How to get a residence permit in Northern Cyprus in 2024?

Cyprus is one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean region, but not everyone knows about its division into two parts: South (Republic of Cyprus) and North (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus or TRNC).

For my family, while living in Belarus, this actually became a discovery in 2020, when we started thinking about moving) Southern Cyprus is popular for its ideal climate, amazing nature and developed infrastructure, creating excellent opportunities for both leisure and business. 

Its northern neighbor, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus , has been in the shadows for a long time and has only begun to attract attention in recent years. This region also offers excellent conditions for tourism and living.

The TRNC impresses with its beaches, breathtaking scenery and rich history, attracting not only tourists, but also property buyers from all over the world. Many foreigners choose Northern Cyprus not only as a holiday destination, but also as a new home. Our family was no exception in choosing a place to live!

For beginners, the process of obtaining a residence permit in Northern Cyprus will raise many questions: what documents are needed for this, how long does it take to obtain a residence permit, what privileges of a residence permit can a foreigner receive and for what can one be easily deported.

I will briefly list the available reasons for obtaining a residence permit in Northern Cyprus:

• Residence permit for real estate (purchase of housing)
• Residence permit for high income (rental housing) 
• student visa
• Work Visa
• Business visa
• medical tourism
• Residence permit on a work visa for a spouse
• Family for spouse
• Family for the applicant's children
• Student Exchange Program
• Pensioners
• Humanitarian permit
• Visa for staying on a yacht
• Sponsor visa
• Filming feature films or documentaries, etc.
• But in this article I will reveal in more detail the key points regarding obtaining a residence permit in Northern Cyprus in 2024 on the two most popular grounds: a residence permit for the purchase of a home and a residence permit for a high income (rent).

Let it be, dear readers - the pioneers of Northern Cyprus, for you a step-by-step GUIDE on the easiest and safest move to a new country.

BUT , before going to Northern Cyprus, being OUTSIDE, be sure to check the availability of these documents that will be needed when moving.

I tell you how to get HERE .

WHEN YOU ARE in Northern Cyprus, to apply for a residence permit on one of the grounds, you need to have the following list of documents for each adult:

Residence permit for high income (rent) :

1. Passport (original) + copy of the main page

2. A copy of the last entry stamp (stamp in the passport or insert)

3. Photo 3×4 – 1 piece

4. Real estate lease agreement (original) with a copy of the lessor’s passport (representative by power of attorney)

5. Certificate from the local headman (mukhtar)

6. Statement from a local bank ($37,000 per adult)

7. Copies of children’s passports + original (if with minor children)

Residence permit for property (purchase of real estate):

1. Passport (original) + copy of the main page

2. A copy of the last entry stamp (stamp in the passport or insert) 

3. Photo 3×4 – 1 piece

4. Certificate from the local headman (mukhtar)

5. Copy of the contract (up to the page with the registration stamp) + original real estate purchase and sale agreement

6. Application submitted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for a purchase permit (since 2023, submitted online). Do not forget to take a certificate of no criminal record in your country and have it translated to the TRNC

7. Statement from a local bank ($12,300 per adult)

8. Translation of the marriage certificate + its original (if a spouse is submitting)

9. Translation of the birth certificate + its original (if there are children).

10. Copies of children’s passports + original passports

Step-by-step plan for obtaining a residence permit:

1. Register a local number: Register a local SIM card in your name at your local Turkcell or Vodafone branch. Please note that the SIM card number will be needed in the future to open a bank account and link the number to the application for opening a residence permit.

We remind you that after 3 months of staying in Northern Cyprus, a mobile phone purchased outside of Cyprus stops working with a local SIM card. To do this, you need to go through the phone registration procedure .

2. Renting housing with the conclusion of an official rental agreement (for a high-income residence permit): At least a week before the expiration of the tourist visa, find suitable housing and conclude a long-term rental agreement with the owner (or a representative by proxy) (from 6 months and up to 1 year). The presence of the owner or his official representative at the tax authority is mandatory. The amount of rent and the number of payments depend on the landlord: monthly payment or payments for 3-6 months in advance. In addition, the owner may require a refundable deposit for the safety of the property in the amount of 1-2 monthly rent. If an agency selects an apartment, it charges an additional commission in the amount of one rental rate. The agreement must be registered with the tax authority with the landlord paying tax for renting out housing. According to the law, the rental tax is paid not by the tenant, but by the owner of the property. You can read more about renting out real estate and taxes in this article .

Also familiarize yourself with the rules of living in rented housing so as not to be evicted .

For a residence permit on property, instead of a lease agreement , you need a registered purchase and sale agreement .

What taxes the buyer must pay when registering a purchase and sale agreement is described in detail in this article .

The purchase and sale agreement must be registered by the buyer in the land registry and the tax office.

At the same time, an online application is submitted to obtain permission to purchase real estate ( dosya ).

3. Certificate from the mukhtar: Obtain a certificate from the local mukhtar, which costs about 100 Turkish lira per person. This certificate will be needed for each family member, as it will be required when enrolling children in educational institutions and opening a bank account in the TRNC.

4. Opening a Bank Account: When opening an account at a local bank, such as Creditwest, a minimum amount of $1,000 must be frozen in the account. After opening an account, you need to deposit into the account:

• for a residence permit on a high income (rent) approximately $37,000 for each adult (at the rate of 12 minimum wages, multiplied by a factor of 3)
• for a residence permit by property $10,000 for each adult (based on 12 minimum wages)

FOR REFERENCE: as of April 2024, the minimum wage is 40,436 TL before all taxes. It is not recommended to withdraw money placed in a bank account in its entirety; it can be spent in parts on current expenses and also replenished. It is better to use a card issued by a local bank for current purchases, school payments, insurance, services and other monetary transactions. The movement of funds through the account will be needed during the subsequent renewal of the residence permit, so that the state can see your solvency.

5. Translation and certification of documents: All foreign documents (for example, marriage certificate) must be translated and certified by a lawyer.

6. Registration on the official website: Register on the website permissions.gov.ct.tr by uploading a certificate from the mukhtar and a passport . After this, you will be assigned a time for a visit (rendezvous) to the police station at your place of residence.

7. Personal interview: For a rendezvous at the police station, you must provide documents according to the list above for each of the grounds.

8. Payment for insurance and tests: After submitting documents to the police, the application automatically activates a tab with the address of the laboratory and a link to pay for insurance and tests (cost - 4600 Turkish lira, and 2758.70 lira for pensioners 60+), which can only be paid by credit with a local TRNC bank card.

9. Visiting a medical facility to get tested : Go to the laboratory at the address indicated in the application to get tested. Now they only take blood from a vein, checking for the presence of infectious diseases such as syphilis, viral hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV. Previously, a test for tuberculosis was required in the form of a Mantoux injection test or fluorography. This procedure is not performed now. The procedure in a medical institution takes 5-15 minutes, the foreigner provides only a passport. The health worker checks the database for the presence of an electronic application, and then takes a blood test from a vein.

10. Approval of a residence permit: 1-2 months from the date of filing the application, the competent authorities review it and, if the outcome is positive, an invoice is issued in the personal account of the application in the form of a link to pay the state fee. After payment, an electronic version of the residence permit appears, which you print on paper.

Congratulations! Residence permit received)

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