In Cyprus, a gym open to the public needs an operating licence from the Cyprus Sport Organisation (CSO, ΚΟΑ), renewed every year, plus a business premises licence from the municipality. The right to use sports facilities is taxed at only 5% VAT. Cyprus also has some of the strictest camera rules for gyms in Europe: no cameras where people exercise. Customers pay by card or Apple Pay. Sparekey costs €990 for setup and €26 a month for Operations.
The CSO licence: ask first
The licence rules date from 1995 and were written for gyms with trainers on staff. They require a director and trainers listed in the CSO register. They do not say how they apply to a room rented by the hour without staff, so write to the CSO ([email protected]) before you sign a lease. If the licence applies, the application needs:
- a building permit for sports use (a shop or office permit is not enough)
- a fire-safety letter from the Fire Service and an electrical installation certificate
- a hygiene certificate
- a staff list with police certificates
- where relevant, a safety certificate for fixed equipment
The fees are €20 plus €200 for the first discipline. The CSO decides within three months, and the licence expires each 31 December. You can send drawings to the CSO’s technical department for a preliminary view before applying for planning permission.
Registration and VAT
You can register as self-employed at the Social Insurance office, which is quicker, or incorporate a Ltd through a Cypriot lawyer. Every business registers in the Tax Register through Tax For All. VAT registration is compulsory above €15,600 of turnover in 12 months. The use of sports facilities is at 5%, against the standard 19%.
CCTV: entrance only
The data protection Commissioner’s 2024 notice on gyms allows cameras at the entrance and exit and the perimeter. It does not allow cameras where people exercise, in changing rooms or toilets, and never with audio. Footage may be viewed only on a screen inside the gym, not continuously from your phone. In an unstaffed gym, a camera covers the door. The booking record already tells you who had each slot. See cameras in an unstaffed gym.
Payments and invoices
In Cyprus we set up Stripe with cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay, with payouts in euros. The account is in your name, and setup is included. Cyprus has no e-invoicing obligation for local sales. Sparekey issues an invoice for every paid booking, in Greek or English, and exports a CSV file for your accountant.
Door access
We recommend a 2N keypad with a maglock, installed by a professional door installer. Nuki is the cheaper option on the existing lock, but it cannot be secured as well against customers tampering with it. Sparekey costs the same. Each booking gets a time-limited PIN by SMS under your gym’s name, and the stored backup code covers internet outages. See 2N keypad and maglock.
Employer’s liability insurance is compulsory once you hire. General liability is voluntary but worth having. Tell the insurer that nobody is on site. See insurance and liability.
What Sparekey costs in Cyprus
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Setup (one-off) | €990 |
| Operations (hosting, maintenance and SMS sender name) | €26 / month |
| Door-code SMS | €0.05 per message |
No VAT is added, because Sparekey is not VAT-registered. You pay in euros by bank transfer. See pricing.
FAQ
Do I need a CSO licence for a private gym in Cyprus?
A gym open to the public does. Whether a room rented by the hour without staff falls under it is for the CSO to say, so ask before you sign a lease.
Can I put a camera over the training area?
No. The Commissioner does not allow cameras in areas where people exercise. Limit them to the entrance.