A new strategy aiming to attract foreign businesses to establish and expand their activities in Cyprus through a plan, was presented by the Cypriot Government and will be implemented from January 1, 2022.

The plan targets areas or fields interrelated to, inter alia, High Technology Companies, Innovation Companies, Shipping Companies, Pharmaceutical Companies, Biogenetics and Biotechnology Companies.

This plan aims to make Cyprus a Sustainable Business and Trade Center of the wider area and Europe that will be fully in line with the guidelines of the European Commission and the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

In this context, several incentives were prepared in order to attract foreign Companies to operate and/or relocate their headquarters and/or expand their business activities in Cyprus, which can be summarized as follows:

1. Business Facilitation Unit

A Business Facilitation Unit will be established which will act as the central point of contact for all Companies of international interest, which operate in Cyprus and/or relocate their headquarters and/or expand their business activities in Cyprus in specific areas of economy activity.

1. Company creation (Company registration, name approval, registration in the Social Insurance register, Registration in the VAT register and in the Income Tax)
2. Guidance for relevant permits for activation in Cyprus

• Acceleration in the issuance and renewal of residence and employment permits

2. Revised Policy for the issuance of Temporary Residence and Employment Permits to third country nationals employed in Companies of foreign interests operating in Cyprus

The Government of Cyprus has revised the existing policy for the employment of staff from third-countries who is employed by Companies of foreign interests operating in the Republic of Cyprus and/or Companies of foreign interest which intend to operate and/or relocate their headquarters in Cyprus and/or expand their business activities in Cyprus and have a physical presence in Cyprus including establishment/ operation of independent offices that are separate from any private residence.

Furthermore, the issuance of employment permits is facilitated, and work permits will be issued immediately within 1 month from the submission of the application and will last up to 3 years.

The eligible Companies are the following:

• Cypriot shipping Companies.
• Cypriot high technology / innovation Companies.
• Cypriot pharmaceutical Companies or Companies operating in the fields of biogenetics and biotechnology.

The necessary preconditions for the third country nationals to be employed in Cyprus are the following:

2. Minimum gross monthly salary of €2.500,00.
3. Possession of a university diploma or degree or equivalent qualification or certificate of relevant experience in a corresponding employment position of a 2-year duration and that the employee in question is presented with an employment contract of not less than two years.

The maximum number of third-country nationals that can be employed is set at 70% of the total number of employees of the Company over a period of 5 years.

The Company is also allowed to employ third-country nationals as support staff provided that it does not exceed 30% of the overall support staff. The aforementioned applies if there is a duly validated employment contract between the third country national and the employer in question which is in accordance with current legislation.

In addition, there is the right of family reunification of third country nationals who are part of the Business Facilitation Unit. Through this very Mechanism, the Labor Market will be directly and freely accessible to the Spouses of Employees who have Residency and Work Permits in the Republic. Said access will be limited however, to the Spouses who receive a minimum monthly salary of €2500, while, it does not apply at all to the family of the support staff.

3. Digital Nomad Visa

It should be noted that the Action Plan introduced the initiative of the “Digital Nomad Visa” according to which, Visas are granted to an initial maximum limit of 100 beneficiaries.

The Digital Nomad Visa concerns only residency permits in the Republic of Cyprus and not work permits, for people who live in Cyprus but work in Companies operating abroad.

Beneficiaries of the “Digital Nomad Visa” scheme, will be third-country nationals who are self-employed and/or are employees who work remotely using information and communication technology in order to communicate with their employers and/or clients. Said employers and/or clients must not be residents of the Republic.  The Visa is valid for a period of 12 months, with the right of renewal for another 2 years once said 12-month period has lapsed.

The holders of Digital Nomad Visa can be accompanied by their family members, who are granted, upon their request, a residence permit that expires at the same time as the beneficiaries’ does, but are not granted a work permit.

Moreover, if they have been residents of the Republic of Cyprus for a period of time which in total exceeds 183 days within the same tax year, then they are considered tax residents of Cyprus meaning they are not tax residents in any other Country.

They also have to present evidence which clearly indicate that they have sufficient resources, at a fixed income level, to cover their living expenses during their stay in Cyprus. The amount of resources required is set at €3.500.00 per month, together with medical coverage and a clear criminal record from the country of residence.

4. Tax Incentives

The possibility of extending the 50% tax exemption for investment in certified innovative Companies and by corporate investors is being considered. The regime that was in force until the end of June 2021 allowed tax exemptions only to natural persons. For this purpose, the opinion of the Directorate-General for Competition of the European Commission is expected and subsequently, the approval of the relevant bill is also expected by the Parliament.

In addition, the plan provides for the following:

• The extension of the tax exemption that applies to employees in the Republic, provided that they were non-residents of the Republic before starting their employment, for a period of 17 years.

• The expansion of the existing tax exemption to cover new residents-employees with a salary from employment of €55,000 and above with a tax exemption of 50%.

• Existing employees have the opportunity to extend the benefit from 10 to 17 years. Potential beneficiaries are persons with income (€55,000- € 100,000) for the remaining period of 17 years.

• At the same time, the abolition of the existing tax provision of 20% exemption from employment exercised in the Republic or €8,550 – whichever is lower – will be promoted, since incomes over €55,000 will receive a 50% income tax exemption.

• An increased deduction will also be granted for research and development costs and a deduction of taxable income equal to 120% of the actual cost.

These tax incentives also apply to Cypriots who have lived abroad for at least ten years, in order to persuade them to repatriate back to the Republic.

5. Naturalization

Furthermore, the right to apply for naturalization will be given to the employees of these Companies after five years of residence and work in the Republic or after four years if they meet the criterion of holding a recognized certificate of very good knowledge of the Greek language.

6. Social Insurance

Additionally, the transfer of social security contributions will be ensured so that when third-country nationals who have paid social security contributions in Cyprus, wish to return for permanent residence in their country, they will be entitled to transfer the contributions they paid, provided that they did not acquire any right in regards to age pension and/or disability etc.

The content of this article is valid as at the date of its first publication. It is intended to provide a general guide to the subject-matter and does not constitute legal advice. We recommend that you seek professional advice on your specific matter before acting on any information provided. For further information or advice, please contact Mrs. Stephanie Nicolaou, Advocate, Mediator, Legal Consultant & Certified AML Compliance Officer (CySEC) at the Law Firm CHAMBERSFIELD ECONOMIDES KRANOS, in Limassol Cyprus, # +357 25 356 800 or email at s.nicolaou@eklawyers.com, info@eklawyers.com.

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What are investors’ main objectives?

What do investors examine before proceeding with the investment?

What are the best investments in Cyprus?

The list of questions is endless and the answers always vary, depending on the uniqueness of each case. Investments, as a concept, refer to any activity that intends to exploit new opportunities with the sole purpose of capital increase.

So, when an investment is materialized, the outcome should result in profit and capital increase, otherwise it is considered as spending. Consequently, investors seek a return on their capital, either on a long-term basis or as traders on a short-term basis.

The combinations of opportunities and options in the international market are limitless and no-one can list them all, per se, since they differ considerably.

My experience as a lawyer and CEO of the international law firm Chambersfield Economides Kranos has helped me identify many and varied promising investment opportunities in Cyprus. Before naming and analyzing them, I would like to mention a tendency that I have come across in the past few years, usually observed among young investors/entrepreneurs.  It is usually referred to as “analysis paralysis” and describes the way investors tend to over-think and over-analyze an investment opportunity, resulting in them taking no action. This is quite often found among start-ups, which are themselves considered high-risk investments. In their attempt to minimize their risks, start-up entrepreneurs over-analyze their options, resulting in an idea that is never realized.

Despite this, I must also say that, in the past few years, Cyprus has accomplished the impossible and is, in my opinion, among the ‘fighters’ of our era, earning the respect of the international market. After the financial and banking crises in 2013, the bailout programme agreed between the Government and the Troika (the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund), the downgrading to “junk” status by the credit rating agencies and the implementation of the AML Directives, Cyprus has managed to rise up and thrive once more, earning a place among the most dynamic and stable business centres in the world, with a growing economy that attracts international investments. Cyprus, as a European Union member state and a business hub, offers various investment opportunities.

Below, I identify some of these, from both traditional and emerging industries.

Top Three Traditional Cyprus Investments

1 Real Estate

The Real Estate industry is again thriving in Cyprus. The Cyprus Investment Programme is a significant booster which, when successfully implemented, encourages foreign direct investment (FDI) and attracts High Net Worth Individuals to settle and conduct their business activities in Cyprus. Today, there are numerous attractive opportunities in real estate, both commercial and residential units, all over Cyprus that promise a relatively secure initial capital investment, an excellent Return on Investment (ROI) and capital appreciation.

2 Tourism

According to the World Data Atlas, “In 2017, the contribution of travel and tourism to GDP for Cyprus was 22.3 %.” Moreover, Deputy Minister of Tourism Savvas Perdios has stated that “the tourism industry has the long-term potential to contribute to Cyprus’s economy by 25%.” Tourism is one of the strongest industries in the Cyprus economy and it is continuously increasing its competitiveness, through new developments and strategies. Therefore, investments on this sector are considered premium, especially when investors target large-scale projects such as the construction of marinas, luxury resorts, etc.

3 Shipping

Cyprus is renowned for its high-quality maritime services, as well as for its reliable operational infrastructure and appealing legal framework. As a result, Cyprus is the third largest ship management jurisdiction in the EU and possesses a large merchant fleet market share on a worldwide basis. An investment in this industry, through the establishment of a Cyprus entity, is considered very promising since services, registration fees and taxes are very competitive, compared to other EU member states. Additionally, it is worth noting Cyprus’ EU-approved Tonnage Tax System, which is a major advantage that should be taken into consideration by investors.

Top Three Emerging Cyprus Investments

1 StartUps

In the last few years there has been a substantial increase in the number of startups in Cyprus. The highly educated workforce and eligible human capital, incentives provided by the government (e.g. the startup visa regime), as well as the straightforward legislative incorporation framework and attractive tax system are just some of the main factors that have contributed to the startup sector’s growth. Major players in the field of technology have proven that Cyprus is a very favourable jurisdiction for startups, since, after their establishment in Cyprus, they have successfully run multi-million international businesses.

2 Investment Funds

Investment funds represent the new emerging market that Cyprus is seeking to expand and, to this end, it is continuously upgrading its regulatory and legislative framework in order to attract foreign direct investment and has already formed various Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) and Undertakings for the Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS). Of course, this target would have been unreachable if the professional services sector was not so strong and well-educated to support this expansion. In my opinion, investors should take a closer look at Cyprus Investment Funds opportunities, since a lot of effort and support is being provided by the legislator and other supervisory authorities.

3 Energy

The discovery of hydrocarbons marked the start of a very promising new era for Cyprus in the energy industry. Energy giants have since approached Cyprus and formed strategical alliances, upgrading the jurisdiction to that of a developing oil and gas hub for the region. Of course, from the energy industry we should not omit the growth in renewable energy that Cyprus has experienced over the past few years, mainly in the areas of wind power and solar energy. I personally advise professional investors to monitor activities in the country’s energy industry very closely, since it holds great promise and enormous future potential for development and expansion. Cyprus is a country that has a lot of investment opportunities to offer. Potential investors are therefore advised to establish cooperation with law firms that can consult and assist them in selecting the best possible combinations of investment, determining risk tolerances and the capital required to achieve a successful portfolio allocation.

Info: Michalis Economides is CEO, Advocate & Legal Consultant, Chambersfield Economides Kranos Law Firm.

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changes and an intuitive ability to read between the lines in order to identify possible trends in the international micro- and macro-economic environments.

Cyprus is among the top three ship management centres in the world and the largest third-party ship management centre in Europe.
In order to enhance the position of Cyprus in the global shipping industry and enable it to cope with international market challenges, Cyprus Governmental Authorities have established major competitive advantages, with the aim of attracting industry leaders to register their vessels under the Cyprus flag. They have included the EU-approved Tonnage Tax System (TTS) that covers ship owning, ship management and chartering, competitive ship registration costs and fees, the acceptance of all nationalities (crew/ officers) and many more. In addition, the owners of Cyprus flag ships may benefit from Cyprus’ 60+ Double Taxation Treaties, 28 bilateral trade agreements, its inclusion on the Paris white list and the Tokyo MoU, etc.

Maritime industry requirements are such that ship owning, ship management and chartering entities need to collaborate with a law firm that will advise them on all admiralty and shipping law issues.

Chambersfield Economides Kranos is an innovative full-service law firm, which takes a client-centric approach, acknowledging that each client is unique and, consequently, the services provided to each are exclusive. The firm has been recognized by various accredited organizations such as The Legal 500, AI Global and many more.

With a physical presence in more than nine countries and a network of associates all over the world, it is also known as a firm that undertakes a comprehensive range of complex legal disputes and business cases that fall within the scope of litigation and arbitration.

The expertise and knowledge of the firm’s team of attorneys in all key sectors of the market, enable them to provide top-tier quality legal and corporate services, as well as to propose solutions fully compliant with the legislative framework of the jurisdiction in which the legal entity operates.

The firm’s multi- level experience, comprehensive understanding of regulations and legislation, as well as its knowledge of the international commercial and business market, have upgraded its team of lawyers to a higher consultancy level, with a broad range of operational skills for handling any setbacks that may arise in the business.

In addition, the firm is fully aware of the complexity of the international business environment and its professional lawyers are, therefore, always up to date with all new regulations, practices and legislative frameworks.

Specifically, regarding admiralty and shipping matters, Chambersfield Economides Kranos undertakes cases on behalf of owners, managers, charterers, freight forwarders and their respective insurers, on issues including:

• Company registration
• Flag registration
• Yacht registration
• Debt Restructuring
• Transfer of ownership
• Wealth Management of Marine Professionals
• Contracts and Agreements
• Dispute Resolution
• Insurance claims

In-Depth knowledge is essential to Navigate through Challenges.

Chambersfield Economides Kranos is an innovative full-service law firm, which takes a client-centric approach, acknowledging that each client is unique and, consequently, the services provided to each are exclusive.

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