Cyprus and the Netherlands at a glance
- Stamp
- Apostille, Hague Convention in force for Cyprus since 30 April 1973
- Issued by
- Ministry of Justice and Public Order, Apostille Certification Department (Nicosia and Limassol), also at Citizen Service Centres
- Language
- English, accepted as it is
- Register
- Department of the Registrar of Companies (online)
- Tax treaty
- Signed 2021, in force 2023 (Rijksoverheid, 1 October 2026)
- EU trade
- EU single market and customs union
- In the Netherlands
- 95 companies controlled from Cyprus in 2024, 50 in 2021 (+90%), about 2,000 jobs, €707 million turnover (CBS, 9 October 2026)
- Moving here
- EU free movement
Documents from Cyprus
Passport copy, certified by a notary in Cyprus.
Proof of address in Cyprus, at most three months old.
Power of attorney. Sign the power of attorney before a Cypriot certifying officer (appointed by the Ministry of Interior). Then have the officer’s signature certified by the District Officer. Only then does the Ministry of Justice apostille it.
Ownership statement, one page from us.
The apostille. Ministry of Justice and Public Order, Apostille Certification Department (Nicosia and Limassol), also at Citizen Service Centres. The apostille is usually ready within one working day.
Official page: https://www.gov.cy/mjpo/en/justice-sector/apostille/
Good to know. Cyprus lacks notaries in the continental sense. A certifying officer and the District Officer replace the notary step. Most refusals happen because the District Officer step was skipped. A copy of the articles needs a sworn affidavit before it can be apostilled.
If a company from Cyprus becomes a shareholder
Register extract, at most three months old: Department of the Registrar of Companies. Order the certificates of incorporation, directors and secretary, shareholders and registered office. The Ministry of Justice apostilles these directly. Plus articles, signing authority and ownership chart.
Cyprus: business register and trade
The Department of the Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property, a state agency attached to the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry, keeps the Cypriot business register. It covers all organisations registered since 1923 and was digitised in 2013.
The name, registration date, type, status, registered office, directors and secretary of an organisation are free to view, with a preview of registered documents. Searches use the name or registration number.
A full search of an organisation's electronic file costs €10. Certificates and certified copies cost a fee and are available online, in person, by post or by email.
Provisional figures for 2025 show goods exports from the Netherlands to Cyprus of €756 million and imports from Cyprus of €75 million.
Your next step from Cyprus
Get free first advice Your own document list · How a Dutch BV is set up