Entry, residence, and citizenship in the TRNC: what you need to know

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus remains one of the most accessible destinations for long-term residence and legalization of foreigners. Flexible migration rules, simple visa procedures, and a variety of grounds for residence permits and citizenship make the country attractive to tourists, investors, students, and entrepreneurs alike. Below, we will look at the key conditions for entry, options for legal residence, and ways to obtain citizenship.

Entry requirements for the TRNC

Visa-free regime for tourists

Citizens of most countries do not need a visa to visit the TRNC. Tourists arriving via Turkey receive an entry stamp upon arrival, which allows them to stay in the TRNC for up to 30 days. To obtain this stamp, you must present your return ticket.

As a rule, the stamp is placed in a special migration insert, not in the passport. This is important because an entry stamp in the TRNC in a foreign passport may cause difficulties in the future when visiting Greece or the Republic of Cyprus.

Entry from the Republic of Cyprus is carried out in accordance with the general requirements for Schengen Agreement countries.

Required documents

To enter the TRNC, you must have the following documents with you:

• a foreign passport valid for at least 90 days after the end of your trip;
• a migration card (to be filled out upon entry);
• a return ticket or a ticket to a third country;
• confirmation of a hotel reservation or other accommodation.

Extension of tourist stay

The period of stay on a tourist stamp can be extended to 90 days. The extension is processed at the central police station in Lefkoşa (Nicosia).

To do this, you need to provide supporting documentation, for example:

• the original stamped real estate purchase agreement;
• the original title deed;
• the original invoice or confirmation of accommodation from the hotel on paper with a stamp.

However, the extension will not be issued if the person is staying in rented accommodation, with friends or relatives, or only provides electronic confirmation of a hotel reservation.

Residence permit in TRNC

To stay in Northern Cyprus for more than 90 days, you need to get a residence permit. There are a few easy and common ways to do this.

Purchasing real estate

Purchasing real estate is one of the simplest and most popular ways to obtain a TRNC residence permit. The cost of the property is irrelevant: the law does not set a minimum threshold.

The residence permit is issued within 2–3 weeks.

• The first 3 years — for a period of 1 year;
• Then — renewal for 2 years.

Starting a business

Entrepreneurs receive a residence permit for a period of 12 months with annual renewal (along with a business license). After 6 years of legal business activity, they have the right to apply for permanent residence.

University education

Upon entry, students provide a letter of invitation from the university, on the basis of which they receive a student visa for a period of 60 days. Then a student residence permit is issued for 12 months with the possibility of annual renewal for the entire period of study. We wrote about TRSC higher education institutions here.

Employment

Working in the TRNC is only possible with a work permit. It is issued after receiving pre-approval from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Labor. The permit is valid for one year and applies exclusively to a specific employer, who is required to justify the need to hire a foreign specialist. The application review process takes up to four months.

Criteria for obtaining TRNC citizenship

Citizenship through marriage

One of the most accessible options is to marry a TRNC citizen. The main conditions are:

• no criminal record;
• be officially married for at least 1 year.

Citizenship through investment

To obtain citizenship through investment, the minimum threshold is €2 million. With investments of €5 million or more, the procedure is significantly accelerated, and citizenship can be obtained in the shortest possible time. Investments are most often directed towards business, construction, the hotel sector, casinos, restaurants, or retail and entertainment projects.

Citizenship based on length of residence and work

According to the law, citizenship can also be obtained by foreigners who:

• have been officially working in the TRNC for at least 7 years;
• or have been legally residing in the country continuously for 12 years. *It is important not to leave the island for more than 45 days per year, otherwise the period of residence will start counting down again.

Citizenship through real estate 

The purchase of real estate does not in itself give the right to become a citizen of Northern Cyprus. However, owning your own home greatly simplifies the long stay in the country required to obtain citizenship based on length of residence and employment.

Conclusion

TRNC offers a transparent and loyal migration system, allowing you to choose the best option for both short-term visits and long-term residence and obtaining a residence permit or citizenship. Regardless of the purpose — vacation, investment, education, or business — the region has one of the most accessible jurisdictions for comfortable living and legalization in the Mediterranean.