It is quite easy for owners of local property to acquire a residence permit in Northern Cyprus (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, TRNC). This can greatly facilitate life and make your stay on the island more comfortable. Moreover, the TRNC offers the opportunity to obtain a residence permit even if you rent a property. In this article, we will look at both options.
Content:
- Obtaining residency through property purchase
- Full list of paperwork required to apply for a residence permit
- Residency in Northern Cyprus
- Why get a residence permit?
- Obtaining residency without purchasing a property
- TRNC citizenship
- Conclusion
Obtaining residency through property purchase
To obtain a residence permit in the TRNC, you do not need to pass any exams (as in some other countries). There is no property value threshold (but it must have an area of at least 17 m2), no need to open a company, and no restrictions on how long you can stay in the state.
Applying for a residence permit in Northern Cyprus requires the following paperwork:
- a title deed
- a property sales contract
In addition, you will need health insurance and a certificate from the hospital, which we will talk about later.
Full list of paperwork required to apply for a residence permit
There are a few rules you should keep in mind:
- You must own a habitable property.
- If a title deed (a legal document establishing and proving someone’s right to own a property) is divided into shares, a residence permit is issued to only one of the owners.
- Family members of the property owner can also obtain a residence permit.
- If the property value has been paid in full, its owner must provide a bank statement proving that they have 12 times the minimum monthly wage in the bank (for each family member). It is currently 11,800 Turkish liras (TL).
- If the amount is not paid in full (instalment plan/loan), the owner must:
- pay at least 30% of the property value;
- provide a bank statement proving that they have a minimum monthly wage of TL11,800 × 12 months and a monthly loan payment;
- submit a copy of the application for the title deed transfer (to the new owner’s name) to the Council of Ministers.
- In addition to providing ownership documents, the potential resident needs to undergo medical screening at a state hospital in Northern Cyprus to identify any contagious diseases and get a health insurance policy (TL340).
You must submit the following paperwork to the Immigration Department of your local police station:
- a residence certificate (İkametgah Belgesi) issued by the local municipality (belediye);
- a bank statement;
- a certificate from the hospital;
- a registered property sales contract together with a copy of an application for the title deed transfer to the buyer’s name or a title deed in the buyer’s name;
- a health insurance policy (at the time of receiving a residence permit);
- a passport:
- valid for at least six months (for non-EU citizens);
- valid for at least two months (for citizens of the EU and states that have official missions in Northern Cyprus);
- a police clearance certificate issued by the applicant’s home country;
- two photos.
The required fee amount is constantly changing, so you need to confirm it immediately before submitting the paperwork.
If the property owner applies for a residence permit for their family members, they must provide proof of kinship, i.e., a marriage certificate and children’s birth certificates.
Your residence permit will be issued by the Immigration Department within 30 days.
Residency in Northern Cyprus
For the first three years, you will receive a one-year residence permit. Then (after receiving the first three permits), provided that the mortgage is fully paid, the residence permit is issued for two years.
Family members of a foreigner who holds a residence permit can also easily receive this document. Children under 18 and people with disabilities living in Northern Cyprus with parents or guardians do not have to go through the application process. Instead, they are issued a residence permit automatically as soon as their parents or legal guardians receive theirs. By holding a residence permit, you can stay in the TRNC for the duration of the document without having to leave the country.
If your residence permit is about to expire, try to get a new one in advance but not earlier than 60 days before the previous document becomes invalid.
Why get a residence permit?
You mainly need a TRNC residence permit so that you don’t have to leave the country every time you want to extend your short-stay visa. This is just one of the benefits of holding this document. In addition, a residence permit entitles foreign nationals to:
- receive national health insurance;
- enrol children in preschools and schools;
- obtain UK, US, German, and Italian visas through a simplified process (since there are embassies of these countries in the TRNC).
Important: a residence permit only allows the holder to reside in the TRNC during the period of its validity. It does not entitle you to get a job or do business on the island. To open a company or get hired, you need additional permits from government agencies.
Obtaining residency without purchasing a property
You can apply for a residence permit without buying an apartment or a house. For this, you must meet two conditions:
- You must have at least TL 390,334 ($20,000) in a local bank account. To prove your funds, you need to include a statement when applying for a residence permit.
- You must enter into a long-term tenancy agreement for at least six months.
TRNC citizenship
Northern Cyprus grants citizenship in very rare cases. It can be obtained by foreigners residing on the island who have made a significant contribution to the country’s economic or political development.
Conclusion
If you own local property, obtaining a TRNC residence permit is a simple process that will allow you to enjoy life on a sunny island and have access to the well-developed medical and educational services of Northern Cyprus.