How to obtain your Temporary Residence Permit

1.  On your first application, visit the Immigration Section at your local Police station.

     (Opening hours are typically Mon-Fri 0815-1145) taking with you

◦      Your valid passport, and a photocopy of the photo page;

◦      2 recent passport photos;

◦      A photocopy, of your property sale contract,  kocan (deed) or rental contract in your name;

◦      local bank statement showing holder's name and latest balance;

◦      TL9.20 in revenue stamps (from local Post Office);

◦      Original letter from your local Muhtar, bearing two signatures and TL1.30 revenue stamps;

◦      Married couples should produce their marriage certificate, with a photocopy.

◦      Dependents over 18 years will need a notarised statement from their sponsor (eg parents) promising financial support.

If a couple apply together, each person must have a full set of documents.  For the first year it is only possible to obtain a residency permit for one year.  For successive renewals a 2 year option is available, if you are aged 60 or over.

If the documents are in order, you will be asked to obtain a medical test. You will be directed to your local State Hospital, eg residents of Lefke will go to Guzelyurt, Karpaz residents will go to Gazimagusa and Girne residents to Girne State Hospital.

In Girne, Take your passport and the paperwork given to you by the Police. Enter the Hospital from the visitors' car park at the rear of the hospital, on the lower level. Make sure you get your details listed by the uniformed official. You will be called in turn and allocated a specific test laboratory where you should go for blood and TB tests. The fee is TL135.

2.  Obtain your medical test from the designated medical laboratory. 

     Later, you will be given the test results in a sealed envelope. Do not open the envelope.

3.  Return to the police station with all the documents listed in 1 + receipt from your medical test.

4.   After about 3 weeks (4 for Karpaz residents) you go to the Immigration Dept in Lefkosa, taking with you

◦      Your passport

◦      Your medical report

◦      The fee of TL216 ( 2012 rate )

◦      TL8.5 in revenue stamps (You can buy stamps in the Ministry Cafe on the same floor)

5.  If all is in order, your residency permit will be stamped in your passport (while you wait) and you will be given a pink or blue registration booklet

6.  For renewal, repeat stages 1 and 4 above, but for stage 1 -

     (a)You don't need a medical **

     (b)Take your registration booklet+ up to date versions of the documents listed in para 1 above

     (c)Photocopy of the last residence stamp in your passport;

     (d)No passport photos are needed;

     (e)No revenue stamps are needed.

** Under 60's still need blood tests and x-rays (As at February 2012)

If your address has changed since your last renewal please ensure that Muhtar's letter shows this.

7.    Stage 4 is the same, but without a medical report.

8.    Applications for renewal should be made between 30 and 15 days before the permit expires. 

       Don't let your permit expire: there are hefty fines for doing so!

Notes:

Applicants over 60 need to take medical tests on their first application, but not on subsequent renewals. Over 60s may also request a permit valid for 2 years (at double the cost) when they go to the Ministry to get the permit stamped in their passport.

Residence permits will not normally be issued to persons who live and work abroad or to their dependents, even if the dependents wish to remain in TRNC full time.

Temporary residence permits must be renewed annually or bi-annually. Fees as at 1st January 2013 are as follows:

If your permit has expired, don't leave the TRNC without renewing it. In emergencies, renewal can be expedited.

For those residents that are under 60. If you have to leave TRNC in an emergency and your permit has expired/is being processed/will expire while you are out of the country, contact Immigration at the Ministry of Interior and inform them. Don't try to get a letter or advice from the Police: they are not authorised to give advice or issue such letters. Upon your return please ensure that you go through the renewal procedure within 30 days of your return; your renewal however will be backdated to your anniversary renewal date.

Dependents of Work Permit holders must apply for Residence Permits.

Work permit holders who give up work completely should give up their work permits and apply for residence permits. Do not give up a work permit if you intend to do any work at all.

Over 60s - New Residency Rules

Please go to the following link

Blood Donor Exemptions for under 60's

Please go to the following link

Permanent Residency

Once you have a minimum of 5 successive "physical " annual residency stamps you may apply for permanent residency.  Please note that a two year residency stamp counts as 1 stamp so the criteria is not 5 successive years.

A permanent residency application form can be obtained from the police.  At the time of entry (March 2013), you will also be required to produce all the normal residency documentation plus a form confirming that you have no criminal record. A blood test and chest X-ray will also be required, regardless of your age.

The cost of permanent residency is linked to the minimum wage figure.  As this changes frequently it is advisable to ask the police to provide you with the current charge at the time of your application.  As a rough guide, the figure, excluding the costs of blood tests and x-rays was approx 1600tl in March 2013.

As with other residency procedures, you complete the formalities at Lefkosa, pay the appropriate fees and collect your residency permit. You should allow a greater time interval for permanent residency application to finalisation, say 4 weeks.

As no member has yet applied for permanent residency in 2013, we would like your feedback of the procedures and costs.