The Cypriot Prevention and Suppression of Money Laundering Activities Law (the "AML Law") was amended on 6 December 2024, introducing important changes to the provisions concerning the central register of beneficial owners ("UBO Register").
Companies or other legal entities are obliged by Law to disclose their beneficial ownership information in the UBO Register and/or to confirm such information contained annually. Changes to the beneficial ownership information previously disclosed must also be notified to the UBO Register within a time frame from the date on which the relevant change took place.
Who is considered a Beneficial Owner? According to the AML Law, a “beneficial owner” is any natural person who owns more than 25% of the shares, voting rights or ownership rights of a Cyprus company, directly or indirectly, or exercises equivalent control.
The current tax treatment for UK resident non-domiciled individuals (non-doms) will be abolished from 6 April 2025. This undeniably presents a unique opportunity for Cyprus to emerge as a leading choice for efficient tax planning. With its strategic location, EU membership and favourable tax regime, Cyprus offers a compelling proposition for those affected by the UK's policy shift as well as others seeking tax-efficient solutions.
The use of closed circuit video surveillance (CCV) and other audio and video recording devices of identifiable individuals is subject to the provisions of the Law providing for the Protection of Natural Persons with regard to the Processing of Personal Data and for the Free Movement of such Data of 2018 (Law 125(I)/2018), as amended (the “Law”) and the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (GDPR) because such action constitutes an automated processing of personal data.
Disputes arising from undivided co-ownership can be resolved by the procedure laid down in the Law on Immovable Property (Tenure, Registration and Valuation), Cap. 224. According to the provisions of Cap. 224, when a land is co-owned, all of the co-owners must consent in writing until the completion of the division and must also agree on the share that each one will receive.
The Law on Immovable Property (Tenure, Registration and Valuation), Cap. 224 provides a useful guide for resolving co-ownership disputes. Problems in co-ownership can arise, inter alia, through the voluntary purchase of indivisible shares in a property by two or more persons, or through inheritance, in which case the immovable property of the deceased person passes to his heirs in undivided shares. Exit from such co-ownership is also often difficult and creates friction and conflicts between the co-owners.
In July 2024, the House of Representatives enacted a key amendment to the Aliens and Immigration Law (Cap. 105), aligning it with Directive (EU) 2021/1883. This pivotal update introduces the EU Blue Card scheme in Cyprus, facilitating the entry and residence of highly skilled non-EU workers in the European Union.
A ground-breaking development has recently been announced by the European Commission, which has for the first time applied the strict rules introduced under the Digital Markets Act - to bring non-compliance investigations against three heavyweights in the world of “big tech”, namely Alphabet (the parent company of Google), Apple, and Meta (formerly Facebook Inc.).
The criteria for Cyprus citizenship though naturalization is different for applicants who are highly skilled employees of foreign interest companies, the main difference being that the latter can apply for Cypriot citizenship having less years of residence in Cyprus.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines programmed to think and learn like humans. These systems are capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and language translation. AI works through complex algorithms and models that enable machines to learn from and adapt to new data.
In April 2023, the Council of Ministers decided for the amendment of the criteria for granting Immigration Permits in Cyprus pursuant to the provisions of the Regulation 6(2) of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations. The Golden Visa is a permanent residency-by-investment programme which gives non-EU citizens permanent residence in Cyprus provided they make an investment of (min) €300,000.
Last November marked a new era for the legislation surrounding injunction relief in Cyprus through the amendment of, inter alia, article 32 of Cyprus Courts Law of 1960, L.14/60 (the “Law”). While the amendments are not elaborate nor extensive, they are monumental to the usage of injunctions, by essentially expanding the territorial jurisdiction of Cypriot Courts.
The European Union's 12th package of sanctions, announced on 18 December 2023, marks a significant intensification of the measures taken against Russian assets as a response to the ongoing situation in Ukraine.
In a notable legal development, the Cypriot House of Representatives has passed an amendment to the Civil Registry Law, signifying a major shift in the country's naturalisation policy. While important for all applicants, these changes are particularly impactful for professionals in the 'research and innovation' sector, reflecting the objective to establish Cyprus as a leading global tech hub and an attractive destination for international business.
In an increasingly digitalized world, the significance of electronic signatures takes center stage. Their transformative potential extends far beyond mere convenience. Cyprus has enacted Law 55(I)/2018, which aligns the island with the EU eIDAS Regulation, firmly positions the country within Europe's cohesive digital strategy.
The doctrine of separate legal personality is nothing new in the legal field. Its premise is to essentially shield directors from any liability stemming from any company-related action. There are however, exceptions to this rule, where Courts have the discretionary power to stray away from the general rule and lift the “corporate veil” which protects directors.
