What is in a Cyprus company file? Every ΗΕ form explained
The Registrar of Companies keeps a file for every Cyprus company. It holds everything the company has filed since incorporation, as scanned documents. Here is what you will find in it and how to read it.
Two parts: the report and the filings
The company report is the registry's summary of the company as it stands: name, number, status, registration date, registered office, current and previous directors and secretary, shareholders and share capital, and registered charges. ESearchCy captures it in both Greek and English.
The filings are the documents themselves, scanned as submitted, each with a form code and a filing date. These are the evidence behind the report, and the only source for the history.
The forms you will see
| Code | Document | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| HE44 | Certificate of incorporation (Πιστοποιητικό Συστάσεως) | The company's date of incorporation and original registered name |
| XI00 | Memorandum and articles of association (Ιδρυτικό και Καταστατικό) | The company's constitution: objects, share capital, rules on shares, directors and meetings |
| HE1 | Declaration of compliance on incorporation | Confirmation that incorporation requirements were met |
| HE2 | Registered office | The registered address, and every change of it |
| HE3 | First directors and secretary | Who ran the company from day one |
| HE4 | Change of directors or secretary | Appointments, resignations and changes of details, with dates |
| HE12 | Return of allotment of shares | New shares issued, to whom and for what |
| HE14 | Increase of authorised share capital | When the company raised its authorised capital |
| HE57 | Transfer of shares | Shares moving between shareholders |
| HE24 | Registration of a charge or mortgage | Security the company gave a lender, and over what |
| HE50 | Certificate of registration of a charge | The Registrar's confirmation that a charge was registered |
| HE28 | Declaration of satisfaction of a charge | That a secured debt was repaid or released |
| HE32 | Annual return (Ετήσια Έκθεση) | A yearly snapshot of officers, members and share capital |
| XACC | Financial statements | The filed accounts for each year |
| XR00 | Resolutions | Shareholder decisions, such as a change of name or of the articles |
| XL00 | Letters | Correspondence with the Registrar |
Searching is free and needs no account. A complete company file costs €20 (the Registrar's €10 fee + €10 to ESearchCy) — and your first credit is free.
Tips for reading a file
- Go by date. Each filing carries the date it was registered. Sorting by date turns the file into a timeline of the company's life.
- Start with the latest HE32. It gives you the most recent full picture of officers and members. Then work backwards.
- Expect Greek. Most filings are in Greek, the official language of the registry. Foreign names usually appear in Latin characters.
- Check for gaps. Missing annual returns or accounts for some years are a signal in themselves.
What a file is not
The documents are copies of what the Registrar holds, for information and due diligence. They are not certified copies. If a court, bank or foreign authority needs a certified copy or an official certificate (for example of directors, shareholders or registered office), it must be issued by the Registrar.
Some very old filings were never scanned by the Registrar, so nobody can supply them online. Every ESearchCy delivery includes a report listing exactly what the registry held and what was downloaded, so you know if anything is missing.
Frequently asked questions
What is an HE32 in Cyprus?
The HE32 is the annual return that every Cyprus company files with the Registrar of Companies. It lists the directors, secretary, shareholders and share capital at its date, and is filed together with the financial statements.
What is the HE44 certificate?
The HE44 is the certificate of incorporation issued by the Registrar when a Cyprus company is formed. It shows the company's name, registration number and date of incorporation.
Are the documents in a company file certified?
No. They are copies of the documents as the Registrar holds them. Certified copies and official certificates are issued only by the Registrar of Companies.
In what language are the documents?
The registry company report is available in Greek and English. The scanned filings are in the language they were filed in, mostly Greek.
Searching is free and needs no account. A complete company file costs €20 (the Registrar's €10 fee + €10 to ESearchCy) — and your first credit is free.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Registry records can be incomplete or out of date — see our Disclaimer.