Publications

December 2023

Comprehensive Guide to Acquiring Real Estate Property in Cyprus

In recent years, Cyprus has become a hotspot for real estate investment, especially for individuals seeking a permanent residence permit through strategic property investments. The appeal lies in Cyprus's warm climate, strategic location, favorable tax policies, and EU membership since 2004, making it an attractive destination for both living and investing. The strong legal system, akin to English common law, adds an extra layer of assurance. When buying property in Cyprus, there are several key considerations that individuals should keep in...

November 2023

Financial Services – Cyprus Investment Firms – Cyprus Forex (FX) & Binary License

Our Law Firm provides with advisory support towards authorisation and registration of a Cyprus Investment Firm and prepare the application in accordance with the current regulatory requirements. Moreover, we can locate qualified executive and non-executive directors and personnel and provide legal, accounting and auditing support for your investment firm. The services we provide are the following: Assist clients to obtain a CySEC license in order to provide the investment services they want; Administer and assist clients with the CIF application process; ...

Cyprus Permanent Residency By Investment (Cyprus Golden Visa)

By virtue of Regulation 6(2) of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations, the Cypriot government has simplified the procedure for issuing Permanent Residency Permit to non-EU citizens seeking to invest in Cyprus (4th Revision, May 2023). Cyprus Permanent Residency, also known as Cyprus Golden Visa, doesn't expire, eliminating the need for renewal and entitles non-EU citizens and their families to reside in Cyprus as permanent residents. This process may be completed within 2 months and will grant investors EU residency in a safe and secure jurisdiction which vaunts...

Christos Paraskevas LLC law firm successfully obtained a disclosure order (Norwich Pharmacal order) by Cyprus Courts in aid of foreign proceedings in a complex cross border legal case

Recently our firm Christos Paraskevas LLC and our managing partner Christos Paraskevas, represented a reputable Canadian group of Companies in a complex cross border legal case before the Cyprus Courts, which involved important legal issues of Cyprus Commercial law, particularly pertaining to the issuance of a disclosure order, known as a Norwich Pharmacal order, in support of foreign proceedings. In that case, a disclosure order (Norwich Pharmacal) was requested by our firm and issued by the Cyprus court, ordering opposing parties...

April 2019

International Cyprus Trusts – Formation and Advantages

A Cyprus International Trust can be defined as a settlement whereby the settlor transfers the property to the trustee in accordance with the trust instrument or the trust settlement. Even though the trustee has legal ownership of the trust property, it does not belong to him. Beneficial ownership of it belongs to the beneficiaries. The Cyprus International Trust Law has undergone major reform and in the 23rd of March 2013 the long awaited reform of the Cyprus International Trusts (Amending) Law...

Alternative Investment Funds in Cyprus

A Cyprus investment fund is a vehicle that allows investors around the world to raise capital through various financial instruments. The passing of the Alternative Investment Funds Law in July 2018, ensures that Cyprus not only remains competitive in the international scene as a funds jurisdiction, but that it also serves in providing even more flexibility to establish Cypriot funds and fund management entities. Cyprus aims to develop a world class fund sector and mark its position as a growing domicile for...

Ship arrest in Cyprus

Lawyers in Cyprus, a leading Cyprus portal for Cyprus law and Cyprus lawyers and in-house counsel, recently published an article of our law firm's managing partner Mr. Christos Paraskevas. You may read the full article here. Extracts are reproduced below. Ship arrest in Cyprus According to Rule 50 of the Cypriot Admiralty Jurisdiction Order 1893, the Supreme Court in its admiralty jurisdiction has an absolute right for the issue of an order for the arrest of a vessel, in Cyprus. The Plaintiff desiring the...

December 2017

Registration of Foreign Court Judgments in Cyprus

Our law firm's managing partner Mr. Christos Paraskevas, has published an article in relation to the Recognition, Registration and Enforcement of Court Judgments issued by foreign courts in Cyprus. The article was puplished to Lawyers in Cyprus, a leading Cyprus portal for Cyprus law. The full article may found here. Extracts are reproduced below. Recognition, Registration and Enforcement of Court Judgments issued by EU Member States’ Courts A judgment including a decree, order, decision or writ of execution given in one EU country is...

Cyprus International Trusts

A comprehensive definition of "trusts" under Cyprus law does not exist. However, the court, through case law, has deemed that a trust arrangement is a structure whereby the holder of a property (the "trustee") has an obligation to manage that property for the benefit of another (the “beneficiary”). The trust is created by transferring the legal ownership of the trust property from the previous owner (the “settlor”) to the trustee, though the beneficial ownership over that asset belongs to the beneficiary....

Cyprus Company Incorporation

Lawyers in Cyprus, a Cyprus portal for Cyprus lawyers  published an article of our law firm in relation to the Incorporation of a Cyprus Company. You may read the full article here. Extracts are reproduced below. The incorporation of a Cyprus Company can be effectively utilised by entrepreneurs for International Tax Law Planning purposes and at the same time enjoy the status of being located at a reputable business centre within the European Union. The low Cyprus tax law regime coupled with...

Cyprus Tax Residency changes

The Parliament of Cyprus has approved on the 14th of July 2017 a bill which grants tax residence status to persons who have spent at least 60 days in Cyprus per year (effective as from the 1st of January 2017) provided that the following conditions are met: Conditions to be fulfilled The individual (i) Remains in the Republic of Cyprus for at least 60 days during the tax year in question and (ii) Is not a tax resident in another state and (iii) Does not...

February 2017

Maintenance of children after divorce

Parents have the obligation to support their child jointly and according to their powers. (article 33 Law No.216/1990). A parent or the Director of the Social Welfare Services may apply to the Court for maintenance, payable to the child (article 36 Law No.216/1990).   According to article 37 of the Law, the amount of maintenance is calculated according to the needs of the child taking into consideration the standard of living before the separation and the income generated by the parents.   Furthermore, maintenance...

Parental care and Custody of the children after divorce

Parental Care According to article 5 (1)a of the Relationships between parents and children law 1990 (216/1990), the exercise of the parental care is considered both as duty and as right of the parents who exercise it together.   Parental Care includes the determination of the name, the custody of the person, the administration of property and representation of the child in any matter or legal transaction relating to him/her or his property. (article 5 (1) b law 1990 (216/1990).   (2) Where parental...

Divorce in Cyprus (Legal Grounds and Reasons)

Which of the spouses might be held responsible for the divorce According to article 27 of the wedding law No.104(I)/2003, a wedding (either civil or religious) may be dissolved if the applicant can prove before the family court “the existence of an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage for reasons attributed to the applicant or to both of the spouses which makes the continuance of the marital relationship intolerable for the applicant. According to article 27 (2) of Law No.104(I)/2003, a) bigamy, b) adultery, c)...

European Account Preservation Order

On 18 January 2017, EC Regulation No.655/2014 establishing the ‘European Account Preservation Order’ ("EAPO") came into force. The Regulation introduced a new procedure to facilitate cross-border debt recovery in civil and commercial matters by providing common rules in all European Union Member States relating to jurisdiction, issuance and enforcement of EAPO by national courts and authorities, as well as the measures available to debtors following the issuance of such an order. The EAPO procedure allows for a single order to be...

February 2016

Permanent Residency in Cyprus for non-E.U nationals

Permanent Residency in Cyprus for non-E.U nationals There has been a recent increase in the interest of third country nationals obtaining immigration permits in the Republic of Cyprus, as Cyprus is a popular and very appealing destination for third country nationals who would like to obtain a Permanent Residency Permit in an EU country. Non-EU nationals wishing to reside permanently in Cyprus can do so by applying for an Immigration Permit. This Permit is granted for an indefinite duration to non-EU nationals...

November 2015

DIVORCE IN CYPRUS

Divorce is one of the most popular areas of Family Law. According to the statistical service’s demographic report 1 in 4 marriages in Cyprus will end in divorce. The only requirement for a divorce to be dealt with by the Cypriot Courts, is for either of the spouses to have lived in the Republic of Cyprus for at least three months, prior of filing the divorce application. Nationality of the spouses is not a relevant factor. The first matter to be...

September 2015

Entry into force of the Companies (Amendment) Law of 2015

The Companies (Amendment) (No 4) Law of 2015, Law 89(I) of 2015, took effect on 19 June 2015. It introduces several changes to the Companies Law, the most important of which are as follows: · a company may be incorporated as a general commercial company with power to carry on any trade or business and to do all such things as are incidental or conducive to this, rather than having a detailed objects clause in its memorandum of association; · where security...

June 2015

PERMANENT RESIDENCY IN CYPRUS

Permanent residency on a "normal-track basis" (known as a Regulation 5 (f) application) The minimum requirements are as follows: • Minimum annual secured income of approximately EUR 10,000 from sources outside of Cyprus (increased by approximately EUR 5,000 per dependent); • Applicant does not maintain employment in Cyprus; • Income is derived from legal sources abroad; • Income is secure and provides stable support for the applicant and their family in the long run (including supporting evidence that all financial needs of the family are...

April 2015

OBTAINING CYPRUS CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT

CYPRUS CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT The government of Cyprus has now implemented a new immigration initiative aimed at facilitating (non EEA) migrant entrepreneurs and investors who, in return for obtaining Cyprus citizenship, are prepared to invest in Cyprus. The new scheme has been established pursuant to amendments to the Cyprus Civil Registry and Migration Law. On the basis of subsection (2) of section 11A of the Civil Registry Laws of 2002-2003, a non-Cypriot citizen, who meets one of the following economic criteria (A),...