Practical information for North Cyprus: emergency numbers, power, driving and more

Emergency numbers

According to the TRNC Public Information Office (PIO) general information page, the emergency numbers in the TRNC are 155 for the police, 112 for first aid and ambulance, 199 for fire, 177 for forest fires and 101 for civil defence. The Turkish-language version of the same PIO page lists the same five numbers.

The TRNC Police General Directorate website repeats these numbers as "Polis İmdat 155", "Acil 112", "Yangın İhbar 199", "Orman Yangın 177" and "Sivil Savunma 101", and adds "Narkotik 156" and "Sahil Güvenlik 158" (coast guard). The numbers here are TRNC-specific and are given as the two official bodies publish them.

Time zone, currency, calling code and electricity

According to the PIO general information page, the TRNC time zone is UTC+2, the international calling code is +90 392 and the currency is the Turkish lira (₺). Official bodies and the constitution are covered on Government, districts and crossings. The Central Bank of the TRNC publishes exchange rates on its own website; this page gives no rates.

The PIO gives the mains electricity supply as 220/240 volts. A 2023 conference information page of Eastern Mediterranean University states that sockets in North Cyprus are Type G (BS 1363) and that a three-pin plug is required, so appliances with other plugs need a travel adapter. The public electricity utility is the Kıbrıs Türk Elektrik Kurumu (KIB-TEK), which lists regional offices for Lefkoşa, Mağusa, Girne, Güzelyurt and İskele.

Driving and road rules for visitors

According to the PIO general information page, traffic in the TRNC flows on the left. An Eastern Mediterranean University information page adds that most cars on the island have the steering wheel on the right for this reason.

On licences, the PIO page Life in the TRNC for foreigners states that foreigners who come as tourists can drive with their valid driving licence, which is approved by the TRNC Immigration Police Officer at the port of entry. The same page states that people who enter for purposes other than tourism, such as work or education, have to apply to the TRNC authorities for a TRNC driving licence by presenting their own licence. Residence rules are on TRNC residence permits: official sources.

Public holidays

The official list used here is the one published by the TRNC Public Information Office on its English and Turkish general information pages. Both list fixed-date holidays on 1 January, 23 April, 1 May, 19 May, 20 July, 1 August, 30 August and 29 October, plus Ramazan Bayramı and Kurban Bayramı.

The Turkish page also lists 15 November (KKTC Cumhuriyet Bayramı) and Mevlid Kandili, which the English page does not. For the religious holidays, both pages still show the 2025 dates; dates for later years were not published on the pages reviewed, so check the current year's announcement before planning around them.

Mobile phones, internet and device registration

The regulator, the Information Technologies and Communication Authority (BTHK), publishes a register of authorised communication providers. As checked on 24 October 2026, it lists two companies authorised for mobile communication services (Kıbrıs Mobile Telekomünikasyon Ltd. and Vodafone Mobile Operations Ltd.), two for virtual mobile network services, the state Telekomünikasyon Dairesi for fixed communication services, and 26 active entries for internet service provision. This page names operators only as the register lists them and does not compare them.

According to the BTHK Mobile Device Registration System (MCKS) page, every device with an IMEI number, such as phones and tablets, has to be registered. Devices brought from abroad can be used without registration for a total of 90 days within a calendar year; if they are not registered within that period, they are closed to communication at the end of it. BTHK states that registration is done only in person at the BTHK Registration Unit and that customs duty is paid at the BTHK customs unit in the same building.

Hospitals, pharmacies and water

This section is informational only and is not medical advice; in an emergency, the PIO lists 112 for ambulance. The TRNC Ministry of Health hospitals page lists six hospitals under the ministry: Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu Devlet Hastanesi, Acil Durum Hastanesi, Gazimağusa Devlet Hastanesi, Girne Dr. Akçiçek Devlet Hastanesi, Lefke Cengiz Topel Hastanesi and Barış Ruh ve Sinir Hastalıkları Hastanesi. The same menu also lists health centres (sağlık ocakları).

Pharmacies work on a rota. The Cyprus Turkish Pharmacists Association (KTEB) publishes a monthly on-duty pharmacy list by region, with addresses and phone numbers. According to KTEB, citing Official Gazette No. 185 of 23 September 2026, from 28 September 2026 to 2 May 2027 pharmacies in the Lefkoşa, Mağusa, Girne and Güzelyurt regions open 08:00–17:30 on weekdays and 08:00–13:30 on Saturdays, and on-duty pharmacies serve 08:00–00:00. Other regions have their own hours on the same page.

No TRNC official source reviewed for this page states whether mains tap water is suitable for drinking, so ask your accommodation or the local municipality. Kıbrıs Postası reported in June 2024 that Lefkoşa's reservoir receives water transferred by Turkey's State Hydraulic Works, according to Mayor Mehmet Harmancı. For sea water, BRT reported in July 2024 that samples from 30 beaches in Girne, Güzelyurt and Lefke were within safe limits.

Airport and seaports

The Ercan Airport official site, run by T&T Ercan Airport İşletmeciliği, describes a terminal building of 128,000 m² and a main runway of 3,000 m. Its passenger guide lists bus services from the airport to various parts of the island, a 24-hour taxi service and car rental offices, and names airlines operating flights there. The PIO transport page says that for countries outside Türkiye connecting flights are available through Türkiye's airports. Positions on points of entry are covered on Government, districts and crossings.

The TRNC Ports Department lists port authorities at Gazimağusa and Girne and the port of Gemikonağı, and the marinas Gemyat Delta Marina, Girne Yat Limanı and Karpaz Gate Marina. Its Girne port page states that the port opened to international shipping on 16 November 1987, handles passenger, cargo and tourism traffic between the TRNC and Turkey, and that a 2007 extension of the passenger hall serves 750 departing and 750 arriving passengers. According to the PIO, immigration police officers at ports of entry can issue an entry and stay permit of up to 90 days.

Post and customs

Mail to the TRNC is addressed with "Mersin 10, Turkey". According to the PIO, then Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün said on 25 April 2017 that the only way to send mail to the TRNC is through the Mersin 10 Turkey postcode, "due to longstanding embargoes". The state postal service is the Posta Dairesi (KKTC Posta); its website could not be opened for this page on 24 October 2026. The BTHK explains that IMEI devices sent by post are released after a form obtained from the Posta Dairesi is submitted to BTHK.

Customs is run by the Customs and Excise Department (Gümrük ve Rüsumat Dairesi) of the Ministry of Finance, which gives its address in Köşklüçiftlik, Lefkoşa, the phone number +90 392 612 8000 and the e-mail bilgi@gumruk.gov.ct.tr. On 24 October 2026 the department's frequently asked questions page showed only a notice that it was under construction, and no passenger allowance figures were found on the department's website. This page therefore gives no duty-free allowances; ask the department directly before travelling.