC6 and the EU tax framework, though some banks apply enhanced due diligence to Cyprus structures.

Jurisdiction · Europe

Cyprus

Low-cost EU holding company with 12.5% tax and a workable non-dom regime.

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Overview

Cyprus does something few EU members do: it combines a 12.5% corporate rate, full participation exemption on dividends and share disposals, and a personal non-dom regime that exempts dividends and interest from the 17% defence contribution for seventeen years. For founders willing to actually move, the combination is hard to beat inside the EU.

The jurisdiction's reputation was damaged by the 2013 bail-in and the passport scandal, and correspondent banks still apply extra scrutiny. That is manageable with clean documentation and real activity, but it must be planned for rather than discovered at the account-opening stage.

Typical use-cases

Where Cyprus fits

EU holding companies
IP box structures
Non-dom relocation

Banking

Banking landscape

Bank of Cyprus, Hellenic Bank and Eurobank Cyprus serve corporate clients, with EU payment institutions filling the gap for smaller balances. Expect detailed source-of-funds review and a preference for structures with Cypriot directors, a local office and demonstrable turnover. Shell companies with no activity are declined routinely.

Tax

Tax & reporting

12.5% corporate tax with an effective rate closer to 2.5% on qualifying IP under the nexus-compliant IP box. No withholding tax on outbound dividends, interest or royalties paid to non-residents. Notional interest deduction on new equity reduces effective rates further. Personal non-dom status exempts worldwide dividend and interest income from defence contribution.

Substance

Substance & register visibility

Tax residence follows management and control, and Cyprus now expects real substance: a local office, resident directors, and a bank account operated from Cyprus. Beneficial ownership sits on a register accessible to competent authorities and, following the CJEU ruling, restricted from open public access. Company officers and shareholders are publicly filed.

Decision

When to pick this jurisdiction

Pick Cyprus for an EU holding company where dividends and exits need to flow out untaxed, for a nexus-compliant IP structure with real development activity, or for a founder relocating personally to use the 60-day non-dom rule.

The director's view

Written up as a comparative shortlist.

Every Cyprus recommendation is delivered as a comparative memorandum — substance defensibility, banking access, treaty coverage, register visibility, cost to maintain and reputational risk — so the client can see the trade-offs before committing.

Next step

Considering Cyprus? Get a written comparison first.

Answer six questions and a director will come back with a shortlist, indicative costs and banking route.

Scope a structure here Compare jurisdictions

Frequently asked

Questions we hear on every Cyprus intake.

Can I become Cyprus tax resident in 60 days?: Yes. The 60-day rule applies if you spend at least 60 days in Cyprus, are not tax resident elsewhere, do not spend 183 days in any other country, and maintain a permanent home plus a business, employment or directorship in Cyprus.
What does a Cyprus company cost to run annually?: Budget EUR 3,000–6,000 for registered office, secretary, accounting and audit. Every Cyprus company must file audited financial statements, regardless of size.
Is Cyprus blacklisted?: No. Cyprus is an EU member state, fully within CRS, DAC6 and the EU tax framework, though some banks apply enhanced due diligence to Cyprus structures.

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