Establishment of a local company
Opening a Local Company in Northern Cyprus
What is a Local Company?
A local company in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is a legal entity registered under local law, authorized to operate within the TRNC territory. Such a company can own property, employ staff, enter into contracts, and open bank accounts.
The registration service includes:
- Consultations on company structure and legal requirements;
- Preparation of founding documents (articles of association, application, resolutions);
- Submission of documents to the Companies Registry;
- Provision of a legal address (if required);
- Additional services: accounting, licensing, HR formalities, bank account opening, tax registration and obtaining a tax number.
Participation of Foreign Founders
Foreign nationals may be founders and shareholders of a local company. In certain sectors (e.g., real estate sales, car rental, construction), the involvement of a TRNC citizen as a co-founder or director is required. These issues are reviewed individually during the planning stage.
It is important to understand that some types of activities are not available to foreigners even if there is a Cypriot director. Please check individually before registration.
What Documents Are Required to Open a Company?
- Passport;
- Certificate of no criminal record from the country of citizenship (if you have lived in Northern Cyprus for more than five years, a local certificate is acceptable);
- Lease agreement for the office or premises intended for the business (commercial use is mandatory);
- Certificate from the Mukhtar (proof of residence);
- Having a bank account for deposit freezing purposes.
Timelines and Costs
Company registration typically takes from 2 to 4 months and includes the following stages:
- Agreement and approval of the company name (it is recommended to submit 3–5 options to speed up the process). This stage may take up to 15 working days;
- Drafting the articles of association and preparation of founding documents;
- Submission of documents to the relevant government authorities;
- Activation of the company.
The final cost depends on the legal form, the composition of founders, and selected additional services.
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Inheritance Processing in Northern Cyprus
Establishment of a local company
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