Search for “North Cyprus golden visa” and you’ll find a tangle of conflicting claims: 5+5 years, £300,000, “no income requirement at all.” Here is what actually happened. In October 2026, two amendments published in the TRNC Official Gazette made residence permits for property owners substantially longer. Not every claim you’ve read, though, matches the law.
This guide relies only on official texts: the amending regulations published in the Official Gazette on 2 and 5 October 2026, and the consolidated Residence Permits and Visas Regulation from the TRNC Central Legislation Office. Below, you’ll find how long a permit you can get, how your family is covered and how to apply, with the relevant article numbers for each point.
Key points:
- North Cyprus has no official programme called a “golden visa.” The term is used for the residence rights that the Residence Permits and Visas Regulation gives to property owners.
- Title deed in your name and a total property value of £300,000 or more: a 10-year residence permit with no income requirement.
- Title deed in your name and a total value below £300,000: a 5-year permit, also with no income requirement.
- Stamped sales contract: a 5-year permit. Below £300,000, you must show a monthly income of at least one minimum wage.
- Family residence permits can now be issued for up to 10 years at a time, and children under 6 no longer need a residence permit.
Table of Contents
Does North Cyprus Have an Official Golden Visa?
Not under that name. The phrase “golden visa” does not appear in either of the October 2026 amendments. What people call the North Cyprus golden visa is Article 14 of the Residence Permits and Visas Regulation, made under the Aliens and Immigration Law. It sets out the short-term residence permit for foreigners who own property.
In other words, this is not a citizenship-by-investment or permanent residency scheme. It is a residence permit issued for a fixed period. Since October 2026, that period has been 10 years for title deed holders whose property is worth £300,000 or more, which is why many agents now market it as a golden visa.
What Changed in October 2026
The Council of Ministers amended the regulation twice in four days. Both amendments took effect on the day they were published:
- 2 October 2026, Official Gazette No. 193, Annex III, A.E. 932: introduced 10-year permits for title deed holders, family permits of up to 10 years and an exemption for children under 6.
- 5 October 2026, Official Gazette No. 194, Annex III, A.E. 943: removed the income requirement for buyers holding a stamped sales contract worth £300,000 or more.
| Situation | Before October 2026 | After October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Title deed, total value £300,000+ | 5 years, no income requirement | 10 years, no income requirement |
| Title deed, total value under £300,000 | 5 years, no income requirement | Unchanged: 5 years, no income requirement |
| Stamped sales contract, £300,000+ | Up to 5 years, income of at least one minimum wage | 5 years, no income requirement |
| Stamped sales contract, under £300,000 | Up to 5 years, income of at least one minimum wage | 5 years, income of at least one minimum wage |
| Family residence permit (per issue) | Up to 5 years | Up to 10 years |
| Children under 6 | Permit required | Exempt |
As the table shows, title deed holders could already get a 5-year permit without an income requirement before October 2026. What’s genuinely new is the 10-year permit above the £300,000 threshold and the removal of the income requirement for sales contracts above that threshold.
How Long Is Your Residence Permit? Four Scenarios
| Your situation | Property value | Permit length | Income requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Title deed in your name | £300,000 or more (total) | 10 years | None |
| Title deed in your name | Under £300,000 (total) | 5 years | None |
| Stamped sales contract | £300,000 or more | 5 years | None |
| Stamped sales contract | Under £300,000 | 5 years | At least one minimum wage per month |
The regulation sets the threshold at “£300,000 or the equivalent in another currency.” For title deed holders, it counts the total value of the properties purchased. For contract holders, it uses the value stated in the sales contract. The regulation does not say how the value is assessed for title deed holders (contract price, market value or some other measure). If your purchase is close to £300,000, confirm this with the Immigration Department before you apply.
Title Deed Holders: 10-Year and 5-Year Permits
Under Article 14(2)(b), the property must be a dwelling suitable for living in and actually used as one. If the title deed is registered in your name:
- A total property value of £300,000 or more gives you a 10-year residence permit with no income requirement.
- A total value below £300,000 gives you a 5-year permit, also with no income requirement.
Because the regulation refers to the “total value” of the properties purchased, more than one property in your name can count towards the threshold. A separate law limits how many properties a foreigner can own. Our guide to property ownership rules for foreigners in North Cyprus covers the details.
The general conditions in Article 15 still apply to every short-term permit. You must not be banned from entering the TRNC. You need a residential address that meets general health and safety standards and, if the Department asks, a criminal record certificate. You must not carry a disease that poses a public health risk. And you need evidence that you can support yourself for the length of the permit.
Buying on a Sales Contract: The One-Third Rule and Income Requirement
If your title deed hasn’t been transferred yet, you can still apply using your sales contract. The regulation requires that:
- At least one-third of the purchase price has been paid.
- An application has been made to the Council of Ministers for permission to acquire the property.
- The contract is stamped and certified by the Inland Revenue Department, and an application has been made to the Ministry.
If the contract value is £300,000 or more, you receive a 5-year permit with no income requirement.
Below £300,000, you must prove a regular monthly income of at least one minimum wage. You can do this with an apostilled document from your home country or a letter from any bank, in the TRNC or abroad. The permit is then also issued for 5 years.
Purchase permits are granted by the Council of Ministers under Law 52/2008 on the Acquisition and Long-Term Lease of Immovable Property by Foreigners, and are published in the Official Gazette. On 5 October 2026, for example, Official Gazette No. 194 carried a single decision granting purchase permission to 297 foreign nationals.
Once the title deed is in your name, the title deed rules apply. The regulation does not explain how to move from a contract-based permit to a 10-year permit before the current one expires, so check with the Immigration Department if this applies to you.
Spouses and Children: Family Permits of Up to 10 Years
Since October 2026, a family residence permit can be issued for up to 10 years at a time. Residence permit holders count as “sponsors” under the regulation and can apply for family permits for:
- A spouse or partner,
- Unmarried children under 25 and unmarried daughters of any age,
- Disabled children over 18 of the sponsor or the sponsor’s spouse.
Two rules are worth knowing. A family permit cannot run longer than the sponsor’s own permit, so your family can only get 10 years if you hold a 10-year permit yourself. The sponsor must also provide suitable housing for the whole family and valid health insurance covering every family member.
Exemptions for children:
- Foreign children under 6 do not need a residence permit (added in October 2026). Fines already accrued by under-6s who were in the country when the amendment took effect were also waived.
- Children under 18 are exempt if they live with a legally resident parent or guardian, or can show they attend a primary or secondary school registered with the Ministry of Education. Those exempt because of school must provide proof of enrolment.
Property Owners Over 60: An Exemption Instead of a Permit
People over 60 who qualify for a residence permit through property ownership, along with their spouse or partner if also over 60, are exempt from needing a residence permit. This rule was in force before October 2026.
- You must apply to the Immigration Department for an exemption certificate.
- The certificate is issued for 5 years at a time.
- No fee is charged.
- A spouse’s exemption ends on the same date as the sponsor’s.
The regulation also waives the “no disease posing a public health risk” condition for applicants over 60.
Why Your Passport Validity Matters
This is the detail most people planning a 10-year permit miss. Under Article 24, a residence permit is issued for 60 days less than your passport’s remaining validity. Article 15 also requires your passport to remain valid for at least two or six months beyond the permit you’re requesting, depending on your nationality.
If your passport has four years left, for example, you won’t get a 10-year permit in practice, even with a title deed worth more than £300,000. If you want the longest permit available, consider renewing your passport before you apply.
How to Apply and Renew
Article 22 of the Residence Permits and Visas Regulation sets out how to apply:
- Apply in time. Your first application must be made within the visa period granted when you entered the TRNC.
- Register online. Sign up to the Immigration Department’s online system with your personal mobile number and email address. The system lists the documents you need for your permit type and books you an appointment at the immigration office of the district police station responsible for your address.
- Submit your documents. The police review your file. Once they accept the application, you’re treated as legally resident for 60 days and can leave and re-enter without a penalty during that time.
- Send your health report. A clear health report must reach the Department within 30 days of your application. Otherwise, the application is refused.
- Pay the fee. You’ll be notified of approval by text message. You then have 30 days to pay the fee and collect your permit.
- Get your permit. A digital residence permit is issued, which you can print from the system. Under Article 24, each person receives a separate permit.
The Department may ask for extra documents, which must be submitted within 15 days. If your application is refused, you must leave within 5 days of being notified. Under Article 15, applicants who are not covered by public healthcare through social insurance also pay a Health Fund premium.
Renewal: For short-term residence permits, apply to renew within 40 days of your current permit’s expiry date.
Residence Permit Fees
Fees for short-term and family residence permits under the First Schedule of the regulation (consolidated text dated 14 September 2026):
| Permit length | Fee | Late application fee |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 6 months | TL 2,000 | TL 3,000 |
| 6–12 months | TL 4,000 | TL 6,000 |
| 12–24 months | TL 8,000 | TL 12,000 |
| 24–36 months | TL 12,000 | TL 18,000 |
| 36–48 months | TL 16,000 | TL 24,000 |
| 120 months (10 years) | TL 40,000 | – |
The schedule has no separate row for a 60-month (5-year) permit, so confirm that fee with the Immigration Department. The exemption certificate for over-60s is free.
Can You Work or Get Citizenship?
Work: No. Under Article 23, if a residence permit holder is found to be working, the permit is refused, cancelled or not renewed. To work, you need a separate work or business permit under the Work Permits for Foreigners Law.
Citizenship: The Residence Permits and Visas Regulation contains no rule granting citizenship through property ownership or residence. TRNC citizenship is a separate process under Citizenship Law 25/1993, and it is granted case by case through Council of Ministers decisions published in the Official Gazette.
Common Myths About the North Cyprus Golden Visa
- “There’s an official North Cyprus golden visa programme.” No programme by that name appears in any official text. The rights come from the property-ownership provisions of the residence permit regulation.
- “You get a 5+5-year permit.” The regulation has no such structure. Title deed holders whose property totals £300,000 or more receive a 10-year permit directly.
- “The income requirement has been scrapped entirely.” Sales contracts under £300,000 still require a monthly income of at least one minimum wage.
- “The 5-year, no-income permit for title deed holders is new.” It was already in the regulation. The October 2026 change is the 10-year permit.
- “Property owners get one-year permits for the first three years.” That is an old rule and no longer appears in the regulation.
- “Buying property gets you citizenship.” A residence permit is not citizenship. Citizenship is governed by a separate law.
Property Purchase Costs
Residence permit fees are separate from the costs of buying a property. The Land Registry’s transfer fees were temporarily changed in October 2026. You’ll find the current rates and worked examples in our guide to the North Cyprus title deed transfer fee in 2026.
Ready to start looking? Browse property listings on Pazar Kıbrıs, or visit the Pazar Kıbrıs homepage to buy and sell new and second-hand items across North Cyprus.
FAQ
Is there a golden visa in North Cyprus?
Not under that name. What’s called the North Cyprus golden visa is the set of residence permits the Residence Permits and Visas Regulation grants to foreign property owners. Since October 2026, title deed holders whose property totals £300,000 or more receive a 10-year permit.How do I get a North Cyprus golden visa?
The title deed must be registered in your name, and the properties you’ve bought must be worth £300,000 or more in total. You register on the Immigration Department’s online system and book an appointment at the immigration office of the district police station responsible for your address. Once your health report reaches the Department and you’ve paid the fee, a 10-year residence permit is issued with no income requirement.
How much does the North Cyprus golden visa cost?
The regulation sets no separate “golden visa fee.” What matters is that your titled properties are worth £300,000 or more in total. The fee for a 10-year (120-month) residence permit is TL 40,000. Title deed transfer fees are paid separately. See our guide to the North Cyprus title deed transfer fee in 2026 for current rates.
Can I get a 10-year permit with a sales contract?
No. A stamped sales contract gives you a 5-year permit. The 10-year permit requires a title deed in your name with a total property value of £300,000 or more.Can two properties together reach the £300,000 threshold?
For title deed holders, the regulation refers to the total value of the properties purchased, so properties registered in your name are counted together. A separate law limits how many properties a foreigner can own.Will my existing 5-year permit automatically become 10 years?
The amendment contains no transitional rule on converting existing permits. Check your situation with the Immigration Department.Do my children need residence permits?
Children under 6 are exempt. Children under 18 are also exempt if they live with a legally resident parent or attend a primary or secondary school registered with the Ministry of Education. In other cases, a family residence permit is required.I’m over 60. Do I need a residence permit?
If you qualify through property ownership, you’re exempt from needing a permit. You must still apply to the Immigration Department for an exemption certificate, which is free and valid for 5 years at a time.Can I work in North Cyprus with a residence permit?
No. A residence permit can be cancelled if the holder is found to be working. You need a separate work or business permit.Sources
Last updated: 17 October 2026. This guide is general information based on the official texts listed above and is not legal advice. Residence rules in North Cyprus change often, so confirm the current requirements with the TRNC Immigration Department before you apply.
