WARNING
If you have a northern Cyprus stamp in your passport, you will be refused entry to the Republic of Cyprus and possibly Greece too. When entering northern Cyprus, you should ask customs officials to stamp a separate piece of paper, rather than your passport. This is a commonly accepted procedure.
If you wish to stay in northern Cyprus longer than 90 days, you must obtain a temporary residence permit, which is issued at your local police station. Temporary residence permits are valid for a year and can be obtained by completing an application form and supplying four passport photographs. You must also have a medical to prove you’re free of TB and AIDS.
Permits are usually automatically renewed annually and you may apply for permanent residence after five years of residence in the TRNC. Further information is available from the Migration Department of the Ministry of the Interior in north Nicosia (Tel. 228-3344, ).
This article is an extract from Buying a Home in Cyprus from Survival Books.