Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) authorisation (Cyprus)
The Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) authorisation is issued by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) under The Alternative Investment Fund Managers Law of 2013 (Law 56(I)/2013). It can be passported to the other EU/EEA states by notification. The official register lists 45 current holders. The legal decision period is 3 months from submission of a complete application, extendable by an additional 3 months where deemed necessary. Ownership changes need the regulator's approval before completion.
At a glance
| Official name | Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) authorisation1 |
|---|---|
| Issued by | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission |
| Jurisdiction | Cyprus |
| Licence family | Fund manager |
| Legal basis | The Alternative Investment Fund Managers Law of 2013 (Law 56(I)/2013)2 The Open-Ended Undertakings for Collective Investment (UCI) Law of 2012 (Law 78(I)/2012)2 Directive 2011/61/EU on Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFMD)3 |
| Passporting | EU/EEA passport available |
| Statutory decision time | 3 months from submission of a complete application, extendable by an additional 3 months where deemed necessary3 |
| Public register | official register1 |
| Current holders | 451 |
What it lets you do
- Managing alternative investment funds. Performing portfolio management and risk management for funds that are not UCITS, such as hedge, private equity and real estate funds.
Where it is valid
How long it takes
Statutory: 3 months from submission of a complete application, extendable by an additional 3 months where deemed necessary3. Observed: not published. The statutory clock usually starts only when the regulator treats the application as complete, and pauses while it waits for answers to its questions.
Buying a company that already holds it
Prior notification with an objection period. Any natural or legal person proposing to acquire or increase, directly or indirectly, a qualifying holding reaching or crossing 10%, 20%, 30%, or 50% in a CIF, AIFM, or CASP, or to achieve control making it a subsidiary, must submit prior written notification to CySEC under Sections 12 and 13 of Law 87(I)/2017 and MiCA Article 83. CySEC acknowledges receipt within two working days and has a statutory assessment period of 60 working days to oppose the acquisition based on reputation, financial soundness, AML risks, and fit-and-proper criteria. The assessment period may be interrupted once by up to 20 working days (or 30 working days for non-EU entities) to request additional information. If CySEC does not object in writing before expiry, the transaction is deemed approved. Closing without CySEC non-opposition suspends voting rights and risks statutory penalties.4
Laws behind it
- Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive: Directive 2011/61/EU
- UCITS Directive: Directive 2009/65/EC
- European Crowdfunding Service Providers Regulation: Regulation (EU) 2020/1503
Sources
- cysec.gov.cy: authorised aifm · retrieved 2026-09-24
- cysec.gov.cy: collective investment · retrieved 2026-09-24
- eur-lex.europa.eu: HTML (32011L0061) · retrieved 2026-09-24
- cylaw.org: full · secondary · retrieved 2026-09-24
Want the FM licence in Cyprus?
Tell us your business model and target markets. We check the fit before you spend on an application, then handle the licence end to end.
A free preliminary assessment: we check your business model against the licence before you spend on an application. We handle this licence and any other fintech licence, including jurisdictions the Atlas does not cover yet.