Can I set up a Cyprus company while still living in the UK?
Short answer
Yes. Owning a Cyprus company does not require living in Cyprus, and the incorporation is done remotely. But a Cyprus company whose decisions are really taken in the UK is UK tax resident in HMRC's eyes.
HMRC treats a company as UK resident if its central management and control is in the UK. Board meetings held in Cyprus do not change that if a director living in the UK really makes the decisions.
For the company to be taxed in Cyprus, it has to be managed and controlled here: a board that meets and decides in Cyprus, and the substance that goes with it.
Our partner advocate prepares and files the incorporation, and identity checks and signatures are done remotely. Working in Cyprus for the company yourself needs a residence permit that allows it.
Sources
Information, not advice. This answer describes the published rules as they stand on 12 October 2026, checked against the sources listed. Tax and residence rules depend on your own circumstances and change; check your position with a tax adviser qualified in the UK and in Cyprus before you act on it.
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