How long does Cyprus company name approval take?

Standard examination normally takes a few working days, and an accelerated examination is available for an additional Registrar fee.

How long is an approved name reserved?

An approved name is held for a limited period, during which the incorporation documents must be filed. If they are not, the name is released and must be re-applied for.

Can I check whether a company name is already taken in Cyprus?

Yes. Search the register by name here — if an identical or very similar name is already registered, the Registrar is likely to refuse your application.

Cyprus Company Name Approval

Before a Cyprus company can be incorporated, its proposed name must be approved by the Department of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property. Approval is a separate step from incorporation and is the most common cause of delay when setting up.

How approval works

You submit the proposed name to the Registrar, which checks it against the existing register and its naming rules and either approves or refuses it. An approved name is reserved for a limited period, within which the incorporation documents must be filed. Submitting two or three alternatives in order of preference is standard practice.

Names the Registrar refuses

Refusal usually comes down to one of a small number of grounds.

Identical or confusingly similar to a name already on the register
Misleading as to the company's activities, size or status
Words implying state, royal or regulatory connection without consent
Regulated terms such as bank, insurance or trustee without a licence
Names considered offensive or contrary to public policy

Checking a name before you apply

Search the register first. If a close match already exists, the Registrar is likely to refuse. Browsing the words that recur most across the register also helps — a name built from very common terms is far more likely to collide than a distinctive one.

After approval

Once the name is approved, the incorporation documents are filed within the reservation period. Approval of a name is not a trade mark and does not by itself give rights against a similar brand.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Cyprus company name approval take?: Standard examination normally takes a few working days, and an accelerated examination is available for an additional Registrar fee.
How long is an approved name reserved?: An approved name is held for a limited period, during which the incorporation documents must be filed. If they are not, the name is released and must be re-applied for.
Can I check whether a company name is already taken in Cyprus?: Yes. Search the register by name here — if an identical or very similar name is already registered, the Registrar is likely to refuse your application.