Entry to and Departure from the TRNC

Entry to and departure from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is through designated ports and border crossings with a valid passport or travel document.

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General Information

The Council of Ministers may decide which third-country nationals are required to obtain a visa prior to entering the TRNC.

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Citizens of the Republic of Armenia, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Syrian Arab Republic must obtain a visa from TRNC representative offices abroad by declaring the purpose of their visit to the TRNC.

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Other third-country nationals may be granted a visa for up to 90 days (depending on the purpose of their visit) at designated ports and border crossings, provided they:

• Can prove they will leave the country within the specified period; and

• Fulfil the other conditions stipulated in the relevant regulations.

The length of stay cannot exceed 90 days within any 180-day period.

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People with legal residence status in the country, or who are officially exempt from requiring a residence permit, do not require a visa.

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Permission to enter the country is at the discretion of the immigration officer at the designated ports and border crossings. Immigration officers are entitled to request supporting information and documentation relating to the purpose of entry, and comprehensive checks may be carried out by the responsible authorities.

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Passport Expiry Date

Citizens of countries that have a representative office in the TRNC, together with citizens of European Union countries, must hold a passport that is valid for at least two months.

 

Citizens of all other countries must have a passport that is valid for at least six months in order to apply for a visa upon arrival in the TRNC.

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Citizens of countries that do not have an embassy, consulate or other representative office in the TRNC are required to have a passport that is valid for at least two years in order to apply for a visa.

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TRNC Tourist and Events Visa

People entering the country for tourism who are staying in a hotel or other accommodation facility, including people who have rented a property for this purpose, may be issued a visa for up to 30 days.

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If they present documentation showing that their accommodation has been paid for in advance, a visa for up to 90 days may be granted.

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A visa for up to 60 days may be granted to people visiting the TRNC to stay with family or relatives in a relative's home.

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Please note: generally, although the official rules state 60 days if you are staying with relatives, normally you will only be granted a 30-day visa on initial entry, however you may extend your visa by waiting until near to the expiry date and then crossing the border and returning an hour of so later, as per the guidance in Visa Extension below.

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A visa for up to 90 days may be issued to people visiting the TRNC for:

• Official visits

• Business meetings

• Conferences

• Seminars

• Meetings

• Festivals

• Fairs

• Exhibitions

• Sporting events

• Cultural and artistic events

• Health tourism

• Similar approved purposes

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Internship, Course, Exchange Programme and In-Service Training Visa

Foreign nationals wishing to enter the country for:

• Internships

• Educational courses

• Student exchange programmes

• In-service training

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may be granted a visa for up to 90 days, provided they submit the required supporting documentation.

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Work Permit Visa

A work permit visa is granted for a period of 30 days to foreign nationals who enter the country with a preliminary work permit issued in accordance with the Law on Work Permits for Foreigners. The citizens of countries who does not have an embassy, consulate or other representative office in the TRNC are required to have a passport valid for at least two years to be able to apply for a visa.

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Business Establishment Visa

Foreign nationals entering the country for the purpose of establishing a business may be granted a 30-day visa, provided they can demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to establish the business.

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Residence Permit Visa

The following visas may be issued to foreign nationals entering the country to apply for one of the residence permit categories.

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Family Residence Permit

Foreign nationals applying for a family residence permit may be granted a visa for this purpose for up to 90 days upon arrival.

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Residence Permit Based on Ownership of Immovable Property

Applicants who present an original Contract of Sale or Title Deed (Koçan) or other documentation proving ownership of immovable property may be granted a visa for up to 90 days.

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Student Residence Permit

Foreign nationals entering the country to obtain a student residence permit may be granted a 60-day visa upon presentation of a student registration or pre-registration certificate.

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Judicial and Administrative Purposes

People entering the country at the request or direction of judicial or administrative authorities may be granted a visa valid for the duration of their official duties.

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Scientific Research

People entering the country to undertake scientific research may be granted a visa valid for the duration of the research project.

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Please note: ​If you own a property or you are applying for a Family Residence Permit you may be issued with a visa of up to 90 days, however we would recommend that if you require <90 days for your stay you only request the number of days required.

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Graduates of TRNC Universities

Students who have:

• Graduated from any two-year higher education programme; or

• Completed at least three years of a four-year higher education programme in the TRNC,

may be granted a 30-day visa.

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Visa Extensions

If you wish to remain in the TRNC for longer than the period granted on your visa, you have two options:

1. Apply for a visa extension at Police Headquarters in Lefkoşa (Şehit Mustafa Hacı Yusuf Sokak, Küçük Kaymaklı, 99010); or

2. Cross the Green Line into the Republic of Cyprus and re-enter the TRNC.

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If you cross the Green Line Border, you should then be able to obtain a further 30-day visa. We recommend you mention you are planning to extend your visa when you exit the border to ensure they are happy to grant you the extension when you return.

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Applying at Police Headquarters

Visa extensions are generally granted only if one of the following applies:

• You own property in the TRNC and can present a signed and stamped Contract of Sale or, preferably, the original Koçan (title deed).

• You are the mother, father, husband, wife or child of a property owner in the TRNC and can provide:

  • A copy of the Contract of Sale or Koçan; and

  • Evidence of your relationship to the property owner.

• You are staying in a hotel and can present a paid hotel invoice or booking confirmation.

Please note: Visa extensions are not normally granted to people renting property in the TRNC.

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If you are applying for health reasons you will need to provide a letter from your doctor explaining why you cannot leave the TRNC. If you applying for other reasons then you must provide suitable documentary proof of the reason.

All applications for visa extension must be submitted before your visa expires. Applications after your visa has expired will not be accepted and you will be fined for any days when you remain in the country without a valid visa.

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Leaving and Re-entering the TRNC

If you leave the TRNC at the end of your visa period by crossing into the Republic of Cyprus and return a few hours later, you may be granted a further 30-day visa.

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This option is available only to people who are legally permitted to cross into the Republic of Cyprus.

A further 30-day visa is not guaranteed. You are advised to bring your flight ticket or other proof of your intended departure date so that immigration officers can assess the additional period of stay you require.

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Visa Penalties

The penalty for staying in the country beyond the expiry date of your visa is 1 x daily gross minimum wage for each day of the overstay. When you exit the country the fine will be levied, however payment of the fine will not be required until you re-enter the country. If you apply for residency and have an overstay fine, this must be paid before your residency application will be accepted by the Police.

If you have overstayed previously and acquire a second overstay fine, then the fine will be 2 x daily gross minimum wage.

If you have an outstanding fine for overstaying and you are outside the country you will not be able to re-enter Cyprus until you pay the fine, or until the fine times out. The time out period varies depending on circumstances and is several years.

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Source

Immigration Police Rules document (VISA-EL BROŞÜRÜ).