A CySEC forex license is regarded as a good and highly-reputable license for brokers. As Cyprus is a member of the European Union, a CySEC forex license is regulated under EU financial laws, providing credibility and trustworthiness. With the license, brokers can offer forex services across the EU under the passporting system, expanding their market reach. Being regulated by CySEC enhances the broker's reputation, making them more appealing to potential clients and partners. Traders feel more secure and confident dealing with a licensed forex broker, knowing they are subject to regulatory oversight. A CySEC license requires brokers to meet specific compliance standards, contributing to a safer and more reliable trading environment. CySEC provides a mechanism for dispute resolution, which can be beneficial for both clients and brokers. Licensed forex brokers must adhere to Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Financing of Terrorism (CFT) measures, helping prevent financial crimes.

The regulated activities include:

• Executing and receiving orders concerning monetary instruments.
• Acting on behalf of customers to carry out their orders.
• Conducting trading using the firm's own account.
• Placing monetary instruments and/or underwriting them with a firm commitment.
• Placing monetary instruments and tools without a firm commitment basis.
• Managing investment portfolios.
• Offering investment advice to clients.
• Providing Multilateral Trading services.
• Providing Organised Trading services.

Please note that the regulated activities will depend on a type of the license (STP or Market Maker). 

STP (Straight Through Processing) brokers provide direct access to the market and route client orders to liquidity providers without intervention. There's no conflict of interest, and spreads can vary.

Market Makers act as the counterparty, executing trades in-house. They offer fixed spreads, profit from spreads and client losses, and may have a potential conflict of interest. They are commonly used by retail traders.

• Corporate tax - 12.5%
• Corporate gain tax - 0%
• VAT - 19%
• No withholding tax on dividends
• EU VAT registration
• Double-taxation treaties

Minimum capital requirement of €125,000 for STP and €730,000 for Market Makers. 

At least four directors are required, consisting of two executive and two non-executive directors. At least three out of the four directors must be residents of Cyprus. The Board of Directors must have a strong reputation and relevant work experience. To support this, they need to provide KYC and personal documents, including their Curriculum Vitae, educational certificates, professional references, KYC documents, and proof of residential address. Shareholders and directors must also complete a personal questionnaire and provide evidence of a clean criminal record and sound financial standing.

The licensing process typically takes around 6-12 months if all the documents are in order. Application timeframe will depend on the complexity of ownership structure, commercial proposition, and cooperation of the related parties since the application process runs in close collaboration with an applicant.