Cyprus joining Schengen in 2026: Analysis of visa-free travel, investor residency benefits & business implications for companies using Cyprus structures.

See below the considerations that should be established to ensure you have taken the necessary steps to protect yourself and your new business in 2018.

The transformation of the sector inevitably requires appropriate funding, and ship financing has become critical for the shipbuilding sector and shipping companies worldwide. The financing aspect of shipping includes the corporate financial management of shipping companies to refinance existing debts and the financing of new shipbuilding.

AGENDA: Criteria for choosing your bank, Corporate Bank Account Opening, What you need to know for each jurisdiction, Corporate Bank Account Maintenance & Bank Transfer Fees, Costs, Why Banks are closing Corporate Bank Accounts, Voluntary closing of a Corporate Bank Account

Cryptocurrencies have exploded in popularity in recent years. As a result, there is renewed interest from regulators in Singapore, the United States, Japan and China to have oversight in the cryptocurrency space and curb the potential of widespread money laundering and fraud.

The authorities are imposing an additional 35 per cent buyer's stamp duty on houses settled into trust with no identifiable beneficial owner. The recently enacted tax is intended to close a loophole used by individuals who purchase multiple properties under a trust where it is not clear who the beneficial owner is and therefore avoid additional taxes.

The following article will examine various duties of loyalty to a business that are owed by Senior Employees, partners, Company Directors, and mere employees using supporting legislation from the Companies Act 2006 and principles established from UK common law cases.

Tether Ltd, the issuer of Stablecoin, a type of cryptocurrency under the ticker USDT, has been hotly debated for the past year. Many representatives within the crypto-community suspect the issuer of the “tokenised dollar” regarding the insufficient supply of the currency, as well as the regular “quantitative easing” of the market during periods of recession.

A Singapore company might decide to wind up as a result of various reasons and such procedures may be a challenging and lengthy task. The difficulties faced and time to complete is dependent upon many factors, including how well the company has been managed and administered throughout its existence, the method chosen for closing down and who performs such a processes.

Cyprus is an ideal place for holding company location. The following factors described in the article are important when deciding the location of a holding company.

Section 2(1) of the SITA defines a PE to mean a fixed place where a business is wholly or partly carried out including a place of management, a branch, an office, a factory, a warehouse, a workshop, a farm or plantation, a mine, oil well, quarry or other place of extraction of natural resources, a building or work site or a construction, installation or assembly project.

We have compiled a list of answers to common questions regarding SLAs and basic tips on how your organisation or business can create effective SLAs with any vendors or business partners.

This article will cover the main points regarding obtaining tourist and business visas, residence permits, work permits and other aspects of immigration to Singapore.

AGENDA: Part I: Definition, types and certainties of a trust, Part II: Analysis of the Cyprus International, Trusts - Conclusion

Singapore's CSP framework moves beyond RFA filing compliance, covering corporate services, nominee directors, remote onboarding and AML/CPF/CFT controls.

Amendments to the Intellectual Property Bill, which came into force in May 2022, were passed in Parliament. The bill amends the existing Patent Law, Trademark Law, Registered Designs Law, Geographical Indications Law of 2014, and Plant Variety Protection Law to improve business friendliness, operational efficiency, and clarity of law and procedure.

Master the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance Cap. 622. Our guide covers company incorporation, director duties, shareholder rights, and key regulatory requirements for business.

The European Commission is increasing pressure on EU countries to change residency programs. Portuguese Prime Minister said the country would likely abandon its citizenship-by-investment scheme, commonly known as the "golden visa".

There are various conditions a company must fulfil in order to be struck-off legitimately. One of the conditions is that the company must have filed all the tax returns until the date of the strike off. The Directors and Shareholders must ensure that any outstanding income, tax returns, accounts and tax computation have been submitted up to the date of cessation.

AGENDA: Definition of the term brand and HR brand, The purpose of HR Branding for various organizations, Components of the HR Brand, Work Environment, Compensation and benefits, Achieving appropriate work – life balance, Company culture and environment.

The Singapore Tax Authority (IRAS) have special rules relating to the taxation of investment companies. An investment company is one that owns investments such as properties, shares, bonds and therefore derives income such as rental, dividend and interest.

An Electronic Money Institution (popularly known as an EMI for short) is a fully licensed financial institution which engages in electronic payment services. The full license for a Hong Kong electronic money institution currently has no restrictions to either trading period or sector of activities.

All Cyprus resident companies must return their income tax accounts in accordance with the Income Tax Law (Law No. 118(I) of 2002).

To align with global initiatives against tax evasion and ensure fair taxation, Hong Kong has revised its Foreign Source Income Exemption (FSIE) regime for passive income. The amendments were made in accordance with the European Union's Guidance on FSIE regimes, following Hong Kong's inclusion in the EU's watchlist of jurisdictions with potentially harmful tax practices in 2021.

Reaching the 100 clients mark means this is more work than any one person in the company can keep track of, and the business must have a significantly larger budget. In terms of marketing this is huge, as the company now has access to real client data and general branding activities.

Cyprus residence and entry pathways for third-country nationals: visas, Schengen context, employment, EU Blue Card, investors and digital nomads.

AGENDA: Relevant legislation requirements, What is Know Your Client and the KYC Procedure, KYC Procedure – Client Acceptance Policy, Categorization of Customers, What is Due Diligence

Received a Notice of Assessment from IRAS? Our complete guide explains your Singapore tax assessment, how to read your NOA, and steps to file an objection if you find an error.

Learn how to become a certified company secretary in Hong Kong. Explore qualifications, licensing (TCSP), registration steps, and professional skills for compliance success.

Despite having one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the world, as a jurisdiction, Singapore still offers many incentives for investors including tax holidays and concessions, accelerated depreciation schemes, and favourable loan conditions to attract foreign investments.

The European Commission has recommended the implementation of a new regulation regarding companies or intermediaries who promote or design cross-border tax planning schemes will going forward be required to provide full disclosure to the tax authorities of their relevant jurisdiction within five days of offering them to clients.

Each licensed Administrative Service Provider (ASP) in Cyprus is registered under CySEC, and must comply with the preparation and submission of the required reports in order to be eligible for maintaining a valid license in Cyprus.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has indicted 11 individuals for their role in creating and promoting Forsage, an alleged fraudulent cryptocurrency pyramid scheme and Ponzi scheme that raised over $300m from private investors worldwide.

The introduction of the VCC is a significant positive for the Singapore funds industry. Its aim is to retain Singapore as an attractive business destination and to keep investors wishing to domicile locally.

ACRA have released new guidelines introduced to update the current system, bringing it transparently in line with other jurisdictions; going forward, businesses will be offered a copy of their business profile and the amount of information available for public use will increase substantially.

AGENDA: Definition of Company Director, Duties of Company Director, Extent of such liability, D&O Insurance Liability, Conclusion

According to the recently published Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2023, the UK is projected to experience a net outflow of 3,200 high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) in the coming year. In contrast, Australia is projected to attract the highest net inflow of HNWIs in 2023, with an estimated 5,200 individuals seeking to establish residence there.

Cyprus has seen rapid growth in the number of startups. This increase is due to tax incentives and favourable conditions for intellectual property and innovative companies offered by Cyprus, making it a pleasant country for the development of startups.

The following is a list that all employers should take into account when considering payroll for their workforce and required procedures.

Pursuant to Part III of Chapter 113 of Cyprus legislation, Mortgage Registration with the Cyprus Registrar emerges as compulsory by law. Certain formalities need to be followed regarding the filing of such registration as well as any amendment, concession and any other alteration which takes place following the formation of a Company in the Republic of Cyprus.

Learn how to check Singapore company registration via ACRA BizFile+. Get Business Profile, verify UEN number & conduct due diligence on business partners.

Cyprus has quickly gained a reputation as a reliable, legitimate offshore jurisdiction, and is universally accepted as the most beneficial tax system in the EU; making it the perfect location for incorporating a company of any type.

The following article is intended to highlight the stages involved in the visa application process for Russian citizens wanting to immigrate to live in the UK. There are many different ways to apply, depending on each applicant’s circumstances and requirements.

Many people are convinced that the cryptocurrency is likely to become an alternative to the established global financial system and open new opportunities to those segments of the population and citizens of those countries that are deprived of the opportunity to work with the banking financial system.

Learn about the Singapore Certificate of Residence (COR). Our guide covers eligibility, how to apply via IRAS for tax treaty benefits, and its role in international tax planning.

In a bid to make Singapore a shipping hub, various incentives were introduced to make it attractive to have shipping activities in Singapore. Essentially the provisions that govern the exemption of shipping activities in Singapore are found in Section 13A and Section 13F of the Singapore Income Tax Act (SITA).

Recently, the Cyprus economy has seen relatively steady growth rates and booming tourism levels over the last few years. The relatively high increase of GDP can be attributed to a number of factors: declining official unemployment rates; surplus government funds and the raising of large financial deals in international markets.

Compare Singapore vs Hong Kong for business in 2025. Expert analysis of taxes, industry opportunities, costs and which Asian hub suits your expansion goals.

According to a recent report published by the US State Department’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) unit, Cyprus continues to upgrade its established AML legal framework, while authorities successfully 26 individuals and entities for money laundering related offences in 2018.

AGENDA: What is compliance and what is it for?, Relevant legislation, Principles of implementing of the compliance function, How to organise compliance control in the company, The basic skills that an expert in the sphere of compliance should have, Example of good implementation of compliance function

Cyprus is a favourable jurisdiction for creating international trusts which are governed by the 1992 International Trusts Law which regulates the establishment and administration of International Trusts. The International Trust Law compliments the Trustee Law which is based on the English Trustee Act 1925.

One of many legal disputes resulting from the recent infamous Kazakhstan BTA bank fraud case has shed new light on a little-known immigration scheme colloquially known as the golden visa scheme and officially called a Tier 1 Investor visa in the UK.

The Cyprus Assessment and Collection Law, as amended in 2002, introduced a regime with a provisional income tax system. Corporate tax in Cyprus is levied at a rate of 12.5% and can be paid through the JCC Smart platform. Based on the current period's results, companies that do not expect taxable profits do not submit a tax calculation.

No withholding tax applies on interest and royalties when paid from a Russian Company to a Cypriot company. This was ratified on the Protocol and signed by Russia and Cyprus during 2012 and implemented in 2013.

Filing annual returns can be risky for a small company just starting a business. Also, you will have to deal with other issues, such as compliance with the law. To simplify the process of filing annual returns, you need to know the essential requirements.

Agenda: Requirements for the Registration Certificate Application, Where to apply: the immigration buildings & office contacts, The full application procedure, What documentation and information do you need to bring?, When do you need to apply for your yellow slip?, Rights for family members and other dependents, When your family are citizens in a EU or EEA member state, Employed and self-employed applicants, Retired and non-working applicants, Validity Period of Registration Certificates, Using an agent.

Cyprus employees who are considered to have tax resident status, pay tax on their global income. Employees not considered to be tax resident are only charged for specific types of income that are originating from Cyprus-based sources.

Cryptocurrency is a form of electronic cash; it’s virtual and not controlled by any government or business. Although Bitcoin was critised many times for its price volatility, legitimacy and high electricity consumption, it is still being used by millions of people for investment and entrepreneurial purposes.

Since the report on the collapse of the Cooperative Credit System was released recently, everyone seemed to have an opinion on the matter about who was to blame for the whole debacle. The report was fairly conclusive, giving a general overview of what the public enquiry discovered.

An investment fund is a common term used for when several investors use their own capital to collectively buy securities with each Shareholder retaining ownership and control over the individual shares.

One of the requirements for registering a company in Singapore is that it has a registered address. Typically, legal entities rent a real space to use as their office. However, recently some companies have decided to use virtual offices, where a business address is rented and used as their own.

AGENDA: Classification of foreign companies, Company documents, Authorised capital, Offshores and offshore jurisdictions, Onshore companies, “Grey” and “Black” lists of countries, Nominee service, Beneficial Owner, Due Diligence & KYC, Company Tax Residency, Company liquidation

Establishing a Shareholder Agreement will effectively set out the organisations fundamental running’s, some examples include how decisions are agreed upon and implemented; how shares can be sold or transferred. It guarantees that founding member roles are clear on the company’s main principles, and in agreement that all obligations are assigned fairly.

AGENDA:- Two options to close a company- Strike- Off Procedure- Strike- Off Procedure in Tax Heaven Jurisdictions - Liquidation Procedure- Voluntary Winding Up- Risks for Directors in Abandoned Cyprus Companies

In the world of offshore, Nevis specialises in letting its clients create corporations with greater anonymity than almost anywhere else on earth. Since 2012, the island’s financial services sector has grown exponentially, as those wishing to retain anonymity relocated to a place that promises just that.

Greece Golden Visa 2026: recent changes, EUR 800k, EUR 400k and EUR 250k routes, property restrictions and relocation planning for non-EU investors.

AGENDA: Cyprus Work Permit, Singapore Employment Pass, Cyprus Citizenship; scheme for naturalisation by exception of investors.

AGENDA: Forms of Business Entities, Incorporation Procedure, Company documents, Director and Secretary of the Company, Shareholders and types of shares, Know Your Client (KYC), Filing Requirements for Companies, Liquidation & Strike Off

GST is a tax on the supply of goods and services made in Singapore by a taxable person in the course or furtherance of any business carried on by him and on the importation of goods into Singapore.

Singapore is gaining more attraction as a trust jurisdiction internationally. A range of factors have contributed to achieving a reputable offshore trust status, including but not limited to the several reasons.

As a result of the ACRA Amendment Act in 2014, Registered Filing Agents and Corporate Service Providers now have to conduct independent Anti-Money Laundering / Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) reviews as part of their annual audit reviews.

The Cyprus banking sector is struggling with the overwhelming level of NPLs, no matter the efforts exerted by the main banks in Cyprus by following conventional banking models to balance their profit/loss reports, NPLs remain to be the proverbial hole in the bucket. More radical and revolutionary approaches and actions should be considered by banks and lenders in Cyprus.

Malta and Cyprus undeniably have the most favourable citizenship by investment programmes in Europe. This article will compare the passport programmes on offer by Cyprus and Malta, as well as the differences in the tax regulations for both countries.

There are two types of VCCs in Cyprus; UCITS which we will discuss in the following article, and AIFS. A UCITS shall take the legal form of a limited liability company, its name shall include the reference: “Variable Capital Investment Company”, and it shall be in compliance with the provisions/requirements of the Law 78(I)/2012.

Singapore’s Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat unveiled the 2016 budget. This year the notable points for discussion focused on innovation and enterprise. A large section of the budget has been allocated towards the need for growth in Singapore businesses to an international level, as well as keeping up with developing modern technology.

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission has remarked upon the growth and popularity of ICOs for raising money not only in Hong Kong but other Asian countries. This article confirms and explains how digital tokens that are offered or sold may be defined as “securities” and as such are therefore governed by the relevant securities legislation of Hong Kong.

Cyprus has successfully undergone a positive assessment and will officially become a part of the Schengen information system. This development signifies that Cyprus will now have the capability to exchange valuable information with other Schengen member states.

Technology is transforming Singapore’s payments landscape and has reduced the obstacles to entry to running a payments business. This, as well as the prolific adoption of the use of smartphones and tablets, has made it easier than ever for companies to obtain clients digitally.

Hong Kong finalised and signed an agreement with Indonesia to allow for the automatic exchange of financial information (AEOI) regarding all tax matters.

An individual is not regarded as a shadow Director solely because the Company Directors act on the advice given by that individual in a professional capacity. There are various exceptions and whether or not a person is a shadow director is a question of fact and dependent upon all the relevant circumstances.

AGENDA: Advantages & Disadvantages of UK life, Advantages & Disadvantages of Cyprus life, The Cyprus Island Divide: Reunification prospects & what it means in 2018, Cost of living comparison: basics, What constitutes quality family life?, Why do so many UK expats relocate to Cyprus?, Buying a holiday or second home in Cyprus? Main considerations, Considering retirement in Cyprus?

COVID-19 and related quarantines and restrictions have damaged the image of Hong Kong, considered the international centre of Asia, provoked the departure of expats and spurred the ambitions of rival cities to replace Hong Kong and take its place as the preeminent financial centre of the region.

On July 1st 2015, the President of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiadis, has officially declared that the Cyprus taxation system needs rapid changes to increase the level of the country’s competitiveness. In order to achieve this goal, a number of amendments should be made to the tax law.

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission has recently released information to all Cyprus Investment Firms, Management Companies and Administrative Service Providers regarding fraudulent tax evasion, and also a proposal on the prevention of use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering and terrorist financing.

Hong Kong company re-domiciliation guide for tax, accounting and legal advisers: profits tax, treaty residence, opening balances, exit tax and compliance.

AGENDA: Why did Trusts & Foundations gain popularity?, Modern offshore trust legislation was created following a demand from High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) looking to protect their property, Trusts, What is a trust? Common Law view: fundamental principles, Trusts in Modern Offshore Trust Legislation, Use of Trusts in asset protection as well as succession of wealth and distribution, Foundations, When is a Foundation used instead of a Trust?, Foundations: creation and management.

Nowadays, an increasing number of Russian companies are required to prepare their Financial Statements as per the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Officials from the British Virgin Islands have come together to clarify various filing deadlines as per the automatic exchange of information systems in a press release.

This article contains updated answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding the requirements for Cayman companies to be registered for FATCA.