We use essential cookies to make our site work. With your consent, we may also use analytics cookies. Cookie Policy
Editorial scope · audited 23 October 2026
Purpose: This page is an initial Cyprus setup and compliance overview for EMI & Payment Institution businesses. It identifies structural, operational and regulatory questions for a scoped professional review.
Method: The overview separates company setup, operating substance, recurring compliance and sector-specific questions. It does not test a licence perimeter, tax eligibility or a specific business model.
Limitations: Sector regulation, tax treatment, licensing, banking and market-access statements require qualified review against the current activities, customers and jurisdictions before implementation.
A Cyprus EMI or PI authorisation passports under PSD2 / EMD2 to all 27 EU member states + EEA. Open accounts, issue e-money, acquire merchants, and provide payment services across the entire single market from one Cyprus base.
Authorised and supervised by the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC). Established framework, English-language correspondence, dialogue access. Clear capital requirements (€350k initial for EMI, €125k for PI).
Standard CIT 15%; payment-processing platforms typically qualify for the Cyprus IP Box (approximately 3% effective rate on qualifying platform IP and proprietary algorithms). Combine licensing income with payment-platform IP income for blended low rates.
PSD2 mandates client funds segregation. Cyprus provides clear safeguarding-account frameworks at Cyprus-licensed banks (Bank of Cyprus, Hellenic Bank) and by approved EU credit institutions. Familiar to applicants from UK / EU FCA / BaFin contexts.
Cyprus substance requirements (qualified directors, fit-and-proper management, three-line-of-defence, AML officer) are demanding but achievable. Smaller fintechs find Cyprus more practical than Lithuania's larger team mandates.
If your business combines payment services with crypto-asset services, Cyprus implements both PSD2/EMD2 and MiCA with CASP registration via CySEC — cleaner than splitting the structure across two countries.
We assess fit (EMI vs PI vs Crowdfunding vs CASP), capital adequacy, business plan readiness, three-year financial projections, and director / shareholder fit-and-proper status before any filing.
Incorporate the Cyprus Ltd, set up the AML officer, three-lines-of-defence governance, ICT/Operational risk policies, outsourcing policies, business continuity plan, and the safeguarding-account agreement.
Submit the full authorisation package: programme of operations, business plan, capital evidence, board CVs, AML compliance manual, ICT and security policy, audit trail. Typical timeline 6–12 months from filing to authorisation.
Annual audited accounts, regulatory reporting (FINREP/COREP-style), outsourcing oversight, AML compliance reviews, ongoing capital adequacy monitoring. We handle the corporate-secretarial, accounting, and tax-compliance backbone.
We specialise in your industry.
Initial discussion · No obligation