Prohibited

The first thing you need to do to bring your pet to Northern Cyprus is to obtain a pet import license from the TRNC Veterinary Department in Nicosia for 170 TL. You can apply for a pet import license in advance by sending a request by email or asking your friends on the island to help you with this. In order to obtain a license, you need to provide your passport/identification data and personal information about your pet. You must provide a copy of the license or a receipt for its payment upon arrival on the island. A pet import license can also be obtained upon arrival. 

When transporting a pet, you must make sure that the following requirements are met:

• The travel cage must meet international standards and provide the animal with the ability to turn, lie down, or stand upright.
• The license for the import of pets is valid for 30 days from the date of issue.
• Your animal must undergo a mandatory medical examination no later than 48 hours before the flight and receive a veterinary certificate.

The pet import license, as well as all documents attached to it, must be provided in English and Turkish.

The movement of animals between the northern and southern parts of Cyprus is prohibited, so you and your pet must arrive directly at the TRNC.

The conditions for importing animals may be changed depending on the epidemiological situation in the country of departure.

Ambulance: 112

Police: 155

The fire service: 199

Import and export of currency.

When importing and exporting currency, we follow a simple rule: starting from USD 10,000 (or the equivalent in another currency), we fill out a currency declaration. When exporting currency, we additionally provide a currency export permit issued by the Central Bank of Northern Cyprus.

What goods are subject to mandatory declaration at the customs of Northern Cyprus?

When passing customs control, it must be entered in the customs declaration:

• Cash starting from 10,000 US dollars.
• Precious metals, stones and products containing them or made of them with a total value exceeding USD 10,000 must be declared.
• Items prohibited for export.
• Goods not intended for personal use.
• Goods imported from outside the EU in quantities exceeding the amount established for exemption from customs duties (tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, medicines and other goods with duty-free treatment).
• Goods subject to import bans or restrictions.

Customs duties in Northern Cyprus.

When importing goods, travelers must pay import duties, which are taxed on goods purchased abroad. Depending on the product, they include customs duties and other fees, such as value added tax, excise taxes on tobacco, beer, or alcohol.

You can bring non-commercial items to the territory of Northern Cyprus without paying taxes only in the amount not exceeding EUR 135. Anything over this amount is subject to taxation. The purchase price is the basis for calculating the amount of import duties. Therefore, you should keep receipts or invoices for goods purchased abroad. If you cannot document the purchase price (for example, you received the goods as a gift), market prices will be used as the basis for assessing the purchase price. 

What can be imported to Northern Cyprus with exemption from customs duties?

Duty-free importation is allowed across the customs border of Northern Cyprus:

• Tobacco products: 400 cigarettes or 500 grams of smoking tobacco.
• Alcoholic beverages: 1 liter of spirits.
• Any items not prohibited for transportation, with a total value of up to 135 euros.
• Medicines in the amount necessary for personal use.
• 100 ml of perfume.

The main peculiarity for European motorists in Northern Cyprus is left-hand drive and right-hand drive. 

Speed limits and fines

The maximum permissible speed in a settlement is 60 kilometers per hour. Outside the city - 100 kilometers per hour. There are heavy fines for speeding. Eating or talking on a cell phone while driving will also cost several hundred euros. Children under the age of five may not sit in the front passenger seat under any circumstances. Children from 5 to 10 years old can occupy the front passenger seat only if there is a child seat. There are no toll roads on the island.

Do I need to change my driver's license?

According to the new rules adopted in 2017, you can drive in Northern Cyprus with an internationally issued foreign license for up to 1 month. Then you will need to get a local driver's license. If you do not get it and get into an accident, your insurance becomes invalid. From 2019, citizens of Russia, the EU and the USA can exchange their national license without going through a driving school in Northern Cyprus. For other foreigners, such training is mandatory.

The embassies of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in different countries of the world can be found here: https://mfa.gov.ct.tr/consular-info/missions-abroad/.