Accessibility and disability services in North Cyprus

Legal framework for persons with disabilities

According to the TRNC Presidency, the Parliamentary Assembly unanimously approved the law ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 26 July 2010, at its 74th session, and the law was published in the Official Gazette. In a statement issued for 3 December (the page does not give the year), the Presidency says disability is a human rights issue, acknowledges that there can be problems in practice, and says it set up a Disability Committee to recommend steps to the government, non-governmental organisations and disability organisations. See the Presidency statement.

A 2022 article by Emete Gözügüzelli in the Türkiye İnsan Hakları ve Eşitlik Kurumu Akademik Dergisi (journal page) lists in its bibliography Law 64/1993, the Engellileri Koruma, Rehabilite ve İstihdam Yasası (Law on the Protection, Rehabilitation and Employment of Disabled Persons), and Law 38/2010, the approval law for the Convention. The article states that the TRNC has no special law on the rights of children with disabilities and no law on carers, and that a Special Education Law existed only as a draft. NORTHEA could not open the legislation database texts, so it does not describe the articles of these laws.

One regulation that cites the 1993 law can be read: the Yerel İşgücü İstihdamının Desteklenmesi Tüzüğü (original A.E. 640/2013, Official Gazette 197, Supplement III, 5 December 2013; the consolidated text on the Provident Fund Department site shows an amendment of 25 March 2020). Its Article 22(8) gives employers of a disabled person covered by that law full social security investment support for 48 months, and Article 23(3) adds a monthly wage subsidy of 50% of the gross minimum wage. Later amendments may exist.

Public bodies and services

According to a social worker speaking at a European University of Lefke event reported on an undated university page, the Social Services Department (Sosyal Hizmetler Dairesi) deals with disability mainly through rehabilitation centres and runs 18+ Disabled Rehabilitation Centres. Figures and current services were not found on an official page.

A Turkish ministry body, the Engelli ve Yaşlı Hizmetleri Genel Müdürlüğü, reported an online meeting on 8 October 2021 with the TRNC Presidency's Disabled Committee about accessibility cooperation (Turkish ministry news). No official TRNC page describing a disability identity card, application steps, opening hours or fees could be found, so none are stated.

Associations and federations

The organisations below describe themselves; NORTHEA repeats only what each source states, checked on 27 October 2026. Inclusion is not an endorsement and the list is not complete.

The Cyprus Turkish Disabled Federation (Kıbrıs Türk Engelliler Federasyonu) appears on a TRNC Presidency page, which says the President received its delegation for 3 December and praised its work on technology, awareness and laws; the year is not given (Presidency page). Names of associations in a 2018 news report were not confirmed on their own sites and are labelled as such.

Health, rehabilitation and physiotherapy

Hospitals, health centres, private health institution rules and fees are on Hospitals and health services and are not repeated here. The Ministry of Health website did not allow automated reading in this check, so no ministry statement on rehabilitation or physiotherapy is made.

What can be stated comes from the bodies themselves: the KTOÖD site lists an orthotics and prosthetics unit and a speech and language therapy unit, the university event page describes rehabilitation centres run by the Social Services Department, and the Kıbrıs Otizm Derneği calls for wider access to health services for autistic people. This page does not recommend any provider or treatment and is not medical advice.

Education and universities

School stages are on Education and universities. The TRNC Ministry of National Education says special education covers children from pre-school age to 18, may be free during compulsory schooling, and is given in separate schools or in special classes (Ministry page). The Public Information Office says state and private schools serve people with different developmental needs between the ages of 0 and 35 (PIO page).

Universities describe their own units. Eastern Mediterranean University publishes principles for its Disabled Students Unit (principles), Near East University lists disability support units (sustainability page) and Cyprus International University says it has built an accessible campus (news). These are self-descriptions and NORTHEA has not inspected any campus. The Kıbrıs Otizm Derneği says inclusive education is not working in practice for some children.

How to check accessibility yourself

NORTHEA has not inspected any hotel, restaurant, clinic, beach, public building or other venue and publishes no list of accessible places. Nothing on this page states that a place is or is not accessible. If a venue has not answered a question, treat the answer as unknown, not as yes and not as no.

These are NORTHEA's own questions to put to a venue in writing before a visit, not a legal standard. Entrance and inside: is there a step-free entrance, and how wide is the narrowest door in centimetres? Is there a lift and what are its inside measurements? Is there an accessible toilet, and on which floor? Is there accessible parking near the entrance, and how far is the route from it?

Communication and travel: is there a hearing loop and is it working? Are captions or written information available? Can staff use sign language, or is an interpreter possible? What is the policy on service animals? Is there accessible transport to the venue, and who runs it? Ask for photos with measurements and for the answers in writing, with a date.

For foreign residents and newcomers

Emergency numbers and everyday information are on Practical information; residence permit sources are on TRNC residence permits: official sources. Neither page covers disability services.

No official TRNC page was found that says how disability documents issued abroad are treated, or whether foreign residents can use the same services. NORTHEA therefore makes no statement on this. Ask the Social Services Department or the relevant ministry directly, and keep the reply.