One licence, twenty-seven markets
Business Regulatory Approvals in Cyprus
A Cyprus investment firm licence can be passported across the European Union. That is why so many are here.
GCC business setup specialists
Passporting is the reason, and the standard is set accordingly
An investment firm authorised in Cyprus can provide services across the European Union without separate authorisation in each member state. That single feature explains why Cyprus hosts a large investment services sector. It also means the regulator is scrutinised by its peers and applies demanding standards on capital, governance, client money and the fitness of controllers. Applications are refused regularly.
- Licence category and passporting scope established early
- Capital, governance and personnel requirements set out properly
- Honest view where an application will not succeed
20+
Mainland, free zone and offshore jurisdictions we file in — so the recommendation is based on your activity, not on which authority we happen to be registered with.
7,000+
Companies successfully established.
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Who regulates what
Approvals that commonly apply
Financial services dominates.
| Area | Authority | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Investment firms | Securities regulator | EU passporting available |
| Funds and fund managers | Securities regulator | Several regimes by size and investor type |
| Crypto-asset service providers | Securities regulator | Registration and conduct requirements |
| Banks and payment institutions | Central bank | Separate and demanding |
| Insurance | Insurance supervisor | Own regime |
| Administrative service providers | Securities regulator or professional body | For administering entities |
Licence categories, capital requirements, passporting rules and conduct standards are set by the regulators and EU law and change. Yours are confirmed before any application. Cyprus is a European Union member state, so EU directives, the single market and free movement rules all apply.
How it works
Establishing what you need
Category first, then people and capital.
01
Identify the category
Which authorisation your activity requires and which services you want to passport, since that determines capital and governance.
02
Assemble the application
Business plan, capital evidence, governance and compliance framework, and fitness documentation for every controller and officer.
03
Apply and maintain
Application submitted, queries answered, and ongoing capital, reporting and conduct obligations calendared.
Typically required
What a licensed application needs
Local presence and personnel are expected.
- Detailed business plan and projections
- Services to be provided and passported
- Ownership and control structure
- Fitness and probity evidence for all controllers
- Qualified and experienced executive directors
- Local presence and premises
- Initial capital evidence
- Governance, risk and compliance framework
- Anti-money-laundering policies and officer
- Client money and asset arrangements
- Information security and outsourcing arrangements
- Auditor appointment
Scope
What is included, and what is not
Stated plainly, so nothing is added once the engagement starts.
Included in the service fee
- Licence category and passporting assessment
- Capital and personnel requirements set out
- Entity formation structured for the application
- Application preparation support
- Co-ordination with the regulator
- Responses to regulator queries
- Conditions carried into a compliance calendar
- Honest view of prospects
Not included, quoted separately
- Regulator fees and levies, paid at cost
- Initial capital to be held
- Compliance manual drafting, quoted separately
- Recruitment of executives and compliance officers
- Professional indemnity premiums
- Information security implementation
- Legal representation
- Ongoing regulatory reporting
Verify independently
Official Cypriot authorities
We file directly with these bodies on your behalf.
Cyprus Securities and Exchange CommissionCentral Bank of CyprusCivil Registry and Migration DepartmentDepartment of LabourSocial Insurance ServicesIntellectual property offices
Questions
Cyprus regulatory approvals — FAQs
What is passporting?
The ability of an authorised Cyprus firm to provide services across the European Union without separate authorisation in each state. It is the principal commercial reason firms license here.
Is the regulator lenient because of the volume?
No. Standards on capital, governance and controller fitness are demanding and applications are refused. Volume reflects the passport, not an easy process.
What local presence is needed?
Real premises and qualified executive personnel resident here. A licence held by a company with no local management will not be granted.
How long does authorisation take?
Months rather than weeks, and the quality of the application materially affects it. Incomplete submissions generate long query cycles.
Can I operate while the application is pending?
No. Providing regulated investment services without authorisation is a serious matter.
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