Foreigners who plan to stay in Northern Cyprus for more than 3 months must apply for a residence permit. Applications for residence must be submitted within 1 month after entering the island.

All foreigners are required to undergo an examination in a medical institution in order to obtain a temporary residence permit. The examination includes a blood test and a fluoroscopic examination. If the applicant for a residence permit does not provide the results of the tests within a month, his or her application will not be considered.

What does a residence permit in Northern Cyprus entail?

Holders of a temporary residence permit have the following privileges:

• free stay in the country;
• the right to work and do business legally;
• quality medical care and education;
• access to opening an account with TRPK Bank;
• the opportunity to immigrate with the whole family;
• the prospect of obtaining citizenship.

Grounds for obtaining a temporary residence permit in the Tricity

Northern Cyprus has become a popular destination for foreigners applying for a residence permit for business purposes:

• purchase a real estate object;
• start your own business;
• to get a higher education;
• get a job;
• participate in exchange and treatment programs;
• obtain citizenship.

The procedure for obtaining a short-term residence permit will be different for each category. The information and documents required to obtain each type of residence permit are determined by the Department and published on the official website https://icisleri.gov.ct.tr 

Residence permit for foreigners who own real estate

Foreigners who own real estate can apply for a temporary residence permit for a period of one year with the right to extend it for another three years. In the future, if they have documents confirming the ownership of real estate, a residence permit can be issued immediately for a two-year period.

The price of the property is not important, as the law does not specify requirements for the minimum purchase price for obtaining a residence permit.

To obtain a residence permit through the purchase of real estate, foreigners must meet a number of criteria. The living space must be suitable for living and used for its intended purpose. If you own a share in one property, a residence permit is granted to only one owner.

A foreigner needs to make a down payment of one-third for the real estate, as well as confirm the availability of income in the amount of 3 minimum wages if the registration is made in his or her name. If the applicant for a permanent residence permit purchased real estate in installments, the amount of the loan payment is added to the income of three minimum wages.

What documents are required to obtain a temporary residence permit?

To apply for a residence permit, you need to prepare a package of documents:

• Foreign passport - original + copy;
• 2 photos;
• A document confirming the opening of an account in a credit institution in the country and the availability of sufficient funds for living without the need to work;
• Document on the ownership of the real estate - original + copy. In the absence of this document, a foreigner may provide the original and a copy of the purchase and sale agreement;
• A certificate certifying the fact of residence of a foreigner in the country, which is issued by the mayor. The cost of obtaining it is 10 TL.

Training

After entering Northern Cyprus, students must obtain a student residence permit. The educational institution usually informs the person about the documents they need to provide and manages the application process. The residence permit is issued within three months.

Temporary student residence permit of Northern Cyprus is valid for 12 months. It can be extended annually for the entire period of study. After graduation, if a foreigner wants to stay and work in the country, he/she needs to obtain an appropriate residence permit (through employment, business, etc.).

Employment

In order for a foreigner to work legally in Northern Cyprus, his employer must obtain a residence permit from the Migration Service. The employer must prove the importance of the foreign worker or the lack of an experienced specialist in the TRNC for a particular position. The application is processed within 4 months.

A work permit is issued for 1 year. If after this time a person continues to work with the same employer, he or she needs to extend the document. It is prohibited to work without a legal permit. Having established the fact of unofficial employment, the Ministry will sue the company, and the unauthorized employee will be deported, obliged to pay a fine and banned from re-entering the country.

Business

To obtain a temporary residence permit by registering a company, an entrepreneur should apply to the commercial department, which issues special certificates for doing business.  Then you need to register with the tax and migration services. Setting up a company usually takes several weeks.

Registration of a TRPC company with foreign capital includes the following requirements:

• registered office in the TRPC;
• at least two shareholders and at least one director;
• minimum share capital paid;
• providing a letter of guarantee on the fulfillment of any tax obligations (from foreign directors).

Entrepreneurs receive a 12-month residence permit and renew it annually (just like a business license). After six years, you can apply for permanent residence.

Residence permit for pensioners

Foreigners can obtain residence by applying for a category F residence permit. The procedure is available to non-EU nationals. There is also a simplified option for pensioners to obtain a residence permit - buying a house in Northern Cyprus.

Persons who reached the age of sixty before the entry into force of the residence permit rules and reside in the country without official permission can apply for a residence permit within a year of arrival. The procedure is standard, with the only exception being that there is no need for medical tests. The residence permit is issued for a period of up to two years with the possibility of extension.

THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING A TEMPORARY RESIDENCE PERMIT 

1. To start the registration process, you need to register on the website https://mfa.gov.ct.tr/consular-info/visa-regulations/ and fill out a questionnaire.
2. You also need to collect the necessary documents (see below):
3. In the online system, you will be given an appointment at the police station to submit all the documents in person. After that, you will need to undergo medical tests (blood and fluoroscopy/mantle) in a state laboratory, having previously paid for these tests and insurance in the online system with a card. They cost 1200 lira per person (the price is subject to change and is regulated by the immigration service). The results will be ready in 7 working days.
4. You should have 60% readiness in the system, then you just wait for the review and approval of the taxpayer's residence permit, which usually takes 2-3 months. 
5. The Ministry of the Interior decides for how long (6 months or a year) to issue a residence permit. You will see this after approval and payment in the system by 70%, you need to pay another 250 lira. 
6. Log in to the online system with your personal password and print your Northern Cyprus Residence Permit.

List of required documents:

- The original passport and photocopies of the pages with the photo and stamp of the date of entry. 

- Original and photocopy of the real estate ownership documents. If you have purchased real estate under a sale and purchase agreement but have not yet received a title deed, the original sale agreement and a photocopy.  

- A certificate from the local district headman stating that you live in the district. This certificate is called "Ikametgah Belgesi" in Turkish. The location of the head of the settlement (starosta) can usually be found at the police, municipality (in Turkish "Beledıye") or post office. The starosta charges about 20 TL for the certificate. 

- Documents from the bank indicating that you have a bank account in the TRNC with sufficient funds or a regular income to live in the TRNC without having to work. (One minimum wage (7000 TL) multiplied by 12 months. 

- 2 passport-size photos. 

- Stamps (Damga Pulu in Turkish). The required amount varies, so it is worth taking an extra number of stamps in case of a request (they can be bought at the post office). 

All documents are made in duplicate! 

A prerequisite for obtaining a residence permit is a medical examination. This is due to the fact that there are no infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis and tuberculosis on the island. The examination consists of a general blood test and fluorography (or mantoux).

A new provision of the Law on Immigration and Foreigners now obliges everyone to take out state insurance. The price of the insurance is 382 TL. It is issued at the time of obtaining a residence permit in Lefkosa, you are given a receipt, you pay it, take out insurance and return for a residence permit. It gives you the opportunity to be treated in a public hospital in Northern Cyprus.

• 6 months - 250 TL (student visa - 129 TL) 
• 1 year - 500 TL (student visa - 190 TL) 
• 2 years - 1000 TL (student visa - 380 TL)