About North Cyprus · Symbols
Flag and symbols of North Cyprus
As of 23 October 2026: the flag of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is defined by the TRNC Flag Law, No. 15/1984. The law was passed by the Constituent Assembly on 7 March 1984 and published in the Official Gazette on 9 March 1984. It describes a red crescent and star on a white ground with two longitudinal stripes. This page summarises what the official texts say about the flag, and what they do not say. It also gives the United Nations position, attributed to the Security Council.
Checked 23 October 2026 against the sources named in the text and listed below. Positions of parties are attributed to them.
How the flag is described in the law
The TRNC Flag Law (Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti Bayrak Yasası, No. 15/1984) describes the flag in Article 2. According to the Turkish text, the flag is made in the shape and proportions shown in the First Model attached to the law, with a red ("al") crescent and star on a white ground and two longitudinal stripes.
The wording is short. The law text itself does not give colour codes, a measurement table in words, or any explanation of what the elements stand for. The proportions are defined by the attached model drawing, not by the running text. For exact proportions, use the model attached to the law.
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Adoption and legal basis
The Official Gazette notice (issue 26, 9 March 1984) states that the Flag Law was adopted at the 7 March 1984 extraordinary sitting of the Constituent Assembly. It was proclaimed by the President under Article 74 of the Constitution of that period. The text published by the TRNC Presidency and by the Ministry of National Education is the consolidated version, as amended by Law 36/1989. The Constitution of the TRNC, put to a referendum on 5 May 1985, states in Article 2(3) that the flag and the national anthem are determined by law.
The Flag Law also sets rules on use. Article 3(3) says the flag is raised at the start of national holidays and public holidays and lowered at sunset on the day the holiday ends. Article 6 says flags are flown at half-mast every year on 10 November. Article 10 restricts uses such as a torn or faded flag, and Article 11 sets penalties for knowingly breaching those restrictions. These are the 1984 text as consolidated; later amendments, if any, were not checked.
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Who designed the flag
Neither the Flag Law nor the TRNC Presidency's flag page, as reviewed, names a designer. Press and online accounts name individuals, but they are secondary sources that this page has not verified, so it does not attribute the design to any person. If an official TRNC publication names a designer, this page will be updated.
Emblem and anthem
The TRNC Presidency's "Resmi Semboller" (official symbols) menu, in a copy archived on 13 December 2024, lists the Presidency logo, the Presidential flag (forsu) and the TRNC flag. It does not list a separate page for the state emblem or the anthem. The Presidential flag is defined in Article 9 of the Flag Law.
The Constitution says in Article 2(3) that the flag and the national anthem are set by law. No official TRNC page describing the state emblem or naming the anthem was found during research, so this page does not describe them. Readers who need those details should consult the TRNC Official Gazette or the legislation database.
Recognition and the United Nations position
As stated elsewhere on this site, only Türkiye recognises the TRNC as a state. The Turkish Cypriot side presents the 1983 declaration as an exercise of self-determination.
The UN Security Council took a different position. Resolution 541 (18 November 1983, adopted 13 votes to 1, with 1 abstention) "considers the declaration referred to above as legally invalid and calls for its withdrawal" and "calls upon all States not to recognize any Cypriot State other than the Republic of Cyprus".
Resolution 550 (11 May 1984) reiterates the call on all States not to recognize the declared state and condemns the exchange of ambassadors between Türkiye and the Turkish Cypriot leadership. NORTHEA reports these positions as attributed statements and takes no view on them.
Where the official text is published
The TRNC Presidency publishes the Flag Law text on its "KKTC Bayrağı" page under Official Symbols. The same consolidated law is available as a PDF from the TRNC Ministry of National Education's portal. The model drawings the law refers to are attached to the law; this page does not reproduce the flag.
The live Presidency site could not be opened during research, so its page was read from an archived copy dated 13 December 2024. No separate official colouring or printing pack was confirmed. Check the Presidency page for the current version before relying on any download.
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Practical notes
- The Flag Law text cited is the 1984 text as consolidated with Law 36/1989; later amendments, if any, were not checked.
- The TRNC Presidency's flag page was read from an archived copy dated 13 December 2024.
- UN positions are quoted or paraphrased as attributed statements; NORTHEA takes no view on them.
Frequently asked questions
What does the TRNC flag look like?
Article 2 of the TRNC Flag Law (No. 15/1984) describes a red crescent and star on a white ground with two longitudinal stripes, in the shape and proportions of the First Model attached to the law. The text gives no colour codes. The law does not explain what the elements stand for.
What does the TRNC flag mean?
The Flag Law does not explain what the colours or shapes stand for, and no official explanation of their meaning was found. Accounts that give a meaning are not official and are not repeated here. Article 2 describes the flag only as a red crescent and star on a white ground with two longitudinal stripes.
Who designed the TRNC flag?
The Flag Law and the Presidency page reviewed do not name a designer. Some press and online accounts name an individual, but they are secondary sources that this page has not verified, so it does not attribute the design to anyone.
When was the TRNC flag adopted?
The Official Gazette (issue 26, 9 March 1984) states that the Constituent Assembly passed the Flag Law, No. 15/1984, at its sitting of 7 March 1984. The law was published on 9 March 1984. The version in circulation is consolidated with Law 36/1989.
Is there a flag emoji for North Cyprus?
Not in the Unicode list checked. The Unicode file emoji-sequences.txt (version 18.0, dated 30 April 2026) lists the recommended flag sequences, and it contains no separate entry for North Cyprus. Emoji support can change between Unicode releases, so check the current file.
When is the TRNC flag raised or flown at half-mast?
Under the Flag Law, Article 3(3) says the flag is raised at the start of national and public holidays and lowered at sunset on the day the holiday ends. Article 6 says flags are flown at half-mast every year on 10 November. This is the 1984 text as consolidated; later amendments were not checked.
What is the international position on the TRNC?
The TRNC is recognised only by Türkiye. UN Security Council Resolution 541 (1983) considers the 1983 declaration legally invalid and calls upon States not to recognize any Cypriot State other than the Republic of Cyprus. Resolution 550 (1984) reiterates that call. NORTHEA reports these as attributed positions.
Sources
- TRNC Flag Law No. 15/1984, consolidated with 36/1989 (PDF, Official Gazette issue 26, 9 March 1984)
- TRNC Presidency: KKTC Bayrağı (Official Symbols), archived copy 13 Dec 2024
- Constitution of the TRNC (hosted by the TRNC Ombudsman)
- UN Security Council Resolution 541 (1983), Official Records
- UN Security Council Resolution 550 (1984), Official Records
- Unicode emoji-sequences.txt, version 18.0 (2026-04-30)
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