Update on: Entry, visa & stay in Northern Cyprus: Everything you currently need to know about it

Hello dear reader of our blog on our website www.nordzypernaufeinwort.de !

We published our comprehensive book "Northern Cyprus in a Word" in 2024. There you will also find topics and content such as staying in Northern Cyprus, entry, visa. We have also described a lot more such as history, history, politics, real estate by the sea and also the culture and mentality of Northern Cyprus. In this book we also let many people have their say in the form of interviews. Including the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Mr. Ersin Tatar.

Please order it if you would like to be fully informed about Northern Cyprus as a holiday destination and an opportunity to emigrate and invest.

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Normal: Types of stay in Northern Cyprus - vacation up to 30 days

Now let's talk about staying in Northern Cyprus. As you can imagine, this information is constantly changing, so please save our website so you don't miss any news or updates, for example about staying in Northern Cyprus or other current topics relating to Northern Cyprus. Combined with our book, you will stay well informed.

If you are traveling to Northern Cyprus for the first time and setting foot on the island of Cyprus, you will certainly have planned a stay in Northern Cyprus of less than 30 days. For this period of stay in Northern Cyprus you do not need a complicated visa or residency. It is, so to speak, a tourist trip like most other countries in the world.

It is important to know that although Cyprus is an island, it consists of several countries and zones. There is the Republic of Cyprus in the south of the island. This is the well-known part that joined the EU over 20 years ago. Because of the flag with the entire island of Cyprus on it, one might think that the Republic of Cyprus is taking over the entire territory of the island. But this is not the case.

There is also the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the north with around 1/3 of the island's land area. This Turkish-speaking country seceded from the Greek-speaking Republic of Cyprus in 1974 with the help of Turkey. At that time, a peaceful, parallel life for the Greek and Turkish populations was no longer possible without civil war.

There are also two independent English bases and areas from the colonial period until 1960 on this island. These 6% of the island do not belong to the Republic of Cyprus or the Republic of Northern Cyprus. The UN is another similar player. It guards and owns the "buffer zone" between Northern Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus in the south and is also independently organized.

When you enter Northern Cyprus, you will likely land at Ercan Airport in the capital Nicosia. This is located in Northern Cyprus. If you land in Larnaca or Paphos , you are still in the south of the Republic of Cyprus and therefore in the EU. To get to Northern Cyprus you will have to take a car or taxi to Northern Cyprus and cross the border. There, just like at Ercan Airport in Nicosia, the entry modalities are clarified.

Tourists and foreigners are granted a 30-day stay in Northern Cyprus at the border as usual. Either a corresponding stamp is placed in the passport or you are given a piece of paper with this stamp on it, which you have to show again when you leave the country. This usually happens when you enter with an ID card . However, it is not uncommon for there to be no stamp.

Basically, this is not important for tourists as they will not exceed 30 days. This means you are in the north of the island in Northern Cyprus.

Welcome !

What does it mean to have residency in Northern Cyprus?

However, if you visit Northern Cyprus often, for example because you have purchased a property by the sea in this country, you may need a longer right for your stay in Northern Cyprus. There is a residence permit through real estate investment specifically for these purposes. It is valid for up to one year and can be extended as long as you own a property in Northern Cyprus.

In Northern Cyprus, although there is no minimum investment required for the residence, the minimum square meters must be at least 17. The property may only be used for residential purposes . This should not be a commercial property, otherwise the residence in Northern Cyprus will certainly be rejected.

It may be important for you to know that only one of the owners listed on the property deed can receive a residence permit. However, your own family members can also receive a residence permit. This applies to spouses, children and life partners (for life partners without a marriage certificate, this can be witnessed by a notary in Northern Cyprus).

Another requirement for this right to stay in Northern Cyprus is the financial aspect . The owner must prove that he has enough money to pay all the installments for this house. In addition to the outstanding payment, the savings must also be three times the minimum wage in Northern Cyprus. The state wants to ensure that the foreigner of the Republic of Northern Cyprus will not be left out of pocket. Only with this financial evidence can the application for a residence permit be approved.

UPDATE: There are always adjustments here. At the moment the amount to be deposited per applicant is 16,000 British pounds sterling in an account in Northern Cyprus. We've even heard of GBP 20,000. This must even be stored throughout the entire application process. Please ask for the exact amount when submitting your application.

When applying for residency due to property ownership, it is important to know that such a residence permit in the Republic of Northern Cyprus does not entitle you to work or do business within this country. Foreigners must apply for a separate work permit in order to be able to legally work on site.

A residence permit issued by the Government of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) also does not allow you to live in Turkey. This is a separate procedure because the TRNC and Turkey are two separate states and their citizens are different citizens.

What other types of residences are there for staying in Northern Cyprus?

In addition to obtaining a residence permit through real estate investments, there are other options.

There are also special entry requirements for families on this Mediterranean island. This means that relatives of citizens in Northern Cyprus can visit relatives for up to 90 days.

Then there is the residence permit for students . This is valid for up to 60 days. This applies to all students, regardless of which country or college/university they are enrolled in. For your trip, Northern Cyprus offers a simplified option for staying in Northern Cyprus.

There is also a residence permit for judicial and administrative purposes in Northern Cyprus. This residence permit is approved by the government until the termination of these services.

Then there is the permit to stay in Northern Cyprus for scientific research purposes . This extends to the duration of the research work.

There are now well over 100,000 students in Northern Cyprus. Residence permits for graduates of TRNC universities must be applied for separately and are valid for 2 semesters. In practice, these visas start in September and end in the same month of the following year. More detailed information can be obtained from the relevant universities.

UPDATE: Overall, however, most residence permits are based on a property purchase . According to statements from friends from Northern Cyprus, around 400,000 real estate residences will have been applied for in 2023. This is a number that is currently difficult for the bureaucracy to process.

Why is residency in Northern Cyprus important and what are the advantages of residing in Northern Cyprus?

Basically, you can always plan your vacation in Northern Cyprus without a residence . This property residence only becomes important if you want to stay in Northern Cyprus permanently. These questions never arise for German vacationers at the beginning. However, from case to case, one or the other falls in love with the island immediately and wants to stay here forever.

Likewise, there are many property owners who want to live here. It is important for these people. If you apply for this residency, you can then enter and leave Northern Cyprus as many times a year as you like.

How do I apply for residency to stay in Northern Cyprus?

You can submit this application yourself . To do this, use the government website for IKAMET .

You can find the current government regulations here on the website www.infonorthcyprus.com . All current information is listed under the topic Residence Permit.

However, we advise you against this. Save your nerves and go to the beach instead, enjoy the sun, palm trees and the sea and invest in a lawyer or accountant who will take these steps with you.

Residency in Northern Cyprus: Requirements that must be met

Back to the topic of staying in Northern Cyprus. What are the residency requirements and conditions that you still have to fulfill?

The first steps of registration are still very simple. You upload your own data as well as your ID card and, if applicable, that of your family members on the government website. This is the first step.

This is followed by an appointment with the police. By the way, the official language in the police immigration office is Turkish and English, but definitely not Greek.

UPDATE: The appointment with the police can take up to 2-6 months! This delays the application. These waiting times are currently common, especially for extensions. Experience has shown that the first application is quicker. You are not allowed to leave the country during this time between the application and the police appointment. This is important to know because there are financial penalties involved.

What documents must be provided for a residence in Northern Cyprus?

Second step: The following things must be handed in to the police:

In any case, you will need a certificate of residence issued by your municipality in Northern Cyprus. You can get these from the Muhtar (pronounced Mukhtar).

The document is the Muhtar Letter . It costs a few lira and is filled out, signed and stamped by hand on an A5 form. You should have your purchase contract and your passport with you. This certificate must not be older than six months.

You will also need the bank statement from your Northern Cypriot account, which proves your financial stability by stating your savings and/or monthly income.

UPDATE: Currently £16,000.

People often ask whether a German account is sufficient. This varies from case to case. It is often not welcomed as it could easily be forged and it is difficult for the state of Northern Cyprus to verify it in the EU.

Likewise, copies of the property purchase contract and the title deed must be submitted with information about the buyer's identity. All data is important. Also, how much the property is currently paid off (at least 33%).

Please also enclose a copy of your non-EU passport that is valid for at least another six months or an EU passport that is valid for at least another two months.

2 (number) passport photos are mandatory.

The original police clearance certificate for your country must be submitted. This must not be older than six months.

If you also want to register your family members , obtain the same documents or copies of them for everyone in your family. In addition, family membership must be proven with a marriage certificate for the partner and a birth certificate for the children. For unmarried couples, obtain the certification from a notary in Northern Cyprus as already described.

All of these documents must be handed in to the police . If the police have successfully checked your documents after about 10 days, there will be confirmation on the government website.

Health check

3rd step: In the 3rd phase you will receive a payment request for the health test and health insurance in Northern Cyprus for one year on the government website.

Find the location and name of the laboratory responsible for you from which you receive your examinations about your health condition on the website. The results here are available very quickly, but within 7 days at the latest on the website in your account.

UPDATE Two things: Make sure you submit the application before your right to stay in Northern Cyprus expires! A fine is unpleasant, but the negative impression it creates is greater. A possible further fine would then be twice as high. The second thing is, as mentioned, that you should NOT leave the country between the application and the police appointment. No matter how long it takes until this appointment. This would also result in fines. If you have to leave the Republic of Northern Cyprus for urgent reasons, notify the police in person or through a lawyer/accountant beforehand! The fines can quickly exceed the 10,000 GBP limit if the residency process drags on .

What documents are required to apply for residency?

summarized:

• Muhtar letter

• statement of account

• Real estate purchase agreement

• Passport copy

• Passport photos

• criminal record certificate

• Marriage certificate and birth certificate for family members

The authorities will provide you with information in a timely manner as to what additional documents you will need for your stay in Northern Cyprus. Teach them quickly so that your visa or residency can be approved quickly.

How long does it take to obtain a residence permit in Northern Cyprus?

UPDATE: It shouldn't take longer than 8-10 weeks. However, the flood of applications is too great. Volunteers are now helping out. So expect it to take 3-6 months, especially for extensions.

Historical background

Since the de facto division of the country into the Republic of Cyprus and the Republic of Northern Cyprus from 1974, Northern Cyprus has hardly been a tourist destination due to the lack of recognition . The security advice from the Foreign Office was worrying. All states except Turkey refused to recognize the Republic of Northern Cyprus. On the contrary, there was even economic exclusion from world trade . It was only with the Republic of Cyprus's participation in the EU and the opening of the borders by the Republic of Northern Cyprus in 2003 that life in Northern Cyprus returned to normal. Entry was made easier and the area in northern Cyprus was able to gradually recover.

In the next few years, Northern Cyprus recorded an increased arrival of foreign holidaymakers. English and Scandinavians in particular visited the island because of the low prices and the perfect Mediterranean climate. Some people ignored the safety instructions and started buying seaside property here. That was probably the beginning.

There was a slight setback in 2008 due to the banking crisis , which hit southern Cyprus in particular. But the Republic of Northern Cyprus continued to develop steadily despite all the disadvantages compared to its sisters and brothers in the south. They made lemonade out of lemons, as we described in our book "Northern Cyprus in a nutshell" .

The lemonade really became noticeable in 2021 . Since then, more and more people have been questioning their personal life plans. For some people , living on an island with palm trees, a pool and the sea is a declared goal . Therefore, applications for extended stays in Northern Cyprus have increased since then.

Nevertheless, in 2021/22 the process for a long-term stay in Northern Cyprus was still much easier for a person from the EU. Although you also had to obtain this information, the residency process was much easier and quicker.

Although the number of trips and applications for longer stays in Northern Cyprus have quadrupled since 2021, the government in Northern Cyprus only changed the requirements from 2023. The authorities could hardly keep up with the processing of applications for longer stays in Northern Cyprus. Despite the website for the application, a lot of things still have to be entered and checked by hand in the authorities . Therefore, the current conditions in the form of deposits to be deposited in the bank account had to be made more difficult in order to prevent the flood of applications for extended stay in Northern Cyprus.

Nevertheless, we are of the opinion that the effort involved in applying for residency is worth it if you are planning a longer stay in Northern Cyprus. The northern part of the island has so much to offer that it is completely understandable why so many foreigners want to move here and plan a long stay in Northern Cyprus. Despite these entry regulations, Northern Cyprus de facto became a paradise. Foreigners don't actually care about the increased effort involved in applying if they have found someone who will take care of it. So here again is our recommendation to seek support. From our observation, this support costs little more than GBP 400 to GBP 600.

Sufficient financial coverage in Northern Cyprus

Summarized:

Open an account in Northern Cyprus and deposit GBP 16,000 for the application for an extended stay in Northern Cyprus. The banks here even pay 2.5% interest per year. Of course, this varies from bank to bank and needs to be asked. There is probably more possible :-)

The government in Northern Cyprus wants to ensure that you can support yourself.

How much does residency in Northern Cyprus cost?

In addition to the costs of organizing advice from a lawyer or accountant (around 400 to 600 euros), the cost of a residence in Northern Cyprus is 1800 TL . With an exchange rate of 1:30, this corresponds to around 60 euros.

Our book: Northern Cyprus in a word

We have written our book "Northern Cyprus in a nutshell" to answer these and many other questions. Prepare yourself for this country. It is informative for you as a holidaymaker as well as an expat and contains knowledge and valuable insider information that will get you ready for the island. Here you will also find new developments and updates that will keep you up to date.

Maybe we'll see you soon on the island

Sincerely,

Samira & Marten