Residence Permit Application

Residence permits in Northern Cyprus: types, procedure, documents and timelines

DeJure Consulting provides a complete service for obtaining a residence permit in Northern Cyprus: from registering your personal account to receiving your permit. We explain the types of residence permits available, how the procedure works, which documents you need and how long it takes.

Types of residence permits in Northern Cyprus

A residence permit in Northern Cyprus can be obtained on various grounds. Rather than listing them all, we will describe the main categories we work with:

• residence permits based on high income;
• residence permits based on ownership of property;
• sponsored residence permits.

We also arrange various muafiyet exemptions, including a five-year exemption through the ministry for holders of a property title deed.

How the residence permit application procedure works

1. We meet the client at our office or prepare everything remotely and complete the required application form.
2. We register the client in the system and book an appointment at the police station.
3. To book a police appointment, you need a mukhtar's certificate and a passport. By this stage, you must already have a tenancy agreement or a sale and purchase agreement. The sale and purchase agreement must be registered with the land registry, and the tenancy agreement with the tax office.
4. The appointment is usually scheduled for approximately 7–10 working days later.
5. You submit a set of documents at the police appointment. The documents required depend on the type of residence permit.
6. After the appointment, the police refer you for medical tests. These are usually carried out at private clinics. The results take approximately 10 days to process.
7. The residence permit application then moves to the Ministry of the Interior for processing.

Obtaining a residence permit takes approximately 1.5–2 months in total.

What to do if your tourist visa is about to expire

If your tourist visa is about to expire, there is no need to worry: once your appointment has been scheduled, you can no longer incur a fine. The key is to follow the procedure correctly.

Documents required for the application

The set of documents depends on the type of residence permit. It includes:

• 3×4 photographs;
• a mukhtar's certificate;
• a sale and purchase agreement or tenancy agreement, depending on the type of residence permit;
• a copy of your passport;
• a copy of your most recent entry stamp;
• a copy of your latest residence permit, if you are applying for renewal;
• a bank account statement, for a residence permit based on high income;
• the sponsor's visa and passport, for a sponsored residence permit;
• the dörtlü set (a company's incorporation document), if the residence permit is being obtained on the basis of a business visa.

How much money you need in your account

Residence permit based on high income. You need to show funds equivalent to 36 minimum monthly wages. This is currently approximately £36,000.

Residence permit based on ownership of property. With a registered sale and purchase agreement and a property title deed, you need to show funds equivalent to 12 minimum monthly wages. This is currently approximately £12,000. The rules for residence permits of 5–10 years based on ownership of a title deed have not yet come into force.

The amounts may change depending on the exchange rate and the minimum wage.

Renewing a residence permit based on high income

When renewing a residence permit based on high income, you need to provide a card statement showing that you live here and use your bank account: there must be transactions on the account.

An important point: you must not withdraw all the money from your account immediately after receiving your residence permit. This will affect future renewal.

How long it takes to obtain a residence permit

Obtaining a residence permit takes approximately 1.5–2 months. If there are compelling reasons, we can try to speed up the process.

Questions and answers

What types of residence permits are available in Northern Cyprus? The main categories are permits based on high income, ownership of property and sponsorship. Muafiyet exemptions are also available, including a five-year exemption through the ministry for holders of a property title deed.

How long does it take to obtain a residence permit? Approximately 1.5–2 months in total. The police appointment is scheduled for 7–10 working days later, medical test results take approximately 10 days to process, and the documents are then reviewed by the Ministry of the Interior.

What do you need to book a police appointment? A mukhtar's certificate and a passport. By this stage, you need a tenancy agreement registered with the tax office or a sale and purchase agreement registered with the land registry.

What should you do if your tourist visa is about to expire? Once the appointment has been scheduled, you can no longer incur a fine. The key is to follow the procedure correctly.

How much money do you need in your account for a residence permit? For a residence permit based on high income, you need funds equivalent to 36 minimum monthly wages, currently approximately £36,000. For a permit based on ownership of property with a title deed, you need 12 minimum monthly wages, currently approximately £12,000. The amounts may change depending on the exchange rate and the minimum wage.

Can you withdraw the money from your account after receiving a residence permit? You must not withdraw all the money from your account immediately after receiving your permit. This will affect future renewal.

Can the residence permit process be expedited? If there are compelling reasons, we can try to speed up the process.

To apply for a residence permit, contact DeJure Consulting. Find out more about the service: residence permit applications.