About North Cyprus · Residence permits
North Cyprus residence permit for property owners in 2026: what the Official Gazette says
As of 1 November 2026, Official Gazette No. 193 (2 October 2026) contains an amending regulation on residence permits and visas. It says that a foreigner who holds the title deed (koçan) in their own name for property bought in North Cyprus can receive a residence permit without an income requirement: 10 years if the total value of the property is 300,000 pounds sterling or more, 5 years if it is lower. This is a residence permit rule. The Gazette pages checked contain no citizenship provision.
Checked 1 November 2026 against the published Official Gazette issue (scanned PDF). Pages 131 to 359 of the issue were not read, so this page does not claim that no other provision exists. Entry into force is stated as the date of publication. This page is general information, not legal advice, and it promises no permit; the Immigration Office decides each application.
What the regulation says
The Official Gazette of 2 October 2026 (No. 193) publishes the Residence Permits and Visas (Amendment) Regulation, made under Article 20 of the Aliens and Immigration Law (Cap. 105). It replaces item (iv) of paragraph 14(2)(b) of the principal regulation.
The new text links the permit to property already bought: the applicant must hold the title deed (koçan) for the property in their own name, and no income requirement is applied. The length depends on the total value of the properties bought, measured in pounds sterling or its equivalent.
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Family permit and children under six
The same amending regulation says a family residence permit may be granted for up to 10 years each time. It also adds foreigners under six years of age to a listed category and waives fines for unauthorised stay accrued by children under six up to the date the regulation entered into force.
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What the Gazette does not say
The pages read contain no rule on citizenship, no golden visa and no investment-for-nationality scheme. A residence permit is not citizenship and does not by itself give the right to work, to vote or to a passport.
The text read does not state which office receives the application, which documents are required, how the 300,000 sterling value is proven, or whether older permits are converted. These points should be confirmed with the Immigration Office and an independent lawyer registered with the KKTC Bar before any purchase decision.
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Property purchase approval is a separate step
The same Gazette issue shows Council of Ministers decisions of 1 October 2026 that grant permission to groups of foreign nationals to buy property under the Immovable Property Acquisition and Long-Term Leasing (Foreigners) Law No. 52/2008, on condition that the property is free of encumbrances. A permit to buy and a residence permit are different decisions made by different offices.
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Practical notes
- The regulation is cited from the printed Official Gazette; the text of the Gazette prevails over this summary.
- Currency is pounds sterling or its equivalent as written in the regulation. Property prices and exchange rates change.
- This page recommends no property, developer or lawyer, and promises no permit, residency or citizenship.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner who buys property in North Cyprus get a residence permit?
As of 1 November 2026, Official Gazette No. 193 states that a residence permit is issued without an income requirement when the applicant holds the title deed in their own name: 10 years for 300,000 sterling or more, 5 years below that. The Immigration Office decides each application.
Does buying property give citizenship in North Cyprus?
No such rule appears in the Gazette pages checked. The regulation concerns residence permits only. Pages 131 to 359 of the issue were not read, so confirm any citizenship claim against an official text.
How long is the permit for property worth 300,000 sterling or more?
The regulation says 10 years. For property worth less than 300,000 sterling or its equivalent it says 5 years. The value is the total of the properties purchased.
Is an income requirement applied?
The amended text says the permit is issued without an income requirement ("gelir şartı aranmaksızın") for property owners holding the title deed in their own name.
When did the regulation take effect?
It states that it enters into force on the date of publication in the Official Gazette. Issue No. 193 is dated 2 October 2026.
Is the family permit also 10 years?
The amended paragraph 13(2) refers to a family residence permit granted for a maximum of 10 years each time.
Questions about North Cyprus?
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