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Residence Permit, Northern Cyprus
Arriving in North Cyprus
When you first arrive in Northern Cyprus,
you are issued with a three-month tourist
visa. Should you wish to stay longer, or
have bought a North Cyprus property during
that time, you need to apply for a temporary
residence permit if you wish to stay longer
than 3months a year.
Applying for
a North Cyprus Residence Permit
Applications for a Northern Cyprus Residence
Permit should be made at your local
Immigration Office, which is to be found
inside your local Police station. You will
need to present your passport at this stage,
and you will be given an application form.
Next, you should approach your local
councilors or ‘Muhtar’ in he district you
live in, to get a Resident’s Certificate.
The Muhtar will need to see:
• Documents proving your identity – a
photocopy of your passport is fine
• Proof of your address: this should be the
deeds of your new property in North Cyprus,
OR a copy of your sales contract OR a rental
agreement
• Proof of a sustainable income for you and
any dependents: this might include bank
statements, proof of pension payouts, etc
What happens
next with your Northern Cyprus Residence
Permit
The Muhtar will issue you with a Resident’s
Certificate. Next, you will need to undergo
a medical examination at a designated clinic
in Nicosia, which includes a blood test for
HIV and a chest x-ray. The clinic will give
you a receipt for the tests, which can cost
up to £150. The results of these tests
usually arrive within three weeks – you will
need to collect them in person, but do NOT
open the envelope they are sealed in.
Once you have the Resident’s Certificate,
and are waiting for the medical test
results, you can apply for your permit at
the Immigration Office:
To make an application, you will need to
include:
• A written application form
• Documents proving your identity – a
photocopy of your passport is fine
• Proof of your address: this should be the
deeds of your new property in North Cyprus,
OR a copy of your sales contract OR a rental
agreement
• Proof of a sustainable income for you and
any dependents: this might include bank
statements, proof of pension payouts, etc
• At least four passport sized photographs
• The receipt from the clinic for the
medical
When the test results are ready, collect
them in person, but remember not to open the
envelope! The results should be given to the
Immigration Office in Nicosia. The police
will then conduct checks and the medical
results will be scrutinized.
Issuing of a
Northern Cyprus Residence Permit
Permits are issued by the Department of
Immigration in Nicosia. Their offices are
near the main bus station in Nicosia. You
will be issued with a permit if all checks
and tests are satisfactory, and on
production of your passport and a fee of up
to £150 for your first year’s permit.
Thereafter a small fee will be charged for
renewal of your permit each year, and you
will need to have the medical test again
each year.
Too much
like hard work?
There are agencies that will help you get
residence permits, by guiding you through
the application process, and doing some of
the tedious legwork for you. These agencies
can also help with work permits, driving
licenses and the issues of importing
personal effects into Northern Cyprus.
Northern Cyprus Permanent Residence Permit
If you wish to live permanently in Northern
Cyprus, you will need a Permanent Residence
Permit. You can only apply for a Permanent
Residence Permit once you have had three
consecutive temporary permits, (i.e. have
stayed for at least three years previously)
and you are retired from work. The
application for a Permanent Residence Permit
might take as long at two years. To apply
for a Permanent Residence Permit
You need to
prove that:
• You own a property in Northern Cyprus
• You have proof of a regular,
sustainable income
• You are retired
A sustainable income is considered to be
approximately £6000 per annum
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