What is a Foreign Interest Company?
Foreign Interest Company is a Cyprus registered company which is owned or controlled, fully or partially, by non-EU nationals.
Eligible companies may apply to the Business Support Centre to obtain the Foreign Interest Company License.
This License is specifically designed for international businesses and foreign investors who wish to establish or expand their activities in Cyprus and employ non-EU Nationals.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the License, the company must meet certain criteria, including:
- Foreign ownership (either majority or qualifying minority participation).
- The Shareholder(s) must transfer the amount of €200,000 from their personal bank accounts abroad into a bank account of the company with a credit institution licensed by the Central Bank of Cyprus.
- The company must maintain a separate office and conduct active business operations in Cyprus.
- Eligible companies are required to employ at least 30% of their staff from within the EU.
Upon obtaining the license, the company is registered to the official Register of Companies of Foreign Interests, thereby gaining access to various benefits.
Benefits and Employment Opportunities
The License offers significant advantages to eligible Cyprus companies and their employees including:
- Access to the EU market through a Cyprus entity.
- Fast-track procedures for setting up and operating the business.
- Stable legal system aligned with EU regulations.
- Ability to employe high-skilled non-EU personnel in Cyprus through a simplified procedure.
- Employees of Foreign Interest Companies and their spouses have the right to Naturalization (Citizenship) after 4 or 5 years in Cyprus (depending on Greek proficiency level).
Are you considering establishing a Foreign Interest Company?
Our law firm guides foreign investors through the full process — from company registration to securing residency for its employees — ensuring everything is smooth, efficient, and fully compliant.
Let us help you make Cyprus your strategic business base!
📞 Call us: +357 22 622 262
📧 Email us: info@paraschou.com.cy
🌐 Visit: www.paraschou.com.cy
This article is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or other professional advice. It should not be relied upon as a substitute for specific advice on any individual matter or transaction. Professional advice should be obtained before acting or refraining from acting on the basis of any information contained herein.
Read our Additional Articles Here: 👇