Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right licence scope and leads the file all the way to the CySEC decision, including banking and payment rails.
Get an investment license in Cyprus.
The EU's licensing workhorse: the CySEC Cyprus Investment Firm licence - portfolio management, investment advice, reception-transmission and dealing under one authorisation, IFD capital from €75,000 to €750,000 by model, and the passport that turns one Mediterranean licence into thirty European markets. More investment firms choose this gate than any other in the union.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
Cyprus in brief
The union's most practised licensing machine.
Cyprus turned investment-firm licensing into its export industry: the CySEC CIF authorisation under the Investment Services Law covers the full MiFID spectrum - investment advice, reception and transmission of orders, execution, discretionary portfolio management and dealing on own account - with initial capital on the IFD tiers of €75,000 for advisory and RTO models without client assets, €150,000 as the general tier with client money, and €750,000 for dealing. Around the licence sits the EU's most developed service industry for regulated firms: administrators, auditors, compliance houses and an executive talent pool that staffs key functions within weeks rather than quarters.
The commercial case is arithmetic: one CIF passports investment services into thirty EEA states - the identical legal effect of a German or French licence at Mediterranean cost - while Cyprus's 12.5% corporate rate (15% for large groups under the 2026 reform) keeps the operating economics among the union's most efficient. CySEC examines with the routine of a regulator that has processed thousands of applications: organisational charts, internal-operations manuals, capital adequacy and fit-and-proper files reviewed to a known standard on a known rhythm. For asset managers, advisory houses and brokerage groups that need European reach with predictable process, the CIF remains the default answer, and we build it end to end from Limassol.
The EU's licensing workhorse: CySEC CIF for advice, RTO, management and dealing - IFD capital €75k/€150k/€750k, key functions approved individually, the 30-state passport, 8-14 months on a practised rhythm.
12.5% corporate tax (15% large groups, 2026) with NID and no dividend WHT. Built end to end from Limassol.
The two builds
The management and advisory CIF - or the dealer.
One licence family, tiered by activity: advisory and portfolio-management CIFs at €75,000-€150,000, dealing CIFs at €750,000. We fix the service set first, then build once.
The management/advisory CIF - or the €750k dealer.
01 - MANAGEMENT · ADVISORY CIF
The asset-side firm
The wealth permissions: portfolio management, investment advice and order handling - €75,000 without client assets, €150,000 with. Passported into thirty states from one Cypriot base.
The wealth permissions: portfolio management, investment advice and order handling - €75,000 without client assets, €150,000 with. Passported into thirty states from one Cypriot base.
- ✓Discretionary portfolio management
- ✓Investment advice and RTO
- ✓€75,000 - no client assets
- ✓€150,000 - general tier
- ✓EU passport into 30 states
- ✓The union's default wealth licence
02 - DEALING CIF
€750,000 initial capitalThe dealing firm
The market-facing house: dealing on own account with execution and underwriting scope - €750,000 capital, prudential machinery to match, and the same passport across the union.
Dealing on own account with execution and underwriting scope. The full-spectrum CIF on the same passport.
- ✓Dealing on own account
- ✓Execution and underwriting scope
- ✓€750,000 initial capital
- ✓K-factor prudential stack
- ✓Same 30-state passport
- ✓The full-spectrum CIF
Costs and timelines are confirmed for your case before any work begins. CySEC fees follow its schedule; capital, key functions and substance are itemised in your quote.
Why Cyprus
European reach at practised speed.
Cyprus sells the passport with the union's deepest licensing infrastructure behind it.
✓
The 30-state passport
One CIF serves the entire EEA with identical legal effect to any member-state licence. The arithmetic that built the industry here.The core arithmetic.
✓
A practised regulator
CySEC has processed more investment-firm files than any EU peer. Known standards, known rhythm, no first-impression risk.No first impressions.
✓
The service cluster
Administrators, auditors, compliance houses and seasoned executives in one city. Key functions staffed in weeks.Functions staffed fast.
✓
IFD-tiered entry
€75k, €150k, €750k. Capital scaled to the service set, so advisory houses are not priced like dealers.Priced to the model.
✓
12.5% economics
The union's most efficient major rate (15% for large groups from 2026). Operating margins the northern capitals cannot match.Union's most efficient.
✓
An Anglophone system
English-language filings, common-law tradition and courts the industry knows. Friction stays low end to end.Low-friction filings.
How it compares
How Cyprus differs from other routes.
The comparison in plain terms: the passport at practised speed. Against slower prestige or faster niche flags.
Cyprus vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  Cyprus | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Regime | Investment Services Law - CySEC | FSMA or other EU regimes |
| Capital | €75k-€750k IFD tiers | £75k-£750k UK |
| Passport | 30 EEA states | UK: none post-Brexit |
| Timeline | 8-14 months | 9-15 months UK |
Regime
CyprusInvestment Services Law - CySEC
Other jurisdictionsFSMA or other EU regimes
Capital
Cyprus€75k-€750k IFD tiers
Other jurisdictions£75k-£750k UK
Passport
Cyprus30 EEA states
Other jurisdictionsUK: none post-Brexit
Timeline
Cyprus8-14 months
Other jurisdictions9-15 months UK
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | CySEC CIF | 12.5% · 15% large | IFD €75k-€750k, EU passport |
 England | FCA investment firm | 25% CIT · 19% small | MIFIDPRU tiers, SM&CR, CASS |
 Lithuania | FBF licence - LB | 16% CIT | IFD tiers, single regulator |
 Estonia | Investment firm - FI | 0% retained · 22/78 | IFD tiers, statutory clock |
CyprusLicense typeCySEC CIF
Taxation12.5% · 15% large
RequirementsIFD €75k-€750k, EU passport
EnglandLicense typeFCA investment firm
Taxation25% CIT · 19% small
RequirementsMIFIDPRU tiers, SM&CR, CASS
LithuaniaLicense typeFBF licence - LB
Taxation16% CIT
RequirementsIFD tiers, single regulator
EstoniaLicense typeInvestment firm - FI
Taxation0% retained · 22/78
RequirementsIFD tiers, statutory clock
Before you apply
Requirements for the Cyprus licence.Requirements for the licence.
CySEC reviews to a practised standard. The craft is a file that meets it first time. The checklist below is what a passing application contains.
01
Cypriot company. Incorporated for the CIF with its mind and management in Cyprus.
02
Initial capital - €75,000, €150,000 or €750,000 by service set, paid and evidenced.
03
Fit-and-proper shareholders. Qualifying holdings vetted to UBO level with source-of-funds evidence.
04
Executive bench. Directors and heads of key functions (compliance, risk, internal audit) CySEC approves individually.
05
Organisational file. The internal-operations manual, structure charts and procedures the review is built on.
06
Business plan. Services, client base and three-year financials the regulator can interrogate.
07
Client-asset arrangements. Segregation and safeguarding where the service set holds them.
08
Prudential machinery. IFD capital and reporting computations live from day one.
09
AML/CFT programme. Cypriot law compliance with a named, approved MLRO.
10
Substance. A genuine Limassol or Nicosia operation the supervisor can inspect.
01
Cypriot company, run locally.
02
Capital per IFD tier.
03
Holdings vetted to UBO.
04
Approvable executive bench.
05
Organisational manual complete.
06
Interrogable business plan.
07
Client assets safeguarded.
08
Prudential machinery live.
09
AML with approved MLRO.
10
Substance to inspect.
Reflects the Investment Services Law and IFR/IFD as of 2026.Investment Services Law + IFR/IFD, as of 2026.
How it works
From first call to the CySEC register.
01
Service set and tier
Management, advice, RTO or dealing. The set and capital tier fixed in writing before any drafting.Tier fixed in writing.
02
Company and bench
Cypriot entity, capital paid and the key functions CySEC approves individually.Approvable people.
03
The application
Organisational file, business plan and policies. Complete at filing to the practised standard.Complete, first time.
04
CySEC review
Question rounds on a known rhythm - 8-14 months realistic end to end.8-14 months realistic.
05
Licence and passporting
Register entry, EEA notifications, banking live. Thirty markets open.30 markets open.
Quick facts
RegulatorCySEC
LicenceCIF
Advisory tier€75,000
General tier€150,000
Dealing tier€750,000
Passport30 EEA states
Realistic timeline8-14 months
Corporate tax12.5% · 15% large
CySEC reviews to a standard it has applied thousands of times. Meeting it completely, first time, is the entire game, and our job.
On the ground in Cyprus
Run from our Limassol office.
Prifinance - Cyprus
Limassol · Cyprus
Limassol, Cyprus
01
Company and capital
Cypriot entity and capital structured to the service set. Built for the CIF from day one.Built to the set.
02
The CySEC file
Organisational manual, business plan and policies drafted to the practised standard, and defended through the rounds.Practised-standard drafting.
03
Key-function bench
Directors, compliance, risk and internal audit sourced from the island's deep regulated-firm talent pool.The island's bench.
04
Passporting and launch
EEA notifications, banking and custody relationships sequenced with the licence. Thirty markets from one base.30 states at launch.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Roseni 13
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Budapest
Hungary
Korányi Sándor u. 4
Good to know
Taxation of investment firms in Cyprus.
The union's most efficient major rate. Inside a system the industry already inhabits.
Corporate tax 12.5%
The headline the industry moved here for. With the 2026 reform stepping large groups to 15% under global-minimum rules.The industry's rate.
NID on new equity
The notional interest deduction rewards equity funding. Licensed firms capitalising properly reduce the effective rate further.Equity rewarded.
No dividend withholding
Outbound dividends leave without Cypriot withholding in the standard case. Clean distribution above the CIF.Clean above.
IP and fee structuring
Management-fee and IP architectures run on settled practice. The island's advisers do this daily.Settled practice.
VAT with finance exemptions
Core investment services sit outside VAT. The 19% rate touches overheads, not mandates.19% on overheads.
Treaty network 65+
A broad treaty base across Europe and beyond. Group structures above the CIF model cleanly.Broad network.
Tax summary
Corporate tax12.5% · 15% large
Dividend withholdingNone standard
Equity reliefNID available
VAT on servicesExempt core
Tax treaties65+
*Figures as of 2026 per Cypriot law. Group and founder-level outcomes are modelled per structure.
Turnkey professional support
Experienced lawyers and international consultants.
We provide end-to-end support, from company registration and the application file to regulatory interaction and compliance oversight - with an individualized approach to each client.
Oleksii Kindratenko
Builds the application itself: Cypriot company, AML/KYC policy pack, capital structure and tax registrations. His document sets are the reason reviews finish in months, not years.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
First point of contact for international founders. Runs the whole setup remotely, across time zones and languages - from the first call to a live, licensed firm.
Follow Prifinance
Active across our channels.
Cyprus · CySEC
Launch your investment firm in Cyprus with expert support.
Full-service assistance - from incorporation to the CIF licence, key functions, passporting and ongoing compliance - run through our Limassol office.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is Cyprus the right fit for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Cyprus investment licence - the questions we hear.
What is a CIF licence?+
The Cyprus Investment Firm authorisation from CySEC under the Investment Services Law - the MiFID licence covering investment advice, RTO, execution, discretionary portfolio management and dealing, passported across the EEA.
What capital is required?+
The IFD tiers: €75,000 for advisory and RTO models without client assets, €150,000 as the general tier with client money, €750,000 for dealing on own account - with prudential requirements layered above.
Which services can one CIF combine?+
The full spectrum: a single licence can hold advice, RTO, execution, management and dealing permissions together, with capital set by the highest-tier activity. We map the set to your actual model, and its upgrade path.
How long does licensing take?+
Realistically 8-14 months: CySEC's process is practised and predictable, and complete organisational files with approvable key functions are the speed lever.
What people does CySEC require?+
An executive bench it approves individually: directors meeting fit-and-proper standards and heads of compliance, risk and internal audit. Cyprus's talent pool staffs these roles faster than anywhere in the union.
Does the licence passport across the EU?+
Yes - the full MiFID passport into 30 EEA states by notification, with identical legal effect to any member-state licence. We run the notifications as part of launch.
How are Cypriot investment firms taxed?+
12.5% corporate tax (15% for large groups under the 2026 reform), the notional interest deduction on new equity, no dividend withholding in the standard case and a 65+ treaty network.
What substance does CySEC expect?+
A genuine Cypriot operation: resident executive presence, staffed key functions, premises and systems the supervisor can inspect - the island's cluster makes real substance the easy option.
Cyprus or England for a new firm?+
Cyprus buys the EU passport at practised speed and efficient tax; England buys the global benchmark without EU reach. Cross-border groups increasingly hold both - we sequence the pair to your client map.
Why Prifinance for Cyprus?+
A Limassol office inside the cluster, files built to CySEC's practised standard, key functions sourced from the island's bench and the passport delivered as part of launch.
What is a CIF?+
CySEC's MiFID licence.
Capital?+
€75k/€150k/€750k.
Combine services?+
Yes - highest tier rules.
How long?+
8-14 months realistic.
People?+
Bench approved individually.
Passport?+
30 EEA states.
Taxes?+
12.5%/15% + NID.
Substance?+
Real, cluster-easy.
Or England?+
Passport vs benchmark.
Why you?+
Inside the cluster.
Client notes
Google4.7★★★★★
Founders who wanted it done right.
Google4.7★★★★★
“As a software development crew at FewMoreTaps OÜ, we've had the pleasure of working with Prifinance on some key financial moves.First of all, navigating the world of corporate banking and finance can be a maze, but Prifinance made it feel like a walk in the park. They helped us set up a corporate bank account without the hassle of jumping on a plane or drowning in paperwork. Everything was done remotely, smoothly…”
Google
“I had their assistance in company registration and I would recommend them. They were answering all my clarification during the process and offering all their supportThank you Daniel and Irinia”
Google
“We found PRIFINANCE COMPANYvia the Internet and asked for help in organizing the opening of their company in Estonia. PRIFINANCE COMPANY specialists helped us a lot with this. Their professional, competent approach and knowledge of their business left us with only the best impressions.”
Google
“I'm thrilled with my experience with PriFinance! They helped me obtain a crypto license in Estonia without any hassle. The team was super understanding and always available to answer my questions and assist. It was great to see how they put effort into preparing the documents to ensure everything went smoothly. I'm delighted with the outcome and highly recommend PriFinance to anyone looking to get a license…”
Google
“Opening an account with Prifinance in a Swiss bank was such an easy and quick process that I was shocked. It all started with the first call, where I received detailed guidance on the required documents and the entire procedure.One of the key highlights was their attention to detail. As someone who usually gets tangled up in paperwork, I was pleasantly surprised when they sent me all the documents and…”
Google
“I recently had the pleasure of working with Boris.. and I must say, it was a fantastic experience. Boris went above and beyond to assist me with my residency needs. His professionalism, knowledge, and dedication truly stood out. I highly recommend working with Boris and the team!”
Google
Start today
One message away from your Cyprus investment licence.
Get a free legal opinion on your project - our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.Free legal opinion: which Cyprus route fits your project and what it will cost.
✓Written legal opinion within 2-5 business days - free of charge✓A clear recommendation on the right licence scope, not a sales pitch✓Transparent fixed fees, confirmed up front✓EN · RU · ES speaking team
Prifinance is an independent law and advisory firm. We are not a regulator and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) or any other public authority. Authorisations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.