Obtaining a Residence Permit in North Cyprus Through Property Ownership

Purchasing residential property in North Cyprus provides a basis for applying for a residence permit, regardless of the purchase price. Even a lower-priced apartment – for example, one costing £45,000 – can qualify as a basis for an application.

The permit duration and financial requirements depend on the property’s value and whether the title deed confirming ownership has been registered in the buyer’s name.

An application can be based on either:

a title deed registered in the applicant’s name; or
a sale and purchase agreement registered with the Tax Office and the Land Registry.

Residence Permit Duration and Financial Requirements

Basis for application	Property value	Permit duration	Proof of financial means
Title deed registered in the applicant’s name	£300,000 or more	Up to 10 years	Not required
Title deed registered in the applicant’s name	Below £300,000	Up to 5 years	Not required
Registered sale and purchase agreement; title deed not yet transferred	£300,000 or more	Up to 5 years	Not required
Registered sale and purchase agreement; title deed not yet transferred	Below £300,000	Up to 5 years	Required

The £300,000 threshold determines the applicable conditions and permit duration. It is not a minimum purchase price for residence permit eligibility.

1. Residence Permit with a Title Deed Registered in the Applicant’s Name

Where the title deed has already been transferred into the applicant’s name:

a total purchased property value of £300,000 or more provides a basis for a residence permit of up to 10 years;
a total purchased property value below £300,000 provides a basis for a residence permit of up to 5 years.

In both cases, proof of income or a bank balance is not required to meet the financial condition for this category.

The total value is assessed across purchased properties whose title deeds are registered in the applicant’s name. The threshold may therefore be met through one or several properties.

For example, the buyer of a £50,000 apartment with a title deed registered in their name may apply for a residence permit of up to five years without providing proof of income.

2. Residence Permit Based on a Registered Sale and Purchase Agreement

If the title deed has not yet been transferred into the buyer’s name, an application may be based on a registered sale and purchase agreement.

The buyer must:

have the agreement stamped by the Tax Office, pay the applicable stamp duty and register it with the Land Registry;
have paid at least one third of the purchase price;
have submitted an application to the Council of Ministers for permission to acquire the property;
have paid the taxes due at the relevant stage of the transaction by the time of the residence permit application.

Agreement Value of £300,000 or More

A residence permit of up to five years is available without proof of income or a bank balance to meet the financial condition for this category.

Agreement Value Below £300,000

A residence permit of up to five years is available subject to proof of financial means equivalent to at least one minimum monthly wage.

In application practice, where financial means are demonstrated through funds held in a North Cyprus bank account, the amount is calculated for the requested permit period:

Minimum monthly wage × 12 months × number of years.

Using a minimum monthly wage of TRY 70,893, the calculation is:

Requested permit period	Calculation	Amount
1 year	70,893 × 12	TRY 850,716
2 years	70,893 × 12 × 2	TRY 1,701,432
3 years	70,893 × 12 × 3	TRY 2,552,148
4 years	70,893 × 12 × 4	TRY 3,402,864
5 years	70,893 × 12 × 5	TRY 4,253,580

For a five-year application, the calculated amount is therefore TRY 4,253,580.

Where the property is being purchased in instalments, the outstanding payment obligations under the agreement must also be taken into account.

The minimum wage is subject to change. The amount required for an application is calculated using the figure applied by the immigration authorities at the time of submission.

Important Property Requirements for All Application Categories

The property must be suitable for residential use, regardless of its value or whether the title deed has been transferred into the buyer’s name.

It must be completed, approved for occupation and connected to electricity and water supplies. It must also be possible to obtain a certificate of residence for the property’s address.

A title deed or registered agreement does not replace these requirements. Purchasing a property under construction does not, by itself, mean that it can already support a residence permit application.

Documents Required for a Residence Permit Application

Common Requirements for All Property-Based Applications, with Additional Documents Depending on the Category

Documents must be submitted whether the application is based on a title deed or a registered sale and purchase agreement. Exemption from proving financial means does not remove the other documentary and procedural requirements.

Main Documents

1. Certificate of residence – İkametgâh Belgesi.

Obtained from the local authority – Belediye (municipality).

2. Valid passport and copies of the required pages.

The passport’s validity must extend beyond the requested residence permit period:

by at least two months for EU citizens or citizens of countries with an embassy, consulate or representative office in the TRNC;
by at least six months for other applicants.

Passport validity should be checked before selecting the requested permit duration.

3. Evidence of the basis for the application:

a title deed registered in the applicant’s name; or
a sale and purchase agreement registered with the Tax Office and the Land Registry.

4. Documents confirming the property’s value, where this cannot be established from the other documents submitted.

5. Two photographs measuring 3 × 4 cm for submission at the in-person appointment.

6. Revenue stamps – Damga Pulu.

The required amount should be checked at the time of application.

Additional Documents for Applications Based on a Sale and Purchase Agreement

The property purchase permission application number and a copy of the submission confirmation.
Evidence that the required proportion of the purchase price has been paid.
Evidence of payment of taxes due at the relevant stage of the transaction.
For property valued below £300,000, evidence of financial means; where this is demonstrated through funds in a local account, a bank certificate.

Additional Documents for Family Members

Marriage certificate.
Children’s birth certificates.
Guardianship documents and other evidence of family relationships, where required for the application.
Evidence of the lawful immigration status of the person sponsoring the family residence application.

Documents must be accompanied by the necessary translations and certification. The immigration authorities may request additional information, including a criminal record certificate.

Medical Examination and Health Insurance

A medical examination at a TRNC state hospital is required as part of the residence permit process to screen for infectious diseases that pose a risk to public health.

Applicants over the age of 60 are exempt from this medical requirement. The obligation to pay the applicable health insurance contribution remains.

Applicants undergoing the examination must receive a satisfactory medical report. Detection of a disease that poses a risk to public health may provide grounds for refusing a residence permit. Any additional tests and the final medical assessment are determined by the authorised health authorities.

Health insurance arrangements and the applicable contributions are completed during the residence permit process.

Application Procedure

Prepare the documents supporting the application: a title deed or registered sale and purchase agreement, together with the additional evidence required.
Obtain a certificate of residence – İkametgâh Belgesi – from the Belediye.
Obtain bank evidence of financial means, where required for the application category.
Submit the application through the immigration authorities’ online system and provide the documents to the immigration unit of the local police department in accordance with the appointment details and system instructions.
Undergo a medical examination at a TRNC state hospital. Applicants over the age of 60 are exempt.
Pay the applicable health insurance contributions and permit fees.
Receive the residence permit once the application has been assessed and the required checks have been completed.

An initial application must be submitted within the period of stay granted on entry.

Residence Permits for Family Members

Family members of a property owner or buyer may apply for family residence permits, subject to the applicable requirements.

A family residence permit may be issued for up to ten years, but it cannot extend beyond the sponsor’s authorised period of residence.

Property ownership by one family member does not automatically grant residence permits to the others. Family relationships and the basis for residence must be supported by documents.

Children Under 18

Children under the age of six are exempt from the requirement to obtain a residence permit.

Children aged six to 17 inclusive may qualify for an exemption, including where they:

live in North Cyprus with a parent or legal guardian who is a TRNC citizen or has lawful immigration status; or
provide evidence of attendance at a primary or secondary school registered with the relevant ministry.

Documents confirming the child’s age, parentage or guardianship, and the relevant basis for the exemption must be provided. Any registration procedures required by the immigration authorities must also be completed.

Renewing a Residence Permit

Renewal requires a further application and evidence that the basis for residence remains valid.

Document preparation should begin before the current permit expires. The submission deadlines and renewal procedure must be checked for the relevant category, as the rules for property-based, family and student residence permits may differ.

Once the title deed has been transferred into the buyer’s name, the conditions for the next application may change. The applicant may then apply under the provisions for property owners with a title deed registered in their name.

Rights and Restrictions

A residence permit allows the holder to live lawfully in North Cyprus throughout its validity without having to leave to comply with short-stay limits.

A property-based residence permit does not grant the right to work or replace permission to operate a business. Employment or business activities require the appropriate separate authorisation.

A five-year or ten-year residence permit is not permanent residence and does not confer TRNC citizenship.

Purchasing property provides a basis for applying. The permit is granted following document checks and assessment of compliance with the applicable requirements.

How We Can Help

Our specialists can advise you and assist with:

identifying the appropriate application category and requirements;
preparing the required documents;
arranging translations;
opening a local bank account where needed;
resolving questions throughout the residence permit process.

Information updated as of 15 October 2026, taking into account the amendments to the Residence Permits and Visas Regulation dated 2 and 5 October 2026. Amounts, fees and procedural requirements are updated as changes occur.