Debt Collection Agency in Cyprus: No Win, No Fee
Need a debt collection agency in Cyprus? Your case is handled by Marilou Pavlou Christodoulides LLC, our licensed local partner in Cyprus, regulated by the Cyprus Bar Association since 2016 and recognized by Legal 500. No recovery, no fee.
Questions about your case?
Write to us, we reply by email.
Why choose Debitura for debt collection in Cyprus
Get started in three simple steps
- Upload your claim: submit your unpaid invoice in the dashboard. It takes less than 2 minutes.
- Your local partner takes action: Marilou Pavlou Christodoulides LLC contacts your debtor in Greek or English, using proven negotiation methods.
- You get paid: track progress in real time and pay only when funds are recovered.
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Transparent, success-based pricing
With Debitura you only pay when we succeed. Pre-legal collection is No Cure, No Pay: a success fee deducted from recovered amounts, invoiced locally by your partner. Fees depend on the debtor's country, not yours.
- Debtors in Europe (EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, the UK and Switzerland): success fees from 6% depending on claim size.
- Debtors in the rest of the world: success fees from 7.5% depending on claim size.
- Older claims: a surcharge applies for claims 12–24 months overdue and for claims older than 24 months.
- Legal action is optional: you approve a legal quote, with court costs stated separately, before any legal spend.
See the pricing page for the full fee schedule, or get an instant estimate when you upload a claim.
How does debt collection work in Cyprus?
Debt collection in Cyprus starts with an amicable phase handled locally by Marilou Pavlou Christodoulides LLC: reminders and a formal payment demand, aimed at full payment or a written instalment agreement. Most straightforward claims are resolved at this stage. If the debtor still does not pay, escalation is never automatic, your partner assesses the legal route and you approve a quote before any court step.
- Submit your claim in 2 minutes
- Your local partner takes the first action
- No Cure, No Pay: pay only if we recover
- You stay in control at every step
- Get paid directly once funds are recovered
The four steps from unpaid invoice to recovered cash
- Amicable collection: reminders, a formal payment demand and negotiation, handled locally by Marilou Pavlou Christodoulides LLC. Most undisputed claims are resolved in this phase, without going to court.
- Enforceable title: if the debtor still does not pay, your partner assesses the legal route to obtain an enforceable title and you approve a legal quote, with court costs stated separately, before anything proceeds.
- Enforcement: with a legal title, the competent enforcement authority can attach wages, bank funds and other assets until the claim is recovered.
- Insolvency: if the debtor turns out to be insolvent, your proof of claim is filed and any distributions are monitored on your behalf.
Every step is tracked in your dashboard, and nothing escalates without your approval. The full legal detail for Cyprus, timelines, costs, courts and enforcement, follows in the guide below.
Debt collection in Cyprus - the complete 2026 guide
This guide covers Debt Collection Cyprus end to end: the amicable process, the courts and laws that apply, enforcement after judgment, insolvency, and cross-border recognition of foreign judgments. Read it alongside Debitura's service to understand each stage before your case moves forward.
On this page:
Why you can trust this guide
Written from primary legal sources and reviewed by licensed local experts in this jurisdiction.
Questions or feedback? Email us at contact@debitura.com , we update this guide based on your input.
Debitura By the Numbers:
- 180 countries covered - each case handled by a local partner
- More than 5,000 businesses registered with Debitura
- 33 days median time to first payment on European cases
About the author
Written by Lars Holdgaard, Founder of Debitura (+10 years in global B2B debt recovery).
Contributing local experts:
Last updated:
Debt collection in Cyprus - quick answers
How much does debt collection cost in Cyprus?
Court fees for civil claims in Cyprus follow a value and type-based scale approved by the Supreme Court, paid when the claim is filed; the European Small Claims Procedure application itself carries no court fee. Advocates, Cyprus does not distinguish solicitors from barristers, charge fees on a Supreme-Court-approved scale plus 15% VAT where the advocate is VAT-registered. The losing party generally pays the winning party's costs, though this is at the court's discretion, and there is no civil legal aid in Cyprus.
What is the statute of limitations on debt in Cyprus?
Contract claims and most tort claims are time-barred after 6 years under the Limitation of Actionable Rights Law 2012 (Law 66(I)/2012), with a shorter 3-year period for professional-service contracts and for negligence, nuisance or breach of statutory duty. Claims on a mortgage or pledge, including foreclosure, run for 12 years, and a 10-year period applies to claims not otherwise listed. The clock resets on a written acknowledgment of the debt, a payment of 50% or more of the amount owed, the filing of a suit, or the start of arbitration, and a court may extend a limitation period by up to 2 years where it considers it equitable.
| Claim type | Limitation period |
|---|---|
| Contract, or tort (general) | 6 years |
| Professional-service contract, or negligence/nuisance/breach of statutory duty | 3 years |
| Mortgage or pledge (incl. foreclosure) | 12 years |
| General/residual claims | 10 years |
What interest can I charge on an unpaid debt in Cyprus?
Cyprus has no general statutory interest rate for civil debts. Where the law or a contract does not fix a rate, a court can order interest at a rate fixed by special order of the Minister of Finance, currently 2%, running from the date the claim is filed to the date judgment is issued. As of the last official update to this rate (19 February 2024), no more recent confirmation of the 2% figure was available, so creditors should verify the current rate before relying on it.
Which court handles a debt claim in Cyprus?
Claims of up to €10,000 follow the small-claims track, and claims above €10,000 follow the ordinary track, both under Part 28 of the 2023 Civil Procedure Rules (in force since 1 September 2023). Both tracks are heard by Cyprus's 5 District Courts (Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos and Famagusta); a Commercial Court and an Admiralty Court exist in law but were not yet operational as of the European Commission's 2024 Rule of Law Report.
What happens if my Cyprus debtor becomes insolvent?
A company debtor can be put into compulsory winding-up once a statutory demand for a debt over €5,000 goes unpaid, with winding-up costs, employee claims and taxes ranking ahead of general creditors. An individual debtor can be made bankrupt once unsecured debts exceed €15,000, for a €500 petition fee, and is automatically discharged 3 years after the bankruptcy order (repeat bankruptcy within 6 years bars a further discharge).
What documents do I need to start a Cyprus debt claim?
Court and procedural documents in Cyprus are served in person by a bailiff unless the court permits another method. Beyond the claim documents themselves, the invoice, contract or acknowledgment of debt, and any correspondence with the debtor, the 2023 Civil Procedure Rules introduced a general duty to attempt a reasonable pre-action exchange with the debtor before filing, though the specific content of that exchange has not been separately confirmed for this guide.
Who does what in Cyprus debt collection?
Four types of actor handle a Cyprus debt claim: the District Courts that hear the case, a Commercial Court and Admiralty Court that exist in law but are not yet operational, advocates who represent creditors, and the court bailiffs and Land Registry who carry out enforcement.
The District Courts
Cyprus's 5 District Courts, sitting in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos and Famagusta, are the first-instance civil courts for debt claims, hearing both the small-claims and ordinary tracks under Part 28 of the 2023 Civil Procedure Rules. Appeals from a District Court go to the Supreme Court.
The Commercial Court and Admiralty Court (not yet operational)
Law 62(I)/2002 established a specialised Commercial Court and Admiralty Court, but as of the European Commission's 2024 Rule of Law Report, no judges had been appointed to either court and neither was hearing cases. Commercial debt claims in Cyprus therefore still go through the ordinary District Court system.
Advocates (Cyprus Bar Association)
Cyprus does not distinguish solicitors from barristers: a single advocate qualification, regulated by the Cyprus Bar Association, covers advice, drafting and court representation. Advocates charge fees on a Supreme-Court-approved scale plus 15% VAT where registered. Debitura's local partner, Marilou Pavlou Christodoulides LLC, is regulated by the Cyprus Bar Association and handles both the amicable and the court-based stages of a claim.
Court bailiffs and the Land Registry
Once a creditor holds an enforceable judgment, court bailiffs carry out seizure and sale of movable assets, garnishment orders and earnings-deduction orders, while the Land Registry records any charge or sale of immovable property. Enforcement measures are valid for 6 months and a judgment remains enforceable for 6 years, renewable.
Which laws and courts apply to debt collection in Cyprus?
The civil-court system
Cyprus's 5 District Courts, sitting in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos and Famagusta, are the first-instance courts for debt claims of every size: both the small-claims track (claims up to €10,000) and the ordinary track (claims above €10,000) under Part 28 of the 2023 Civil Procedure Rules are heard there. The Supreme Court of Cyprus sits above the District Courts and hears appeals from their decisions, including appeals from the European Small Claims Procedure. Law 62(I)/2002 also established a specialised Commercial Court and an Admiralty Court intended to take complex commercial and shipping disputes out of the general District Court caseload, but as of the European Commission's 2024 Rule of Law Report neither court had been staffed with judges, so commercial debt claims in Cyprus continue to be filed and heard through the ordinary District Courts.
Key legislation
The Limitation of Actionable Rights Law 2012 (Law 66(I)/2012) sets the time limits for bringing a claim: 6 years for contract and most tort claims, a shorter 3 years for professional-service contracts and for negligence, nuisance or breach of statutory duty, 12 years for mortgage or pledge claims including foreclosure, and a residual 10 years for claims not otherwise listed. The limitation clock resets on a written acknowledgment of the debt, a payment of 50% or more of the amount owed, the filing of a suit, or the start of arbitration, and a court may extend a limitation period by up to 2 years where it considers this equitable. Civil procedure itself is governed by the 2023 Civil Procedure Rules (in force since 1 September 2023), a wholesale reform of Cyprus's litigation process whose Part 28 sets the €10,000 threshold between the small-claims and ordinary tracks.
Data protection
As an EU member state, Cyprus applies the General Data Protection Regulation to any personal data handled during a collection case, including correspondence with the debtor and any information shared with the court or an enforcement officer. A dedicated Cyprus statute regulating debt-collection conduct specifically, separate from the general rules in the Advocates Law and the GDPR, has not been separately confirmed for this guide.
Step 1 - How does amicable (pre-legal) debt collection work in Cyprus?
Amicable collection in Cyprus starts with Marilou Pavlou Christodoulides LLC, Debitura's licensed local partner, contacting the debtor directly on your behalf: a payment reminder, then a formal written demand, aimed at either full payment or a written instalment agreement the debtor can realistically keep. Cyprus's 2023 Civil Procedure Rules impose a general duty to attempt a reasonable pre-action exchange with the debtor before any court filing, though the specific letter-of-claim requirements of that duty have not been separately confirmed for this guide. Most straightforward, undisputed claims are resolved at this stage without ever going to court, which keeps costs down and preserves the business relationship where that still matters to you.
| Typical stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day 0 | Claim submitted; partner reviews the debtor and documents. |
| Day 1-14 | First payment reminder sent to the debtor. |
| Day 14-45 | Formal written payment demand and pre-action exchange. |
| Day 45-90 | Negotiation of full payment or an instalment agreement. |
| After Day 90 | If unresolved, the partner assesses the court route and you approve a quote. |
When to escalate
Escalation to court is considered, and always approved by you first, when the debtor stops responding to reminders, repeatedly breaks a repayment agreement it already signed, or disputes the claim outright rather than simply delaying payment. Your partner reviews the debtor's known assets and the strength of your documentation before recommending a court filing, so you approve a quote with a realistic view of the likely outcome.
Step 2 - How do you obtain an enforceable title in Cyprus?
Claims up to €10,000 follow the small-claims track and claims above €10,000 follow the ordinary track, both under Part 28 of the 2023 Civil Procedure Rules in force since 1 September 2023. The small-claims track uses simplified procedure, streamlined pleadings and shorter timelines designed for straightforward, lower-value disputes. The ordinary track allows for fuller pleadings, disclosure of evidence and, where the debtor genuinely disputes the claim, a full trial, and given this added complexity it is the track where legal representation matters most. Both tracks are heard by Cyprus's 5 District Courts, and an undefended claim under either track can generally proceed to judgment faster than one where the debtor files a defence.
Court and advocate costs
Court fees follow a value and type-based scale approved by the Supreme Court rather than a single flat fee for every claim; the exact euro amounts on that scale have not been separately confirmed for this guide, so creditors should request a current fee estimate before filing. Advocate fees run on a separate Supreme-Court-approved scale plus 15% VAT where the advocate is VAT-registered, again value and complexity-based rather than fixed. The losing party generally pays the winning party's costs, at the court's discretion, which shifts most of the financial risk of a well-founded claim onto the debtor, and Cyprus has no civil legal aid for these commercial proceedings.
More on court proceedings in Cyprus
The Commercial and Admiralty Courts
Law 62(I)/2002 created a specialised Commercial Court and Admiralty Court intended to take complex commercial and shipping-related disputes out of the ordinary District Court system and give them dedicated, specialist judges. As of the European Commission's 2024 Rule of Law Report, however, neither court had judges appointed and neither was operational, so commercial debt claims in Cyprus, however large or complex, are still filed and heard through the ordinary District Courts alongside every other civil claim.
Step 3 - How does debt enforcement work in Cyprus?
Once a judgment is final, Cyprus offers several enforcement instruments a creditor can apply for: a warrant of seizure and sale of the debtor's movable assets, a garnishment (third-party debt) order against a bank or other party holding the debtor's funds, an earnings-deduction order against the debtor's wages, and the sale of or a charge on the debtor's immovable property. Where the debtor has no seizable assets right now, an instalment order can convert the judgment into scheduled payments the debtor can keep to, and bankruptcy or dissolution proceedings remain available as a last resort where the debtor is genuinely unable to pay.
Who carries out enforcement
Court bailiffs execute seizure, sale and garnishment orders on the creditor's application, while the Land Registry records any charge on, or forced sale of, immovable property. Enforcement measures are valid for 6 months once granted, so a creditor whose first attempt does not fully satisfy the debt can apply again within that window or seek a fresh order. The underlying judgment itself remains enforceable for 6 years from the date it was given, and this period is renewable, so a debtor with no assets today does not escape the debt permanently.
Choosing the right instrument
The right enforcement route depends on what the debtor actually owns: bank funds and receivables point to garnishment, a salaried debtor points to an earnings-deduction order, and real estate points to a charge or forced sale through the Land Registry. Marilou Pavlou Christodoulides LLC assesses the debtor's known assets, and how quickly each instrument can realistically be executed, before recommending the instrument most likely to recover the debt, so enforcement effort is not wasted on an order the debtor has nothing to satisfy. Multiple instruments can be combined where the debtor holds several types of asset, for example a garnishment order against a bank account alongside a charge on a property, and the choice is made on the creditor's application rather than happening automatically once judgment is granted.
Step 4 - How do insolvency procedures affect debt recovery in Cyprus?
When a Cyprus debtor cannot pay even after a judgment, or is clearly insolvent before you get that far, insolvency proceedings replace individual enforcement with a collective process. Cyprus runs two separate regimes, compulsory winding-up for company debtors and personal bankruptcy for individual debtors, and which one applies depends entirely on whether your debtor is a company or a person.
Compulsory winding-up (company debtors)
A Cyprus company debtor can be put into compulsory winding-up once a statutory demand for a debt over €5,000 goes unpaid and remains unpaid. Winding-up proceedings rank claims in a fixed order of priority: winding-up costs are paid first, then employee claims, then taxes owed to the state, and only then do general unsecured creditors, the position most Debitura clients hold, share pari passu (in proportion to their claims) from whatever assets remain. A compulsory winding-up runs for a maximum of 18 months from start to finish.
Personal bankruptcy (individual debtors)
An individual debtor can be made bankrupt once unsecured debts exceed €15,000. A creditor, or the debtor personally, files a bankruptcy petition for a €500 fee, and once the bankruptcy order is made the debtor is automatically discharged from bankruptcy 3 years later. A debtor who has already gone through bankruptcy within the previous 6 years is barred from a further automatic discharge, a useful check against a debtor using repeat bankruptcy to avoid paying at all.
What this means for creditors
Once winding-up or bankruptcy proceedings begin, individual enforcement action against the debtor's assets generally stops, and creditors instead lodge a proof of claim in the insolvency process to be paid according to the priority order above rather than by racing other creditors to seize assets first. General unsecured creditors are paid only after winding-up costs, employee claims and tax claims are settled in full, so recovery through insolvency is typically partial, and slower, than recovery through direct enforcement against a solvent debtor. Debitura tracks the insolvency process on your behalf and files the proof of claim within whatever deadline the appointed liquidator or trustee sets. A debt below these thresholds, under €5,000 for a company or under €15,000 for an individual, cannot be pursued through insolvency at all; ordinary enforcement under Step 3 remains the correct route for smaller claims.
Fees, interest and who pays what in Cyprus
- Our fee: success-based, No Cure No Pay (see pricing).
- Court and enforcement fees: Cyprus state fees apply only if your case escalates to court or enforcement.
- Statutory interest: Cyprus has no general statutory rate; a court can order interest at the Minister of Finance's special-order rate, currently 2%, last officially confirmed on 19 February 2024, so re-check the current figure before relying on it.
- Who keeps what: the recovered principal is yours; statutory interest and any recoverable costs follow the rules below.
| Cost item | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Debitura's success fee | Deducted from the amount recovered; nothing if we do not recover |
| Court filing fees | Value and type-based Supreme Court scale, only if the case is filed |
| Advocate fees | Supreme-Court-approved scale plus 15% VAT, generally paid by the losing party at the court's discretion |
| Statutory interest | Court-ordered at the Minister of Finance's special rate, currently 2% |
Cross-border debt collection in Cyprus
Creditors pursuing a claim against a Cyprus debtor from another EU member state can use the European Small Claims Procedure for claims up to €5,000, excluding expenses. There is no court fee for filing the Small Claims application in Cyprus, the claim is heard by one of Cyprus's 5 District Courts, and an appeal against the first-instance decision must be lodged with the Supreme Court within 14 days.
Because Cyprus is an EU member state, a judgment obtained in another EU member state is automatically recognised and enforceable in Cyprus under the Brussels I Recast Regulation, with no separate exequatur (declaration of enforceability) procedure required. The reverse also applies: a Cyprus judgment is automatically enforceable across the rest of the EU.
Partners in our network
These firms are partners in our network for this country. Open a profile to learn more about each one. If court action is needed on your case, your partner sends a quote on the platform; nothing starts until you accept it.
- Verified specialists
- Nothing starts until you accept the quote
- Fair, pre-negotiated rates
Efstathios C. Efstathiou LLC is a premier law firm in Nicosia offering effective Debt Collection services in Cyprus, established in 1961, and recognized for its membership in the Cyprus Bar Association and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.
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Lazarou & Antoniou Law Firm is a premier law firm in Kiti offering effective Debt Collection services in Cyprus, established in 2017, with over 600 successful cases, and is a member of the Cyprus Bar Association and Lawyers in Cyprus network.
Andria Papageorgiou Law Firm is a premier law firm in Limassol offering effective Debt Collection services in Cyprus, recognized as an Outstanding Law Firm in Europe and Cyprus, and a member of the Cyprus Bar Association since 2020.
A. FASARIA LLC is a premier law firm in Paphos offering effective Debt Collection services in Cyprus, recognized for its expertise since 2019, serving clients across the UK, Israel, Europe, and the Middle East, and a proud member of the Cyprus Bar Association.
Lyudvig Davtyan Law Office is a premier law firm in Yerevan offering effective Debt Collection services in Armenia, established in 2012, recognized for its accolades and memberships, and serving clients across 25 countries with a client-focused, technology-driven approach.
Myrianthous Law Firm is a premier law firm in Nicosia offering effective Debt Collection services in Cyprus, positioning itself as the go-to partner for debt recovery since 2001, with accolades and memberships in Cyprus Bar Association and The Lawyer Network, serving multiple international jurisdictions.
C. MAVROCOSTAS & Co. LLC is a premier law firm in Strovolos offering effective Debt Collection services in Cyprus, established in 2018 and renowned for its membership in the Cyprus Bar Association and the World Law Alliance, ensuring international standards in debt recovery.
Y. Vasiliou & Co LLC is a premier law firm in Larnaca offering effective Debt Collection services in Cyprus, recognized for its rapid growth since 2018, and distinguished by awards such as Leaders in Law 2022 and memberships in ICLA and the Cyprus Bar Association.
Marilou Pavlou Christodoulides LLC is a premier law firm in Cyprus offering effective debt collection services, positioning the firm as the go-to partner for debt recovery with accolades from Legal 500 and IFLR, serving Cyprus, the UK, and EU countries; as a Debitura partner in Cyprus, they provide No Cure No Pay debt collection based on Debitura's No Cure, No Pay standard terms and pricing.
AVZ Law Office is an independent Cyprus law firm based in Nicosia, assisting domestic and international creditors with commercial debt recovery, settlement negotiations, court proceedings and enforcement in Cyprus. The firm provides direct lawyer-led case management from the initial assessment through to recovery.
AVZ Law Office is an independent Cyprus law firm based in Nicosia, assisting domestic and international creditors with commercial debt recovery, settlement negotiations, court proceedings and enforcement in Cyprus. The firm provides direct lawyer-led case management from the initial assessment through to recovery.
AVZ Law Office is an independent Cyprus law firm based in Nicosia, assisting domestic and international creditors with commercial debt recovery, settlement negotiations, court proceedings and enforcement in Cyprus. The firm provides direct lawyer-led case management from the initial assessment through to recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore our most common FAQs below, or reach out directly at contact@debitura.com if you need help with a specific case.
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