There is an island bathed by the warm Mediterranean ocean, older than the ancient Greeks, which has seen the invasion of Greeks, Assyrians, Romans and Crusaders, and is steeped in history, tradition, and culture.

That place is Cyprus. The island is so incredibly beautiful that this is the place where Aphrodite, goddess of love, was said to be born from the foam of the sea.

One of the many legends that define Cyprus is the Saint Mamus legend, a man who was persecuted for tax evasion by the Romans. 

However, as he rescued a sheep from a hungry lion that he tamed, the courts were so impressed that they freed him form the obligation to pay taxes. So, yes, Cyprus has its own Patron Saint of tax avoidance since their old Christian times. In fact, good Christians living in Cyprus are obliged to minimize their taxes in order to honor the great saint whose tomb still can be found on the island for those of us (of The Mundo Mamus society) who venerate him. 

Mundo’s country rating is essentially a freedom index whereby our team of specialists rate a combination of freedoms which include freedom from violence and personal attacks, financial freedom from high taxes, business freedom from government interference and especially from socialism and communism.

Political stability: 9

Cyprus is a stable democratic country with a center-right, pro-business government. President Nicos Anastasiades has won two consecutive elections and conducted most of the business-friendly reforms that turned Cyprus into such an attractive investment location. The country is well-known for its fully transparent legal principles based on the common law system, an inheritance of the British rule. Even as the island allows offshore companies and has a friendly tax system, it is completely harmonized with EU and international standards.

As we said before, the northern part of the island is controlled by Turkish Cypriots, which operates as an independent political entity, even though it is not recognized by any other country but Turkey. All attempts for reunification have failed thus far, but tensions are reasonably low and won’t destabilize the island or its political system. 

The leading cause of concern is the largest party in the opposition, the AKEL, which is a hard-left party that has proposed nationalizations, tax increases, and an expansion of the welfare state. However, they were in power when the financial crisis started, and the economy has risen again. That means the left doesn’t seem to be a threat in the short term.

Seeing all of what we’ve mentioned before, there are plenty of reasons to love Cyprus as an investment hub that offers enticing citizenship and residency programs for investors and incredible tax optimization and planning opportunities. 

For those who can afford it, a Cypriot residency is not a plan b, a travel document, or a lifestyle choice. It is a brand that tells you that your family has the right to belong to a country that offers unlimited intergenerational freedom and wealth protection in a society of like-minded high wealth entrepreneurs. While your yacht, your sports vehicle, or mansion can be taken away by your government, your Cypriot residency is an eternal investment for your family and your children to protect your legacy and your asset. It is an investment in your future.

Amongst the numerous benefits, applicants have the fastest processing times among the EU RBI programs. You get direct residency for a €300,000 investment that can bring significant returns considering the state of Cypriot funds and the real estate market

Seeking to stimulate the economy through investment and job creation, Cyprus offers foreign nationals an opportunity to obtain permanent residence in Cyprus through investment. This is an incredible opportunity for non-EU foreigners that wish to live in the EU. The process is quite fast, as the approvals can be granted in three months.

What is best: applicants are not required to live in Cyprus continuously before or after residency approval, there are minimum requirements conducted by banks of disclosing the source of wealth, there is no medical testing and no language requirements.

In Mundo, we believe the Cypriot RBI program is perfect for investors from all over the world. Why?

The tax system in Cyprus offers incredible opportunities for those seeking tax optimization for their personal and corporate income. It is especially attractive because it comes with full compliance with international and EU standards and around sixty double taxation treaties. 

The system comes with plenty of benefits for foreigners, with 50 % tax credits on personal income for those with incomes above €100k per year, and tax exemptions on passive income such as interest and dividends and tax exemptions on disposals of securities.

The first that we must discuss regarding the Cypriot tax system is its “non-dom” regime, introduced in 2015. In this program, tax residents’ that qualify as non-Cyprus domiciled are exempt from the SCD (Special Contribution for Defense) on their passive income (interests, dividends, and such) and unconditional tax exemptions on gains on disposals of securities for 17 years.

There are two paths towards the non-dom status in Cyprus: the 183-days rule and the 60-days rule.

Foreigners who open Cypriot structures with Cyprus bank accounts will benefit from an incredible variety of banking possibilities in Cyprus. More and more multinationals and Family offices are using Cyprus as a base for their operations and Cyprus banks are welcoming to foreign business. 

Cyprus banks offer multi-currency accounts and many other features. Some banks even take applications without the need for visiting their offices (you can get more info from our experts). Therefore, having a company and bank account in Cyprus should be part of your diversification strategy.

We are happy to announce that Mundo and NTL have partnered with some of the most recognized experts in corporate and banking solutions in Cyprus. We are offering a unique possibility through them. 

Our Cyprus package consists of the establishment of a corporate structure opening a corporate bank account in Cyprus for a preferential rate.

Why should you open a bank account for your business in Cyprus?

• One of the lowest corporate tax rates in the European Union
• Access to over 60 double taxation treaties
• Solid regulatory environment
• Compliance with international substance requirements
• Full access to the European market
• Favorable financial environment
• Reliable Limited Liability Company (LLC) and holding legislation
• Open corporate and personal bank accounts remotely 
• Affordable maintenance fees
• Protection of deposits
• Opening a bank account remotely takes less than three weeks

1. 12.5% corporate tax rate, one of the lowest in the EU. 
2. Access to over 60 double taxation treaties
3. Excellent banking options, and bank accounts can be opened remotely
4. Fully compliant with OECD substance requirements and entirely whitelisted
5. Full access to the European market with passporting rights for financial licenses
6. Wonderful tourism, real estate, shipping, gas, and agroindustrial investment possibilities
7. Friendly and transparent financial environment
8. Robust LLC legislation
9. One of the best European destinations for holding companies
10. We can help you with all main corporate services; from incorporation, headhunting, and tax planning, to branching, accounting, and auditing.

The Cyprus trust has been recognized as an asset protection haven for astute investors, as they merge the benefits of tax optimization with asset protection. Cyprus has all the benefits of many of the most enduring trust jurisdictions, including the fact that all income held by the trust is tax-free. 

The Cyprus trust is one of the most solid asset protection tools in Europe. It can only be set aside exclusively within two years, and only if it is proven that the trust was established to defraud creditors. The trust retains control for the settlor by permitting the trustee to be a PTC (private trustee company established by the settlor or his counsel).

The trust protects your assets against bankruptcy, spousal claims, government claims, applications for spousal or extramarital maintenance, inheritance, death duties, and almost all types of claims.

Apart from the legal benefits, there are the practical benefits of trust establishment in Cyprus, including the multitude of professional banks, asset managers, accountants, and lawyers all familiar with trust law. This means they can effectively and quickly assist in structuring the trust per the settlors’ wishes.

Real estate continues to be a privileged investment for any family office. There is a good reason why almost all CBI programs offer a real estate investment option. If you choose correctly, a real estate investment can provide you with a steady flow of relatively easy passive income for decades. And one of the best places to make such an investment is Cyprus.

Real estate has seen significant growth in the last few years in Cyprus. This surge in the market has two main reasons: 1) Increased trust for investors thanks to the pro-business reforms and 2) The residency and citizenship programs.

As we explained in our CBI section, investing between 2 and 2.5 million euros in residential or commercial real estate is the first step to acquiring Cypriot citizenship by investment. Likewise, there is a smaller investment program to obtain the fast-track permanent residence in Cyprus, where you must invest at least €300k to get it.

Considering the tax optimization opportunities Cyprus offers, and the fact that its passport opens the EU for those who get it, Cyprus offers an excellent program for investors. 

As usual, we only bring first-level opportunities for you. We would not bother you if we didn’t know the offer we bring to you is the absolute Cadillac of its kind. That is why we are happy to announce our partnership with an unparalleled real estate developer in Cyprus. Our partners offer tailored packages for high net worth individuals looking to apply to the Cyprus CBI and RBI programs.

We come here to offer you join our club of Smart Investment Solutions: investment packages that qualify for the Cyprus CBI and RBI programs that are tailored to diversify your investment and provide you with serious investment returns.

If you are a Family Office or have a select pool of qualified investors that wish to pool their money to invest in different asset classes with light regulation, fast set-up, low management costs, and entry into the EU, with an excellent reputation, you’re in the right place. You’re looking for a Cyprus Alternative Investment Fund (AIF).

Our appointed experts can assist you in establishing a fund, appoint a manager, and obtain registration with CySEC. We can also help you establish relations with a reputable Cypriot bank in very little time. The AIF fund is an ideal structure for project-funding due to its plethora of double taxation treaties and an excellent pool of management talent.

Cyprus has become one of the top choices for investors seeking beneficial fund solutions. The CySEC supervises the investment market, including the emerging asset management market. The robust regulatory framework has turned Cyprus into one of the most attractive jurisdictions for investors. Likewise, the country has an aptly prepared competitive workforce filled with competent service providers.

And among that talent is our experts, who are among the top financial advisors in Cyprus. We work with them in all our financial services because they have a proven track record.

Why set an alternative investment fund in Cyprus? 

Flexibility: you can divide your AIF into subfunds and transfer units between investors. This provides you with enhanced expansion and investment strategies.

Unrestricted: No restrictions on the type of investments, and your fund can be self-managed.

Low-tax: Cyprus brings you the best onshore tax optimization. A 12.5% corporate tax rate, with no capital gains or dividends tax, and more than 65 double taxation treaties.

Simplicity: Cyprus AIFs are cost-effective, quick to set up, while they are on a whitelisted, solid regulatory framework. 

Cyprus has become a first-level licensing jurisdiction in Europe. The first reason why is, clearly, its top corporate tax system (a mere 12.5%). Second, the most popular licensing jurisdiction in the EU was the UK, which means that, after Brexit, the situation has changed. Many have looked at Cyprus as the most effective way to enter the European market with a license with full passporting rights. Third, it has a reputable regulatory entity, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Comission, which is tough, but fair and transparent. Fourth, licensing processes are normally swift, transparent, and not as expensive as in other jurisdictions.

Cyprus is unrivaled for financially-oriented family offices wishing to establish their own financial businesses in Cyprus and for financial investors looking to gain entry into the European market.

The country has two Free Trade Zones: the Larnaca Free Zone and the Free Ports of Larnaca and Limassol. The businesses that operate within their areas are subject to few custom formalities and can import machinery, equipment, and raw materials wholly duty-free. Their foreign employees are liable to only 50 % of the regular income tax rates. Companies operating in the Cyprus free zones can import non-Community and Community goods into the country. Community goods are usually for export to other EU countries. Non-Community goods cannot be sold freely but are meant exclusively for sales and use in Cyprus. However, non-EU products in these zones are not subject to VAT, excise tax, or import duties.