Structure & eligibility
We agree the ownership structure, the registration type and the regime that fits the vessel — pleasure, commercial, tonnage tax, leasing or charter VAT.
Service · Yacht Registration & Administration
Cyprusflag,fullysupported.
Cyprus is one of the largest ship registers in the EU. We register yachts under the Cyprus flag, set up the owning company and administer the vessel year after year — coordinated with the Department of Merchant Shipping and led by a partner.
Six situations where we are asked to step in.
Most owners come to us at the point of purchase, the change of flag or the start of commercial operation. These are the situations we handle most often.
I’m buying a yacht and want to register her under the Cyprus flag.
End-to-end registration with the Department of Merchant Shipping — from owning entity, builder’s certificate and bill of sale to tonnage measurement and certificate of registry.
How we helpI need a Cypriot owning company for the vessel.
Incorporation of the shipping company, statutory officers, registered office and the bank account — structured to keep the ownership chain clean for charter and resale.
How we helpI want to put my vessel under the EU yacht leasing VAT scheme.
VAT advice and the leasing structure that anchors the vessel inside the EU, with the documentation banks, marinas and tax authorities expect.
How we helpI’m chartering the yacht commercially in EU waters.
Commercial registration, charter VAT compliance and the operating company set-up needed before the first paying charter.
How we helpI need a temporary registration so the yacht can sail now.
Provisional registration issued at a Cypriot consulate worldwide — she sails under the Cyprus flag while the permanent file is completed in the background.
How we helpI want ongoing administration without managing it myself.
Annual renewals, statutory filings, crew agreements, mortgage registrations and the day-to-day administration that keeps the registration in good standing.
How we help
Scope of work
Four engagements, each with concrete deliverables.
Select an engagement to see what is included, what you receive and how the work is delivered.
Provisional, permanent and parallel registration of pleasure and commercial yachts — coordinated with the Department of Merchant Shipping and the consular network where needed.
What you receive
- Provisional certificate of registry
- Permanent registration & carving note
- Tonnage measurement coordination
- Mortgage & encumbrance registration
Registration types
Three ways to fly the Cyprus flag.
The Department of Merchant Shipping offers three registration routes. We choose the one that fits the closing timeline, the finance structure and how the vessel will actually be used.
Provisional registration
Sail under the Cyprus flag from day one.
- Issued at any Cypriot consulate worldwide
- Full Cyprus-flag status from issuance
- Mortgage can be registered against the vessel
- Bridges to permanent registration
Permanent registration
The long-term Cyprus flag status.
- Certificate of Cyprus registry
- Carving & marking note completed
- Tonnage tax regime available
- Eligible for commercial charter operations
Parallel registration
Two flags at once, by agreement.
- Parallel-in (Cyprus flag, foreign title)
- Parallel-out (foreign flag, Cyprus title)
- Maintains mortgage on the underlying register
- Subject to bilateral compatibility
A credible EU flag with a regime built for owners.
Cyprus runs one of the largest ship registers in the world and the third-largest in the EU. The flag is recognised, white-listed and supported by a tonnage tax regime approved by the European Commission — with a consular network that keeps the vessel moving from day one.
- 0111thLargest worldwideOne of the most established ship registers globally and the third largest in the EU
- 02EUMember-state flagFull EU recognition, free movement within EU waters and access to internal-market protections
- 032029Tonnage tax approvedEU-approved tonnage tax regime in force, with the current approval extending through 2029
- 0467+Tax treatiesExtensive double-tax treaty network supporting cross-border ownership and charter income
Owner advantages
- White-listed on the Paris & Tokyo MoUs
- EU yacht leasing VAT scheme available
- Bareboat parallel registration both ways
- Mortgage protections under English-law tradition
- 24/7 consular network for provisional registration
- No nationality restriction on crew composition
How we work
A partner-led path from structure to ongoing administration.
Company & documents
We incorporate the Cypriot owning company, open the bank account and assemble the title chain, builder’s certificate and class documentation the registry needs.
Registration filings
We file with the Department of Merchant Shipping, coordinate tonnage measurement and the carving and marking note, and register mortgages where applicable.
Operations & renewals
We administer the vessel and the company — tonnage tax returns, annual renewals, crew agreements, charter VAT and the correspondence with authorities and class.
Who it’s for
Built for owners, operators, financiers and family offices.
Private yacht owners
Individual and family owners of pleasure yachts seeking a credible EU flag with a clear ownership structure and predictable annual cost.
Commercial operators
Charter operators and managers running commercial fleets in EU waters — needing tonnage tax, charter VAT and a fully serviced owning company.
Finance & leasing parties
Banks, lessors and finance houses securing mortgages and parallel-registration arrangements over Cyprus-flagged vessels.
International family offices
Family offices and trustees holding yachts inside broader corporate structures — with the tax, VAT and compliance coordinated through one team.
Standards
Regulated, accredited, internationally connected.
ICAEWInternationally recognised body for chartered accountants — credentials underpinning the firm’s tax and corporate work.
ACCAGlobal professional body for accountants — our partners and senior team hold ACCA and FCCA credentials.
ICPACThe competent authority licensing accounting and advisory practice in Cyprus. A.T.N. & Partners is a fully licensed ICPAC member firm.
Russell Bedford InternationalMember firm since 2017 — coordinated cross-border maritime, tax and corporate work through 700 partners and 300 offices in more than 100 countries.
Engage
Tell us about the vessel, and we will quote the whole engagement.
One brief on the yacht, the closing date and how she will be used, and a partner will reply within one business day with scope, fee and the named team that will run the file.
RegistrationProvisional · Permanent · Parallel-in · Parallel-out
RegimesTonnage tax · EU yacht leasing VAT · Charter VAT
Coordinates withDepartment of Merchant Shipping · Class societies
OfficeNavarino Business Centre, 18 Navarinou Street, Nicosia
Request a proposalProfessional resources
For financial reporting standards and Cyprus professional guidance, consult the IFRS Foundation and ICPAC. These sources provide general context; contact our team for advice on your circumstances.