Eligibility for Permanent Residency in Northern Cyprus

Foreigners who wish to apply for a Permanent Residency Permit in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) can do so under several categories. Each category has specific criteria that applicants must meet to qualify. Below are the categories and the requirements for each:

• 1. Work Permit or Starting a Business Permission:
• • Residency Duration: Applicants must have resided in the TRNC for more than 6 years.
• • Uninterrupted Permit: Applicants can have a maximum of 40 days between work permits or business permissions
• • Days Outside TRNC: Applicants can spend up to 40 days outside the TRNC each year, including work permit breaks, and no more than 240 days outside the TRNC over the 6 years.
• • Other Requirements: A clean criminal record, a health check, valid social security payments, and property ownership or rental valued over €125,000 are required.
• 2. Owning a Property Less Than 60 Years Old on Application Date with Guaranteed Income:
• • Residency Duration: Applicants must have resided in the TRNC for more than 6 years
• • Uninterrupted Permit: Applicants can have a maximum of 40 days between permits
• • Days Outside TRNC: Applicants can spend less than 180 days outside the TRNC each year, and less than 1080 days outside the TRNC over the 6 years.
• • Other Requirements: A clean criminal record, a health check, valid health insurance, and property ownership or rental valued over €125,000 are required
• 3. Owning a Property More Than 60 Years Old on Application Date with Guaranteed Income:
• • Residency Duration: Applicants must have resided in the TRNC for more than 3 years
• • Uninterrupted Permit: Applicants can have a maximum of 40 days between permits
• • Days Outside TRNC: Applicants can spend less than 180 days outside the TRNC each year, and less than 540 days outside the TRNC over the 3 years
• • Other Requirements: A clean criminal record, a health check, valid health insurance, and property ownership or rental valued over €125,000 are required
• 4. Marriage to a TRNC Citizen:
• • Residency Duration: Applicants must have been married for more than 1 year
• • Other Requirements: A clean criminal record and a health check are required. There are no specific requirements regarding time spent outside the TRNC, uninterrupted permits, or property ownership
• 5. Born or Under 18 Years Old When Moved to the TRNC:
• • Residency Duration: Applicants must have been living in the TRNC for more than 6 years before their 18th birthday.
• • Days Outside TRNC: Applicants can have spent less than 100 days outside the TRNC before their 18th birthday
• • Other Requirements: A clean criminal record and a health check are required
• 6. Additional Notes:
• • Health Insurance: Applicants must maintain valid health insurance either from the Department of Health (Sağlık Bakanlığı) or through an approved private insurance policy. This insurance must be up to date and presented to the Ministry every two years. Failure to maintain valid insurance will render the Permanent Residency permit null and void.
• • Foreign Nationals Born in the TRNC or Moved Before Age 18: A foreign national who was born in the TRNC or who came to the TRNC before their 18th birthday should apply for Permanent Residency within two years of reaching 18 years, provided their parents are TRNC citizens or have had valid Work or Immovable Property Residency permits for at least two years.
• • Working/Business Permit Residency: Holding a Working or Business Permit Residency (White Kimlik Card) entitles the holder to work at any time during the validity period of the permit without the need for a separate work permit.