Frequently Asked Questions

Most nationalities do not: a visa is issued on arrival by an immigration officer at the designated ports and border crossings. Only citizens of Armenia, Nigeria and Syria must apply in person at a TRNC embassy, representation or consulate abroad and obtain a visa before travelling.

Under the official rule, the stay on a visa cannot exceed ninety days at a time and ninety days in any one-hundred-eighty-day period. The visa actually issued at the border depends on your purpose of entry — for example, up to thirty days for a tourist stay in a hotel or rented accommodation.

Arrivals coming for higher education are asked for the university's official acceptance letter at entry. If you enter in order to apply for a student residence permit, presenting a registration or pre-registration letter gets you a sixty-day visa for the application.

At least six months for citizens of countries without a TRNC representation and non-EU countries; at least two months for citizens of EU countries and countries with a TRNC representation. If you will apply for a residence permit, note it is issued for sixty days less than your passport's remaining validity.

Yes. The Green Line land crossings are approved entry points, and those crossing from the south must present the same documents required at any other entry point. See the crossing guide for the checkpoint list and practicalities.

No. The official source states that holding a visa issued abroad does not guarantee entry; the decision rests with the immigration officer at the border, who may ask for additional documents.

According to the official source, foreigners who stay longer than the period granted by their visa or visa exemption, or longer than ninety days, must obtain a residence permit unless they are otherwise legally authorised. Because relocating means staying beyond ninety days, the residence-permit obligation applies to you. See the residence-permit types guide for the right permit and its conditions.

According to the official source, a residence permit is issued for a period sixty days shorter than your passport's remaining validity, so your passport's validity matters. The minimum validity required at entry also depends on your nationality (for example, some travellers need at least two months, others at least six months). Consider renewing your passport before you move.

A foreign national cannot work without a permit arranged through an employer. The employer first obtains a pre-approval (ön izin); the worker enters with a passport and entry visa; then the employer completes the work-permit process within set deadlines. The permit is tied to a specific employer, workplace and occupation — you cannot use it to work elsewhere.

Some residence-permit types require a minimum income indexed to the minimum wage. This guide states no amounts; the current thresholds and which permit type requires which condition are covered in the residence-permit types guide, based on the official source.

Entry conditions and required passport validity vary by nationality. Confirm your visa status and the minimum passport validity from the official source before you travel, then plan your residence permit around the ninety-day rule from the outset.

Under the official rule, foreign nationals staying beyond the period their visa or visa exemption allows — or beyond ninety days — must obtain a residence permit unless they hold another form of legal status (a work permit, business-establishment permit or permanent residence counts as such status while valid).

The official source requires a monthly income of at least five times the minimum wage, or a year's worth of that amount held in a bank account. Because the threshold is indexed to the minimum wage, the figure moves with it — use the current minimum wage shown on this page.

There is a short-term permit route for property owners. The home must be suitable for living and used for that purpose; if the title deed is in your name you need a monthly income of at least three times the minimum wage, and if you bought under an ongoing payment contract you need that income on top of the monthly instalment. See the official source for full conditions.

Spouses of TRNC citizens are exempt from the residence permit, but must apply to the Immigration Office for an exemption certificate within forty days of their legal stay expiring.

The current gross monthly minimum wage is shown in the thresholds section of this page, sourced from the labour ministry and updated through this site's data pipeline. Multiply it by the stated factor (three or five) for the current threshold, and confirm the exact basis with the Immigration Office.

Yes — there is a short-term residence permit for property owners. You do not need the title deed in hand: a sale contract registered with the District Land Registry, at least one third of the price paid, and a filed application for the Council of Ministers' purchase permission are enough. You also need a monthly income of at least three times the minimum wage, and the home must be suitable for living and actually used as your residence.

One-year permits for the first three years; after that, two-year permits, provided the title deed has been transferred into your name.

Two regimes overlap. The 2024 law (39/2024) allows one property (up to three apartments for citizens of countries that recognise the TRNC and grant reciprocal rights). Decree 63/2026, in force since 11 May 2026, raises the apartment limit to three (six with reciprocity) and adds a category of two two-storey villas within a housing estate (three with reciprocity) — but only while the decree remains in force. The permanent bill is before Parliament; confirm the current state with a lawyer before signing anything.

Yes. Article 5 of the Permanent Residence Permit Law (51/2015) requires a home worth at least 125,000 euros (or equivalent), a guaranteed income covering you and your family, and at least six years of uninterrupted residence permits in the home-plus-income category. For applicants aged 60 or over, six years becomes three.

No — this is a common confusion. The short-term property-owner permit has no minimum property value; the 125,000-euro figure belongs only to the permanent residence route under Law 51/2015 art. 5.

No. Trustee (yediemin) arrangements made to acquire more property than the law allows are prohibited; a foreigner's trustee counts as a foreigner under the law, and every party to such a contract commits an offence. See the title-deed guide for the penalty framework.

Under article 15(5) of the Residence Permits and Visas Regulation, the requirement to be free of a disease classed as a general public-health threat does not apply to applicants who have turned 60. This waiver applies to every application, not just a one-time transition. The regulation can change — confirm current practice with the Immigration Department before applying.

Article 28A(1) grants an unconditional five-year residence permit exemption to Turkish citizens who have turned 65 and will reside with children who hold legal residence status. This is separate from, and narrower than, the article 15(5) health waiver — the age threshold (65, not 60), the citizenship condition, and the co-residence requirement all differ. Confirm the current text with the Immigration Department.

Article 14 of the Regulation lists a separate short-term residence permit category for pensioners of the Social Insurance Department (SSD), with no income requirement, valid for up to five years. This is distinct from the income-based or property-owner routes.

Under article 5 of the Türkiye–TRNC Social Security Agreement in force (signed 2017), your pension cannot be reduced, suspended or cancelled because you reside in North Cyprus, and payment is made in the paying institution's currency (art. 37). Practical details such as payment frequency and intermediary banks are not set out in the main agreement — confirm current arrangements with SGK or SSD.

The nationwide ambulance/emergency line is 112. This page lists the switchboard numbers for the state and private hospitals below, and the Cyprus Turkish Pharmacists' Association runs a live duty-pharmacy lookup covering every district.

Yes — under the official rules, foreign nationals enrolling in associate, bachelor's, master's or doctoral programmes at a higher-education institution in North Cyprus must obtain a student residence permit.

The official page lists a valid passport, a valid student certificate from your university, and the receipt for the permit fee paid to the tax office. During the process a positive health report is also submitted to the Department. Your university may ask for more — confirm the current list with its international office.

General residence applications go to the Immigration section of the District Police Directorate for your address, but for university students the Immigration Office provides an online application on its official website. See the official source linked at the bottom of this page.

Yes. Under the official process steps, once your application reaches the Department you submit a positive health report to it. If the report is not delivered within the required window, the application is refused and you are asked to leave. The official page does not say which institution issues the report or which tests it covers — confirm with your university.

The official page states no student-specific deadline. The general rule is that a first application is made within a set period from the start of your entry visa. Apply promptly after enrolment and confirm timing with your university.

No — your employer does. Under the Foreigners' Work Permits Law, an employer who wants to hire a foreign worker must obtain the permit, and workers receive it through their employer. Before you travel, the employer must obtain pre-approval (ön izin) from the Ministry; entering without it means no employer can legally hire you.

Between six months and one year, per the official source. It is tied to the specific workplace named on it — you cannot work anywhere else or for another employer, and the permit cannot be transferred.

The employer. Under the Regulation, all costs and fees connected to the work permit are borne by the employer; they cannot be deducted from your wage or charged back to you.

The Law states that when the employment relationship ends — in whatever way — the work permit becomes invalid and counts as cancelled. Your rights under the Labour Law survive. How long you may then remain in the country is a matter of immigration law, not labour law; confirm your position with the Immigration Office.

No. A valid work permit counts as residence status for as long as it remains valid, so no separate residence permit is required.

A decree in force since 1 February 2026 raised the employee's social insurance share for nationals of countries that have no social security agreement with North Cyprus ('third-country' workers). Turkey has such an agreement, so Turkish citizens stay on the standard rates. Confirm which payroll type applies to you with your employer and the Social Insurance Department.

No. A student residence permit keeps you legally in the country as a student; on its own it does not grant the right to work. Employment of foreign nationals is governed by the Foreign Workers' Work Permits Law and needs a separate permit.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security's online services system has a dedicated 'Student Work Permit' application and renewal channel. Under the Foreign Workers' Work Permits Regulation, this permit can be obtained starting in the second year of study; as with a general work permit, the process runs through the employer. Confirm the eligibility conditions with your prospective employer and the Labour Department.

According to the official source, a first application requires a student employment request form, a student enrolment certificate, tax and social-security clearance documents for both the workplace and the worker, a passport copy, a health report and an employment contract. The full list is on this page; confirm the current forms with the Labour Department when you apply.

Under Part Five (Articles 21-25) of the Foreign Workers' Work Permits Regulation: students may be employed for at most 4 hours a day and 24 hours a week total, with overtime prohibited. Employment is barred in night clubs, casinos, and betting offices (and related businesses). The number of student employees at any one workplace cannot exceed a set share of that workplace's full-time headcount. The regulation is subject to change — confirm the current text with the Ministry before applying.

Working without a permit breaches the regulations and is subject to penalties. According to the official source, a foreign national who enters without the required prior approval cannot be employed at any workplace, and no work permit application can be filed for such a person. Complete the permit process before starting work.

Most universities want to see both the original document and a copy, and some ask for certified copies of certain documents. The exact practice differs from one university to another — follow the instructions in your acceptance letter, and ask the admissions office if you are unsure.

Documents in a language other than Turkish or English usually need a certified translation; EMU, for example, requires English translations of any document not already in English. Which documents must be translated, and what form of certification is required (notary, apostille), depends on the university and the document. Confirm the exact requirement with your university in writing.

This varies by university, by document, and by your country's rules, so this page does not state that any specific document 'needs' or 'does not need' an apostille. Get your university's written requirement first, then arrange translation and legalisation to match it.

As early as possible. Translation, notarisation, and apostille/legalisation of a diploma can take days or weeks, and the process differs by country. Once your acceptance letter arrives, extract its document list and start closing any gaps immediately.

Tuition and fees vary by university, department, and academic year; no figures are listed on this page. Check the current fee directly on the university's official fee/admissions page.

Some universities offer a parent-facing portal. Eastern Mediterranean University's (EMU) Family Portal (familyportal.emu.edu.tr) is one example — it lets a parent see the student's courses, results, and fee status. This feature varies by university; ask the admissions office whether your child's university offers something similar.

The two options have different cost structures — a dorm often bundles most costs into one fee, while a private rental adds a deposit, agent commission, and separate bills. See Dorm or Private Rental and the student renting guide for a comparison; get actual figures from current sources, not from this page.

Health report requirements and insurance terms vary by university; see the student health guide for details. Contact details for hospitals to call in an emergency are in the Health emergencies section below.

The student budget calculator totals the items you enter (housing, daily living, exchange rate) on one screen and uses the current exchange rate. Tuition is not included in the calculator — track it separately on the university's fee page.

Yes. The TRNC State Scholarship for Foreigners (Scholarship Regulation, art. 31) is reserved for third-country nationals — it excludes Turkish and TRNC citizens. It can cover tuition and/or dorm fees and/or a monthly stipend, is capped at 200 recipients at any time, and is awarded by a Ministry selection committee. Apply through YOBİS at the start of the term.

No. The Support Scholarship, State Scholarship and Merit Scholarship under the Scholarship Regulation (art. 5, art. 10) are reserved for TRNC citizens with permanent residence in North Cyprus who completed secondary school there without interruption. Third-country nationals should look at the TRNC State Scholarship for Foreigners (art. 31) and their own university's entrance-exam scholarships instead.

A university entrance-exam scholarship is a tuition discount set and run by the university itself, based on your entrance-exam score. The state-funded scholarships (Support, State, Merit, and the Foreigners scholarship) come from the Scholarship Regulation, are applied for through YOBİS, and are run by the Ministry — a separate system with separate criteria.

The Regulation defines award amounts as a percentage of the gross minimum wage (art. 16), recalculated once a year against January's minimum wage — not a fixed lira figure. The current percentages are listed on this page; multiply by the current minimum wage shown here for today's value.

Except for maritime-related programmes, the mandatory internship is at least 30 and at most 45 working days. Every 20 working days of internship earns at least 6 ECTS credits, recorded on the diploma supplement. Students already employed and insured in the relevant sector may apply for an exemption if they've completed the minimum required period.

That requires a separate student work permit, not the mandatory internship. See the Student Work Rules guide for the hour limits, sector restrictions and required documents.

Under the Ministry of Education's stage structure, primary school starts for children who turn 6 before 31 December of that school year and runs for 5 years; this stage is compulsory. Pre-school (ages 4-5) is optional.

Per the Ministry of Education, secondary education runs at least 6 years: 3 years of middle school, followed by general, vocational, or technical high school.

The Ministry of Education's site did not have a documented step-by-step process for enrolling a foreign national child — residence permit requirements, paperwork, or language support — and this could not be confirmed from an official source while preparing this guide. Contact the local state school or the Ministry directly for the current process.

Under the Family Residence Permit provision (article 16) of the Residence Permits and Visas Regulation, unmarried children under 25 of a 'supporter' holding a residence permit, permanent residence permit, work permit, business-establishment permit, or student residence permit qualify under the family permit (no upper age limit for daughters). Check the exact conditions for your family's situation against the official source.

The Ministry of Education's Primary Education Department list of private schools includes Bellapais School, Doğa International Schools, Necat British School Kyrenia, The English School of Kyrenia, and Yakın Doğu İlkokulu. The General Secondary Education Department's list includes Dr. Suat Günsel Girne College, TED Northern Cyprus College, Yakın Doğu College, and Necat British College (Kyrenia + Nicosia).

Recognition depends on the university, the programme and your home country — no blanket guarantee is possible. First confirm the university and programme are accredited by YÖDAK. Then check recognition with the competent authority in the country where you plan to work or continue studying, before you enrol. For Türkiye specifically, recognition runs through the YÖK equivalence (denklik) process.

It varies by university and programme; many programmes are taught in English and some in Turkish. Some English-taught programmes require a preparatory year or a language-proficiency test. Confirm the exact language and proficiency requirements on the programme's official page.

Application periods vary by university; there are generally fall and spring intakes, and some universities also offer a summer intake. Confirm the current application calendar directly with the university.

Verify on the YÖDAK website that both the university and your intended programme are recognised. Accreditation status is the basic condition for your diploma being recognised later.

The Ministry's Support, State and Merit scholarships are reserved for TRNC citizens; most international students fall outside them. A separate scholarship, the TRNC State Scholarship for Foreigners, is open to third-country nationals. See [Scholarships & Internships](/en/rehber/egitim/scholarships-internships) for the full picture.

YÖDAK is the Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council of North Cyprus. It is responsible for planning, oversight and accreditation of higher education institutions. To check whether a university is recognised inside North Cyprus, use YÖDAK's official university list.

Recognition in any country outside North Cyprus is decided by that country's own competent authority — not by YÖDAK. Before enrolling, check the recognition rules of the authority in the country where you plan to use the degree (for work, further study, or professional licensing).

No. YÖDAK accreditation shows the university is recognised within North Cyprus. It does not automatically make the degree valid elsewhere. Treat local accreditation and foreign recognition as two separate checks.

Using a North Cyprus degree in Turkey generally requires a separate recognition/equivalence process through YÖK, Turkey's Council of Higher Education. This is independent of YÖDAK accreditation. Confirm current requirements on YÖK's recognition pages.

Check YÖDAK's official university list on its website rather than third-party sites. Confirm the specific university appears there before deciding to enrol; lists can be updated over time.

There is no single right answer. Which is more economical depends on the city, the type of dorm, the location of the flat, whether you share a room, and whether bills are included. A dorm often bundles most costs into one fee, while a rental has separate line items — deposit, agency commission, and utility bills. Run the comparison for your own situation with the Student Budget Calculator, and confirm current figures with the university's accommodation page and local listings.

In North Cyprus, residential rents are commonly quoted in British pounds (GBP), and payment terms vary by contract. This is a well-established practice. Before signing, get in writing which currency you actually pay in and how the exchange rate is applied. To see what a GBP rent is worth in Turkish lira today, use the Currency Converter.

Usually yes — dorm places can fill up early in peak intake periods. Application timing, availability, and conditions vary by university and by dorm. Confirm the exact application calendar and current availability directly with the university's accommodation office.

In North Cyprus, renting usually involves a deposit, and where a contract goes through an agent, a commission may also apply. The existence of these items is common; the amounts and any deposit multiple vary by contract and by what the parties agree. Before signing, clarify each item and the refund conditions in writing.

Put the total move-in cost of each option (dorm: the up-front fee; rental: deposit + possible commission + first rent + utility connections) and its regular monthly cost side by side against your own budget. Because figures vary, get current values from their sources and ask for a written quote.

Many tenancy agreements in North Cyprus state the rent in British pounds (GBP) rather than Turkish Lira, even though daily spending is in Lira. When the rent is in sterling, the Lira you pay each month is usually calculated from the current exchange rate. Before signing, confirm in writing which currency the rent is set in, which rate and date convert it to Lira, and in which currency you will hand over the money.

If you plan to fund rent from an account in another country, international transfers can carry bank fees and a conversion spread, and the amount that arrives can differ from what you sent. Agree with the landlord on the accepted payment method and who covers transfer fees, keep every receipt, and treat the sterling figure as an amount that varies in Lira from month to month.

It is common to be asked for a deposit (security) and, if you use an agency, a commission. The amounts and how they are calculated vary by contract, landlord, and agent, so this page gives no figure or multiple. Get the exact amount in writing, confirm what each payment is for, and keep receipts.

A written, signed contract protects both sides: putting the rent, currency, deposit-return terms, and bill responsibilities in writing reduces later disputes. For your deposit, record the property's condition, fixtures, and meter readings in photos and text on move-in day, ideally agreed with the landlord. For your legal rights as a tenant, consult official sources and, if needed, legal support.

It is the number of a taxpayer registration (mükellefiyet kaydı) held by the Tax Office, the Gelir ve Vergi Dairesi. Some banks and some rental-related procedures may ask for it. It is separate from your passport number, student ID or residence permit.

In person, at the Tax Office branch for your district. The official site publishes no application procedure or document list for foreigners, so call the branch first and ask exactly which documents to bring (Nicosia head office: +90 392 228 81 43). Bring your passport in any case.

Sources conflict: some third-party guides list it among account-opening documents, others do not, and no bank publishes an official document list. Ask the bank you plan to use — requirements can differ by bank and even by branch.

No. The online tax portal is for existing taxpayers (filing and payments), and its login credentials are issued at the Tax Office in person. The TRNC e-Government portal explicitly states it offers no Tax Office services.

That claim circulates on unofficial websites, but none of it — the document list or the same-day timing — is confirmed by any official source. Treat it as hearsay and confirm with the branch by phone before you go.

The TRNC Central Bank's bank branches list names 23 licensed banks; the full list and branch phone numbers are on the Central Bank's site.

At least one bank's product page (Limasol Turkish Cooperative Bank) confirms accounts in GBP, USD, and EUR alongside Lira. Foreign-currency account options at other banks were not confirmed while preparing this guide; ask the bank you are interested in directly.

This is not published on any bank's official page. The document list can vary by bank and even by branch; ask for the full list when you book your branch appointment.

Turk Bank's product page lists a prepaid card option alongside its credit cards, which can be an alternative for newcomers without local credit history. This option was not confirmed at other banks while preparing this guide.

Yes, some universities have a branch on or near campus. See the bank section of the first-week guide for details.

Dial 112 for emergency medical help and ambulances. The number is published on the TRNC Police General Directorate's and the Public Information Office's official pages.

Don't carry numbers over from elsewhere. North Cyprus publishes its own list; Turkey's 154 traffic line, for example, does not operate here — all police matters including traffic go to 155. The south runs a separate system, so use the list on this page while in the north.

The Turkish Cypriot Pharmacists Association (KTEB) publishes each day's duty pharmacies for every region at kteb.org/dp, with name, hours, phone and address, and offers a mobile app on Google Play.

There is no single schedule — hours vary by region and season. In summer, for example, duty pharmacies in Nicosia, Famagusta, Kyrenia and Güzelyurt run 08:00–24:00, while Lefke and İskele run 08:00–22:00. Check KTEB's working-hours page for the current table.

Kıb-Tek, the electricity authority, runs the 188 fault line; its general call centre is 0392 600 09 60, per Kıb-Tek's regional contact page.

No. There is no NHS- or GHS-style universal scheme. State healthcare is free (or state-covered) for TRNC citizens; foreign residents rely on social insurance coverage from local employment, an approved private health insurance policy, or the Health Fund levy paid with their residence permit — and pay out of pocket otherwise.

Under article 15(8) of the Residence Permits and Visas Regulation, every residence permit applicant pays a Health Fund levy scaled to the permit duration — unless exempt through social insurance coverage or a private health insurance policy accepted by the Ministry of Health.

Access and cost are separate questions. The official position is that all visitors can receive emergency treatment in state hospitals; no official source says it is free for everyone. Free treatment is documented for citizens and for Health Fund levy payers. Whether a non-payer is billed after an emergency is not officially published — confirm with the hospital.

Fees are set by the Health Institutions Fees Tariff Regulation, but the regulation's text and current tariff amounts are not published anywhere publicly accessible. This page therefore quotes no figures — confirm the current fee at the hospital cash desk before treatment.

Often in private hospitals: the official information office notes most international health insurance is valid there, and large private hospitals list international insurers (BUPA, CIGNA, Allianz Global and others) as contracted institutions. Whether a given policy also exempts you from the residence-application Health Fund levy is a separate question — the Ministry's list of accepted insurances is not published, so verify with the authorities.

The state does not publish a licensed-companies list; in practice the most comprehensive list is the membership of the sector association KKSRSB — 40 non-life, 3 life and pension, and 2 reinsurance companies. Turkish giants such as Allianz and Acıbadem are not on it, even though some private hospitals accept their policies as contracted insurers.

No centralised, confirmed 24/7 crisis or suicide-prevention line was found in official sources for North Cyprus. In an acute crisis (suicidal thoughts, risk of harm to yourself or others), call 112; state hospital emergency departments can connect you to psychiatric support.

The main universities in North Cyprus run their own free, confidential counselling centres on campus. Access depends on your university — contact your own institution's counselling centre directly.

Barış Mental Health Hospital (Lefkoşa/Nicosia) is the Ministry of Health's central mental health institution. Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital also runs a Clinical Psychology department, and other state hospitals have psychiatry outpatient clinics. Appointments go through the shared 1101 line.

A private sector exists, but this page does not recommend individual providers. The Cyprus Turkish Psychologists' Association's official site is a starting point for finding a licensed psychologist.

Most public mental health services operate in Turkish. University counselling centres vary — some offer sessions in English, especially where staff serve large international student populations, but this is not guaranteed everywhere. Your university's international office is often the fastest bridge if you need help finding English-language support.

No. It only explains which institutions exist and how to reach them. For diagnosis, treatment or medication decisions, consult a health professional.

Do not assume it is. Coverage differs by policy, and North Cyprus is a separate jurisdiction, so some policies exclude it or cover it only partially. Before you travel, get written confirmation from your insurer on whether the policy is valid here, what it covers (emergencies, hospital admission, repatriation), and how to claim.

English is widely used in university towns and at private clinics, and many practitioners speak it, but it is not guaranteed at every state facility or with every provider. For anything important, confirm in advance and consider bringing a summary of your medical history in English.

The TRNC Police website lists the emergency (ambulance) number as 112, police as 155, and fire as 199. Your campus or residence may also have its own internal emergency or security line — ask your university on arrival and save the numbers to your phone.

A health report may be requested as part of university enrolment and the residence process; whether it is required and where you obtain it varies by university. Follow the document list in your acceptance letter and from your student office.

Some universities offer or require student health insurance; practice varies by institution, so confirm with your registration office. The Ministry of Health also runs an official health insurance portal — check the official page for conditions.

No. The TRNC Public Information Office confirms that buses from the five district terminals (Lefkoşa, Girne, Gazimağusa, Güzelyurt, Lefke) connect all regions, but publishes no combined route, timetable or fare list. Each operator (İtimat, AKVA, KIBHAS and others) runs its own schedule — call the operator or ask at the terminal counter for current times.

İtimat Otobüş runs hourly departures on this route daily from 07:00 to 19:00 (source: itimatgroup.com). Tickets can be bought as a QR code through the AdaKart mobile app or in person at İtimat's offices.

KIBHAS runs services from Ercan to Nicosia, Kyrenia, Famagusta, Güzelyurt and Lefke within a 05:00-18:30 window. There is no fixed timetable — departures are built around flight arrival and departure times. Call KIBHAS's Ercan office (+90 533 870 78 48) or check its mobile app for current departures. For the rest of what's available at the airport, see the Ercan Airport guide.

Yes. EMU (DAÜ) provides free transport for all its own students on five city routes plus campus ring services. METU NCC's campus shuttle is operated by AKVA. These services are only open to students of the university that runs them — students elsewhere use the intercity operators.

Generally no. City minibuses and dolmuşes in most places thin out or stop around 19:00-20:00. A taxi or private car is the standard option after that.

Taxis use a meter, with separate day and night rates (night from 22:00 to 06:00); this guide doesn't list amounts because no verified official fare table was found. For intercity distances, confirm the price with the driver before you get in.

Yes. The core requirement comes from the Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) Law (Cap. 333); the Insurance Services (Regulation and Supervision) Law (60/2010) supplements it with supervision, a guarantee fund and border-crossing enforcement. Insurance companies cannot refuse to issue this policy on request.

No. Mandatory third-party insurance only covers bodily injury and property damage you cause to others. Damage to your own vehicle needs optional comprehensive cover (kasko).

There are two separate tracks. Under the fixed-penalty (no-court) route, the 66/2007 penalty schedule (code 114) sets the fine at 25% of the minimum wage plus 20 penalty points (confirm the current schedule); unpaid after 30 days, the case goes to court. Under the court route, Cap. 333 article 3 allows a fine of up to three times the minimum wage on conviction. Penalty points also carry separate consequences for your licence (below).

Reaching 100 points within 15 months of your first penalty point triggers a 3-month licence suspension. If you don't reach 100 points within that 15-month window, the points reset. Repeat suspensions escalate — 6 months the second time, 1 year the third, then double the previous period each time after.

Yes. Per Akgünler Denizcilik's official FAQ, vehicles with Turkish plates need at least one month of TRNC mandatory third-party insurance to enter, and the policy can be arranged in the customs area on arrival. Students, military personnel and civil servants need at least three months. Your Turkish insurance is not valid in North Cyprus.

Yes. Under Law 60/2010 article 78A, anyone crossing a land border checkpoint by vehicle must obtain a third-party insurance certificate from a TRNC-licensed insurer — issued only by that insurer's staff on duty at the checkpoint that day. Pricing is quoted at the checkpoint; this page does not state a figure.

As a short-term visitor, yes: the official source states that visitors can drive non-commercial vehicles on foreign licences — including those from the UK, the EU and Türkiye — and that a visitor's licence is valid for 90 days from the date of entry.

Official TRNC sources do not mention an IDP requirement; they state that short-term visitors can drive non-commercial vehicles on their national licences. If in doubt, confirm with the Traffic Department before travelling.

Your visitor status expires. Under the official rule, you must apply for a TRNC driving licence within 30 days of your visitor status expiring.

For third-country nationals, the official source lists a preparation exam on road rules and traffic signs from the TRNC Highway Traffic Rules Book, plus at least 5 days of driving lessons under a driving-school instructor (8 hours of daytime and 2 hours of night driving per day). Confirm what applies to your licence with the Traffic Department.

Not as a general rule. Per the official source, only drivers whose licence records a disability are referred to the Health Board, and the conversion follows the board's report.

Not as fixed lira amounts: fixed-penalty traffic offences are defined in law as a percentage of the minimum wage, applied together with penalty points, so fines rise automatically whenever the minimum wage changes. Check current figures against official sources.

There is no officially published document list. The practice that works on the ground (unofficial, based on lived experience, no written source): get your Turkish licence certified at the Turkish Embassy in Nicosia, pay the licence tax at the Tax Office, start driving immediately on the tax receipt, and collect the card licence about 3 weeks later (cars are issued a class D licence, which also covers class J). Confirm the current process with the relevant department before applying.

An amendment signed in Nicosia on 30 December 2025 would stop licences being retained during conversion and instead return them to the holder with an official record. It is not yet in force — ratification by both sides is still pending.

General switchboard +90 (392) 600 5000. For baggage/ground handling: Istanbul Handling (0392) 231 47 14 / (0533) 888 28 81, and KIBHAS 0533 870 78 48 — both listed on the airport's official contact page.

The airport's own Passenger and Visitor Guide lists 13 bus lines at the terminal, a taxi rank operating 24 hours, and 5 car rental offices. Routes, timetables, and fares are not published on any official source — confirm current details at the relevant counter in the terminal or on the airport's own site.

The airport's Passenger and Visitor Guide lists a currency exchange counter (MÜSMER EXCHANGE) at the terminal, plus multiple bank ATMs. Confirm current rates and hours with the counter itself.

Parking is paid; the first 20 minutes are free. Rates are not covered in this guide — confirm current pricing on the airport's own site.

Check the airport's Arrivals page for current routes and destinations; that page shows live flight status rather than a static list.

The main route is Taşucu–Kyrenia, run by two operators, Akgünler Denizcilik and Filo Denizcilik. A seasonal route, Anamur–Kyrenia, has run since 2024 and is the shortest sea crossing between Türkiye and North Cyprus. Mersin–Famagusta is mainly a cargo/RoRo route with limited passenger capacity.

This page does not list sailing days or times — operators do not guarantee a fixed year-round timetable, and schedules shift with the season. Confirm the current timetable directly with Akgünler Denizcilik (+90 392 444 4364, akgunlerbilet.com) or Filo Denizcilik (filodenizcilik.net).

Most nationalities get a visa on arrival at the port. A few nationalities (per current North Cyprus rules) must apply in person at a TRNC representation abroad before travelling. See the entry and visa guide for the country-by-country breakdown — check it before you book, not at the port.

A valid passport. Turkish citizens can also enter with a national ID card. Requirements vary by nationality — see the entry and visa guide linked below for your specific case.

A physical, printed driving licence — not just the chip-ID-integrated licence tied to Turkey's e-Devlet system, which North Cyprus police cannot verify. The vehicle's original registration document. And, if you are not the registered owner, a notarised power of attorney explicitly stating the car may be taken abroad.

No. You need a separate North Cyprus traffic insurance policy, which can be arranged in the customs area at the port on arrival — minimum one month, or three months for students, military personnel and civil servants.

As a rule, no. Under the Motor Vehicle Age Restriction Regulation (MTAYST), an imported vehicle must be within an age limit and must be right-hand drive. The one exception is the 'settler' exemption (article 6), which has its own strict conditions, explained below.

No. MTAYST's definition explicitly limits the exemption for foreigners to people who are 'not a student.' If you hold student status, you cannot use the one-time age-limit exemption to import a vehicle; buying locally is the only route.

No. A vehicle imported under the settler exemption cannot be sold or transferred for 3 years; during that period only the owner and their cohabiting spouse or first-degree relatives may use it (MTAYST article 6).

As a rule, no. MTAYST bans left-hand-drive imports across all vehicle categories; since traffic in North Cyprus runs on the left, imported vehicles must be right-hand drive. A few narrow exceptions defined in the regulation (force majeure, classic cars, diplomatic cases) exist, but this rule is not expected to flex outside them.

At one of five regional inspection centres: Nicosia, Famagusta, Kyrenia, Güzelyurt, or İskele. Required documents and addresses are in the Contacts and Inspection section below.

Yes, but the same import rules apply — there is no separate age-limit or right-hand-drive exemption for a vehicle arriving by ferry. For the documents required at the port (vehicle registration, power of attorney, North Cyprus traffic insurance), see [Ferry Travel](/en/rehber/ulasim/ferry-travel).

Name, street and building number, neighbourhood, then the district with its 99xxx postal code, and finally 'Mersin 10' and 'Turkey' as the last two lines. Per the Postal Department, 'Mersin 10 Turkey' is the valid official postal address for the whole territory; mail routes through the Turkish postal network.

International postal systems do not list North Cyprus as a country, so its mail connects to the world through the Turkish postal service (PTT). 'Mersin 10' is a routing designation: the item enters Turkey as domestic mail and is forwarded across. It is an addressing convention, not a statement about where you live.

There is no 'North Cyprus' option at checkout. Select Turkey as the country, use your district plus 99xxx postal code, and end the address with 'Mersin 10'. Whether a given retailer actually ships to that address varies — confirm with the seller before ordering.

Items moving through the Postal Department can be tracked within North Cyprus at the official gonderitakip.gov.ct.tr site using the 13-character barcode. Packages sent via private couriers from Turkey are tracked in each company's own system.

Only the couriers' own official claims exist: Yurtiçi Kargo's site quotes an average of 1-6 business days from dispatch in Turkey, Aras Kargo quotes 3-4 or 4-5 business days depending on origin, and DHL eCommerce (formerly MNG) quotes 2-3 business days. Customs processing can add time.

The TRNC Customs Department decides shipment by shipment; dutiable packages must be collected by the recipient from a parcel post office or Nicosia customs. We could not locate any TRNC legislation setting a duty-free threshold for postal shipments — treatment varies, so confirm with the Customs Department before shipping anything valuable.

Carry a small amount of Turkish Lira in cash for your first days; buses, small shops, and some kiosks may not always take cards. Card acceptance varies by business. You can exchange currency at the airport or banks and withdraw Lira from ATMs.

Yes. North Cyprus uses the British-style Type G socket with three flat pins; round-pin plugs from Turkey or continental Europe do not fit directly. Bring a Type G adapter or buy one locally.

You can buy a line from the stores of the local mobile operators in North Cyprus. Registration usually requires ID or a passport. Confirm current packages and registration rules directly through the operator's official channels.

Accounts are generally opened in-branch by appointment or in a queue, and required documents vary by bank. University enrolment and residence steps may take priority in the first week; ask your university's student office for guidance on opening an account.

Annex I of EU Council Regulation (EC) No 866/2004 names 9 checkpoints open for crossing by people: Agios Dhometios, Astromeritis–Zodhia, Kato Pyrgos–Karavostasi, Kato Pyrgos–Kokkina, Kokkina–Pachyammos, Ledra Palace, Ledra Street, Lefka–Apliki, and Deryneia. For goods, the Pergamos and Strovilia points in the Eastern Sovereign Base Area are also available. These are the regulation's own (Greek/English) names; commonly used North Cyprus-side names for these points could not be confirmed in an official source. Also note that a checkpoint's legal status in the regulation and its actual physical opening can date to different times — confirm current status before you travel.

Under Article 2 of the regulation, everyone crossing the line is subject to at least one identity check. Third-country nationals (non-EU citizens) may only cross if they hold a valid residence permit OR a valid travel document (with a valid visa where required), and do not pose a threat to public policy or security. Crossing is only permitted at approved points. Confirm current practical document requirements with the relevant authority before crossing.

Yes. The underlying obligation comes from the Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) Law (Chapter 333); Article 78A of the Insurance Services (Regulation and Supervision) Law (60/2010) sets out how it's carried out at the checkpoint: visitors who physically cross the border by vehicle are required to buy Motor Third Party Insurance from a licensed insurance company's staff stationed at the checkpoint. Which company is on duty on a given day is set by an annual rota, prepared by KKSRSB and approved by the Insurance Superintendent, fixed each year at the start of February. The premium/fee amount is not given here — confirm it with the insurer at the checkpoint or the current official tariff. See the [Car Insurance](/en/rehber/ulasim/car-insurance) guide for the general rules. No official source on the insurance requirement for the opposite direction (crossing south by vehicle) was found — confirm before you cross that way.

This is a SEPARATE matter from personal crossing: the Trade Department's export/import regulation allows vehicle and goods imports under specific conditions (for dual-nationality citizens, and for foreigners relocating to North Cyprus). See the "Importing goods and vehicles" section below.

Yes. Article 6 of the regulation exempts non-commercial personal belongings in the luggage of people crossing the line, up to a value threshold, from turnover/consumption tax; separate quantity limits apply to cigarettes and alcohol. Because current thresholds can change, we don't list amounts here — check the regulation's current text for the exact limits.

Yes. The EU regulation's text sets no nationality-based ban — Turkish citizens are third-country nationals like any other, and may cross as long as they hold a valid residence permit or travel document (with a visa where required) and do not pose a threat to public policy. Whether any additional restriction applies in practice beyond the regulation's text could not be confirmed from an official source while preparing this guide.

An Equivalent (Eşdeğer) deed is the full-ownership document issued at the end of a claim-and-allocation process under Law 41/1977 (Part Six, Articles 46-86); it takes the place of a title deed under Cap. 224 (Article 81), and its source is property that changed hands after 1974. No official source found during this guide's preparation describes a separate regulation or issuing mechanism for a Turkish deed — it appears to rest on unbroken continuity in the land registry, but this is unconfirmed. Confirm the deed category and its basis with the Department of Land Registry and Cadastre before any transaction.

There is no title-deed category called 'Allocation deed' in Law 41/1977. The law distinguishes two different documents: (1) an Allocation Certificate (Article 37) — a use document issued when housing, business premises, or land is allocated to migrants/entitled persons; ownership stays with the State, transfer/lease/sale is barred for 20 years (Articles 18, 40), and breach can trigger repossession (Article 20) — legally, this is not a title deed. (2) an Equivalent Property Certificate (Articles 80-81) — issued after equivalent-property allocation, and it stands in place of a title deed with full ownership. What the market calls an 'Allocation deed' is often type (1), which does NOT amount to full ownership. TODO(verify): the text available is likely the original 1977 version; cross-check article numbers against the current consolidated text.

No — these are separate processes. TAMK operates under Law 67/2005 and lets people who lost property in the south before 1974 claim restitution, compensation, or exchange for immovables in North Cyprus — in other words, the risk that a deed becomes the subject of a claim by a former owner later on. The issuance of an Equivalent deed itself runs under the 1977 regulation, a completely separate piece of legislation from TAMK.

Under Law 52/2008 as amended by 39/2024, a foreign natural or legal person may buy a total of 1 property with Council of Ministers permission: building-permitted land is capped at 1,338 m², a detached house plot at 3,300 m², and apartments at 1 unit (up to 3 for nationals of countries that recognise North Cyprus and grant reciprocal rights). These limits are subject to legislative change — confirm the current text with the Department of Land Registry and Cadastre or a lawyer before any transaction.

This guide is not legal advice. Deed category, share status, TAMK exposure, and acquisition permits vary by property — consult a licensed lawyer or notary in North Cyprus before any transaction.

This guide has verified contact details for Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), the University of City Island (Ada Kent), and ITU Northern Cyprus.

Nationwide: Police 155, Emergency 112, Fire 199. The public hospital in Famagusta is Famagusta State Hospital, switchboard +90 392 630 8900-29 / +90 392 364 9146.

Cyprus International University's (CIU) compiled list of hospitals across North Cyprus gives +90 392 366 28 76 / 366 53 28 for Famagusta State Hospital, which differs from the hospital's own site (+90 392 630 8900-29 / 364 9146). This guide uses the number from the hospital's own site; confirm with the switchboard before calling.

Famagusta Municipality's E-Vezne online payment page lets you look up water bills. See the municipality's own site and the utilities guide for details.

This depends on cost and preference; rent and dorm fees are not listed in this guide. See Dorm or Private Rental and the student renting guide for a comparison.

This guide has verified contact details for Girne American University (GAU), University of Kyrenia, and Bahçeşehir Cyprus University (BAU Cyprus). International Final University (UFÜ) is also in Kyrenia; its official page could not be reached reliably while preparing this guide, so no contact details are given here.

Nationwide: Police 155, Emergency 112, Fire 199. The public hospital in Kyrenia is Dr. Akçiçek State Hospital, switchboard +90 392 815 22 66.

Kyrenia Municipality's E-Vezne system lets you look up your balance with a subscriber number and pay by card; support line ALO 185 or +90 392 650 01 00. The municipality's separate corporate (.com) site could not be reached while preparing this guide — use E-Vezne's own (.org) address.

This depends on cost and preference; rent and dorm fees are not listed in this guide. See Dorm or Private Rental and the student renting guide for a comparison.

The Kyrenia–Nicosia and Nicosia–Kyrenia route is run by Kombos. Numbers compiled on METU Northern Cyprus Campus's transport page let you call ahead for current schedules; numbers and hours can change.

The European University of Lefke (EUL) is in Lefke, and METU Northern Cyprus Campus is in Kalkanlı. Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University (KSTU), nearby in Güzelyurt, also has verified contact details in this guide.

Lefke has its own municipality (Lefke Municipality). For Kalkanlı, this guide gives the contact details of Güzelyurt Municipality, the nearest centre; the village's administrative affiliation could not be clearly verified from this guide's sources — confirm with the municipality.

Nationwide: Police 155, Emergency 112, Fire 199. On the Police Headquarters contact page, the nearest district directorate listed for the area is Güzelyurt Police Directorate; the list does not name a separate Lefke directorate.

The TRNC Ministry of Health's list of health centres includes Lefke Health Centre. A different source (CIU's nationwide hospital list) names a separate number under 'Cengiz Topel State Hospital'; whether the two records refer to the same facility is unclear — confirm the current number before calling.

METU Northern Cyprus Campus's transport page lists the Güzelyurt–Kalkanlı–METU NCC route along with the operator's phone number. This number is single-sourced (the company's own site could not be reached in this round); call ahead to confirm before you travel.

This guide has verified contact details for Cyprus International University (CIU), Akdeniz Karpaz University, and Altınbaş Cyprus University (WPU). Near East University and the Ankara Social Sciences University North Cyprus Campus are also in Nicosia; their official pages could not be reached reliably while preparing this guide, so no contact details are given here — confirm current details on each university's own site.

Nationwide: Police 155, Ambulance/Emergency 112, Fire 199, Forest Fire 177. The public hospital in Nicosia is Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital, switchboard +90 392 608 5441.

City bus routes and timetables come from the Nicosia Turkish Municipality's site, which could not be reached while preparing this guide, so they are not confirmed from an official source here. For intercity routes (towards Kyrenia, Famagusta, Güzelyurt), the phone numbers compiled on METU Northern Cyprus Campus's transport page let you call a company directly for current schedules.

This depends on cost and preference; rent and dorm fees are not listed in this guide. See Dorm or Private Rental and the student renting guide for a comparison.

Electricity is handled through Kıb-Tek's online services; see the utilities guide for details. The Nicosia Turkish Municipality's online payment page could not be reached while preparing this guide, so water/municipal payment steps are not covered here — confirm on the municipality's current site.