TRNC Turkish Republic of North Cyprus Residence Permit

• 10.11.2022
• Guide

TRNC You will find information about residence permit procedures in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

We offer you consultancy on Residence Permit and assist you in related procedures. You can contact us immediately for details.

How to apply for a residence permit on your own?
You can apply for or renew your residence permit on the state online platform of the Ministry of Interior https://permissions.gov.ct.tr/staypermit

Procedure: Register by filling out the form.

To do this, enter your passport details, parents' names, email address and local phone number, which will receive an SMS with the registration confirmation code.

There are a total of 17 types of residence permits in the system, choose the one that suits you:

Family Leave (Spouse) / Family Leave (Spouse)
Family Leave (If Child) / Family Leave (Sponsor's Child)
Family Leave (If Parents) / Family Leave (Sponsor's Parent)
Family Leave (If Shared) / Family Leave (Sponsored Partner)
Ownership of Real Estate
High Income Level
Health tourism
In-Service Training and Internship
Student Curriculum
Yacht Tourism
Judicial and Administrative Duties
Film/Documentary Shooting
TRNC graduates / TRNC graduates
Social Security Office Pensioners / Social Security Institution Pensioners
Short Term Residence Permit for Licensed Athletes
Foreigners who grew up with their education and culture in politics / Foreigners who grew up with the education and culture of the country
Humanitarian Residence Permit / Humanitarian Residence Permit

Depending on the type of residence permit, upload scans or high-quality photos of the required documents and click the "Continue" button. Also indicate for what period of time you are requesting a residence permit. It can be from 6 months to 2 years, but in most cases it is given for 1 year. After that, the system will present you the date and time of the closest meeting (appointment) with the police at the place of residence, for which you need to bring photocopies of the documents uploaded to the site.

Then, in a few hours, the next stage of the process of obtaining a residence permit will open - payment for medical tests. After paying, you will find out the address of the nearest free medical laboratory. We recommend that you get tested within a week of the appointment. In a medical facility, you will receive blood from a vein (detailed analysis) and an HIV test, as well as check your reaction to tuberculosis. If one of the tests is positive, they will refuse to obtain a residence permit even if you own real estate. Analyzes are uploaded to the system within 7 days.

Then wait for your case to be reviewed by the Home Office Immigration Department. According to the law, the period for obtaining a residence permit lasts 60 days from the submission of the documents to the police. But there are often delays, in which case we recommend visiting the Ministry of Interior in Nicosia and checking the status of documents - this usually helps speed up the process.

When your case is considered, the final stage of obtaining a residence permit will open - insurance payment. You can only pay with a credit card from a local bank, then you will automatically receive a residence permit. The document that appears on the site confirming your status can be saved in electronic form (pdf) and then printed.

How much do you need in your bank account for a residence permit?
Visual calculation of the required amount: For high income (if there is a long-term lease): legal fee (minimum wage) for three years.

Example: 7000 TL (minimum wage) x 12 (months) x 3 (years) = 252.000 TL.

You can deposit money not only in Turkish Lira, but also in US Dollars, Euros, British Pounds at the exchange rate on the date of placement. With the presence of real estate in the property: legally established wage (minimum wage) for one year.

Example: 7000 TL (minimum wage) x 12 (months) x 1 (year) = 84,000 TL. You can deposit money not only in Turkish Lira, but also in US Dollars, Euros, British Pounds at the exchange rate on the date of placement.

It should be noted that the state economy is developing rapidly, the specified wage rates (minimum wages) and the calculation formula may change. Check the information during the process.

Where is the interview (appointment) held?
The interview is scheduled at the nearest police station to where you live. The addresses and contact information of the police stations can be found at http://www.polis.gov.ct.tr/iletisim.aspx.html.

Where are health tests done?
First of all, you need to pay for the tests on the website of the British Ministry of the Interior https://permissions.gov.ct.tr/staypermit. After that, the system will assign you a clinic where you can take the tests within 7 days.

What tests do you need to take for a Residence Permit?
1. For HIV, blood from a vein (blood sample is taken);
2. Take a tuberculosis test (they give an injection and after 3 days you must come to show the reaction);
Important : If one of the tests is positive, your residence permit will be denied even if you own real estate.

How much is the test fee?
As of January 2022, it is 260 TL. (It can change.)

If you can't pay using your country's credit card?
Insurance and medical tests should only be paid from the account of the local TRNC bank. For this, not only a debit card is suitable, but also a credit card. Don't let the word "loan" scare you - you don't need a loan. You just need to deposit a small amount ($100/euro) on the card and the bank will freeze them as insurance in case you are unable to pay for the service (consult your bank for details). The card does not need to be specially issued for you. It could be a friend's card. You can complete the payment with a card belonging to your friend, and you will give cash to your friend.

Do people over 60 years old need a residence permit?
Some time ago, retirees who moved to the north of Cyprus were able to stay on the island without obtaining an official residence permit. They were also not fined by the elderly. Unfortunately, the law has now changed. According to the latest data from the Department of Immigration, expatriates of retirement age do not receive any benefits. People over the age of 60 must also apply for a residence permit like all other immigrants. Now the rules are the same for everyone.

Can we get a residence permit with a rental agreement?
There is no type of residence permit under the lease agreement. There is a " high income " or " high income " option . This implies existence, some amount to any local bank account as well as a long-term lease registered with the tax office. Therefore, this method is often called "residence permit under a lease agreement". To obtain such a residence permit, in addition to the contract, you will need: a certificate from the headman (local head of the district) confirming your place of residence + a bank statement on the availability of funds necessary for living.

Is it possible to leave the island while applying for a residence permit in the TRNC?
What should you do if you have applied for a residence permit but need to leave urgently? Is it allowed? If you have submitted the required package of documents, including a statement to the police, you can freely leave Northern Cyprus for a period not exceeding 60 calendar days. According to the law, the process of obtaining a residence permit takes a very long time. There should be no problems at the border, but we recommend that you print out from your personal account when you delivered your documents.

How to extend the TRNC residence permit?
The residence permit extension process is greatly simplified as your data is already in the system. You need to go to the website of the TRNC Ministry of Interior https://permissions.gov.ct.tr/staypermit and fill in the necessary forms and use the information you have previously entered about yourself. Then take the photocopies of the documents required for the extension of the residence permit to the police. After that, you do the tests again and pay for the insurance.

What is the penalty for not extending a visa in TRNC Northern Cyprus?
At the beginning of 2022, the daily penalty for each day of visa delay is 50 TL. To avoid unnecessary expenses, do not forget the date of entry into the territory of the TRNC and also remember that the visa is valid on the day of arrival. You can find out the exact expiry date of the visa at the police station at the place of residence, in the immigration department. The amount of the fine may vary according to the TRNC legislation, be sure to check this point when entering the TRNC.

Do you need help? We can assist you with all your paperwork and residence permit procedures. Contact us now.