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Updated Dec 2022: Buying, owning, and selling Real Estate in North Cyprus | Full Guide

Written by Soylem Coli – Realtor- Head of Regional Sales and Marketing Operations at Avertiss exclusive partners – soylemcoli@gmail.com

Summary

1)    Summary of the buying process. 2

1.1)     Summary of Other costs involved with the purchase. 2

1.1.1)      Taxes paid when bying: 2

1.1.2)      Taxes paid duration of the ownership: 2

1.1.3)      Taxes Paid when selling: 2

2)    Buying Immovable Property in North Cyprus as a Foreign National 2

3)    Travelling to North Cyprus. 4

3.1) Check-points to cross the border to North Cyprus: 4

3.2) Seaports, harbours and marinas in North Cyprus: 4

4)    Buying on-site. 5

5)    Buying investment properties remotely. 5

6)    Registering the Contract of Sale. 7

7)    Following the Sales Contract Registry. 7

8)    Permission to Purchase Application. 7

9)    Residency permit 8

9.1) Requirements for the ‘Permanent Residency Scheme’ 8

10)      Citizenship. 9

11)      Key-Handover (KHO) 9

12)      Title Deed Transfer. 9

13)      Taxes payable by the purchaser. 9

13.1) Inheritance Taxes. 10

13.2) Taxes when selling your property. 10

14)      Other closing costs. 10

15)      Opening up a bank account in North Cyprus. 11

Written by Soylem Coli – Realtor- Head of Regional Sales and Marketing Operations at Avertiss exclusive partners

Contact: soylemcoli@gmail.com OR +90 533 864 1652                      

Address: Bellapais, Kyrenia, North Cyprus

1)   Summary of the buying process

•           Reserve a unit with a reservation deposit, and reservation contract. You will need your passport copy.

•           Get introduced to a local lawyer to work on the contract of sale.

•           Down payment is paid and the contract of sale is registered to the government’s District Land Office. Handled by the lawyer’s team.

•           Permission to Purchase application, assisted by your lawyer.

•           Title deed transfer after complete payment of the unit and the issuing of the individual title deeds (after construction completion)

1.1)      Summary of Other costs involved with the purchase

1.1.1)      Taxes paid when buying:

  • Stamp Duty: 0.5% of the purchase price due payable at the time of registry of the Contract of Sale (Stamp duty is a one-time payment, applies to resales)
  • VAT: 5% of the sale price is due and payable at the time of Key-handover to the first owner of the property (VAT is a one-time payment, only applies to the first buyer) PS: some vendors demand this be paid at the time of contract of sale
  • Title deed transfer fee: Every private individual has a once-in-lifetime 3% (half of the transfer tax) transfer option for a house. On all subsequent sales, the Transfer Tax is 6%.  
  • Infrastructure contribution and utility connections fee: ranges between 1000 STG and 3000 STG (Infrastructure fees are paid by the first owner of the property, and in some cases, if stated by the contract the vendor covers these costs)

Furniture packages are starting from 6,000GBP and legal fees for the contract of sale and permission to purchase are starting from 1,500GBP.

1.1.2)      Taxes paid duration of the ownership:

  • Home Ownership Tax is currently 3 Turkish Liras per sqm (HOT is a recurring payment, paid annually)
  • If the owner receives rental yields from their property, they should pay a capital gains tax of 13% of their revenues usually called the Stoppage tax. The buyer should check with their local tax authorities if they will be subject to double taxation in their country of residence. (Stoppage is a recurring payment, paid annually)

1.1.3)      Taxes Paid when selling:

  • Stopaj: Every private individual has a once-in-lifetime tax-free sale option for a house. On all subsequent sales, Capital Gains Tax will be payable at 2.8%, provided you do not sell more than 3 properties in one year, making you a professional Vendor. For professional Vendors (those selling 3 or more properties), there are no tax exemption rights. Capital Gains Tax is payable on every sale at a rate of 4.7%.

2)   Buying Immovable Property in North Cyprus as a Foreign National

A foreign national is entitled to purchase one property up to a maximum area of 2 dönüms (14,400 square feet or 1338 square metres is equivalent to a donum) providing that the property only consists of one dwelling. If the 1 property to be purchased is in a building complex, there is no surface area limitation for the land. The entitled 1 property can be anything from a condo to a home as long as it is a residential type of property intended for personal use (primary residence or as a holiday home) or as an investment (buy-hold, buy-rehab, long-term rental or vacation-rental). For the land purchases, the land should not exceed 1 (one) donum provided that the land is vacant. Foreign nationals are not allowed to own commercial buildings as an investment, the purchase permission will not be granted, however, this condition is not applicable when the foreign national is in a legal partnership with a TRNC citizen who owns a %51 share of the company.

However, foreign nationals can buy multiple properties via a local Trust company, where the buyer agrees with the Trust company to hold the property. Alternatively, the title deed of the second and more purchases can be put into a relative’s name, like kids, or grandkids and the trust agreement can be signed between the parties involved if needed. This may help avoid the holding fees associated with the Trust companies. Another option is to establish a company in TRNC and acquire multiple properties as an LLC. There are further expenses and bureaucracies involved with this option and will require a TRNC citizen partner. Recent legislation (Oct. 2022) states that the buyer should apply for the transfer of the title deed of the immovable property within months from the date that permission to purchase status is granted. For transfers made after the 6th month, the transfer tax will double, between the 7th and 12th month the transfer tax will be fivefold and after the 12th month, the permission to purchase application will become ineffective.  

Foreign nationals are prohibited from buying immovable property in certain zones eg military territories, ports, seaports, and UN zones for national security reasons. The legally acceptable distance for obtaining this right is 300 (three hundred) meters from a military zone, provided that other legal requirements are also in compliance. It is recommended that interested parties request the investigation of the property from their realtors and lawyers.

If the foreign national is purchasing land to construct a building, the above limitations still apply. Further limitations should also be considered when looking for a suitable piece of land for building. If it is not for the benefit of the public, nothing can be built within 100 (one hundred) meters range from a beach and almost all beaches in North Cyprus are considered open for public use, thus any land purchases within 100 meters of any beach will not qualify for a building permit. There are also limitations on building in green zones, mountain areas, and protected sites such as archaeological sites, environmentally protected zones or any publicly acclaimed land such as land reserved for the construction of roads and similar public spaces. A ‘search report’ should be obtained on the property of interest by the seller or the seller representative to identify if any of the restrictions apply to the land of interest. The search obtained from the City Planning Department will also contain information on the building allowance of the land which will provide limitations on the maximum sqm of foundation area per land, max. sqm of total construction area per land and the number of floors allowed for construction.

The buyer should always check with the seller or the agent if the title deed is freehold. If the property is a leasehold (not a freehold), it is important to learn how long is left on the lease and to understand the implications of possibly purchasing a non-freehold property. The ownership status of the property to be purchased must be established and it should be known in advance whether the immovable property is under an individual or joint share ownership. The issues such as whether there is a restriction on the immovable property like a mortgage, levy etc. or whether any personal statement or circumstance is obstructing the sale of the immovable property will be checked with the relevant Deed and Cadastre Office by your lawyer during the contract stage. It is advised that the contract should be certified in a registered Notary office and legal opinion should be obtained from a lawyer’s office before signing the contract. This is so that the legal rights of the persons involved in the contract between the property owner and the buyer would be protected. It is recommended that before signing the contract, all technical specifications and details of the project related to the immovable property to be purchased are established and understood. It should be noted that the contract is binding on both parties after the contract is signed. If the immovable property to be purchased is still in the construction phase, the buyer’s lawyer will find out whether the Contractor has the construction license permits for the project.

The prices for real estate transactions are quoted in British Pounds in North Cyprus, and the currency of the sales agreement will likely be in GBP in the contracts. This is because the island is a former Crown Colony. The regulatory structure is also closely aligned with the English common law legal system.

3)   Travelling to North Cyprus

Entry to and departure from North Cyprus is possible through designated ports and border crossings with a valid passport or travel document. The direct landing airport to use when travelling to North Cyprus is Ercan International Airport in the capital Nicosia and the most reliable airline is Turkish Airlines which flies to Ercan. There are two other airports on the island, however, they are not in North Cyprus. These are Larnaca and Paphos International Airports and the traveller will need to cross one of the 8 check-points to cross the border to North Cyprus after landing in one of these airports, when booking the airport transfer please ensure the booked car operates on both sides of the island. Travellers arriving via Ercan Airport or one of the seaports in North Cyprus will only need a valid passport, upon arrival, the visitor will need to fill up a form which will act as their visa. An exception to this is the Nationals of Syrian Arab Republic, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Republic of Armania who need to apply in person to a TRNC Embassy, Representative Office or Consulate General abroad to obtain a visa before their travel to TRNC.

3.1) Check-points to cross the border to North Cyprus:

1) Ledra Palace (for pedestrians only)

2) Agios Dhometios

3) Pergamos (British base, only for UK and EU nationals)

4) Strovilia

5) Ledra Street (for pedestrians only)

6) Astromeritis-Zodhia

7) Kato Pyrgos – Karavostasi

8) Lefka-Apliki Kato

9) Deryneia

3.2) Seaports, harbours and marinas in North Cyprus:

1) Gemikonagi seaport

2)Famagusta seaport

3)Kyrenia (old) harbour

4)Delta Marina (Kyrenia new harbour)

5)Karpaz Gate Marina

Foreigners visiting North Cyprus may be granted a visa up to 90 days, depending on its type, at the designated ports and border crossings, provided that they fulfil the conditions stipulated in the Aliens and Immigration Law and they are not deemed unfit to enter the country. The 90 days should be requested from the Immigration Officer before the stamping of the visa, otherwise, 30 or 60-day visas might be given instead, and proof of sufficient funds, a return ticket and proof of accommodation payment might be requested. The length of stay granted at the designated ports and border crossings of North Cyprus cannot exceed 90 days within 180 days. All foreigners who wish to stay in North Cyprus for more than 90 days, are required to obtain a residence permit (addressed below). A residence permit can be obtained for many reasons and the main three reasons can be; the person owning a property in North Cyprus, being a student at a local school/university or working in North Cyprus for a local legally registered company.

Once the potential buyer is in the country, if they are enrolled on an inspection trip program, they will be shown the properties of interest by the agency or the developer they work with. When the property of interest is identified, the purchasing process begins which is very straightforwardly explained below.

4)   Buying on-site

Once the property of interest is identified, the purchasing process begins. The buyer will need a valid passport to initiate the process.

It is normal to sign a reservation contract with a small fee ranging between $1,000 and $5,000 acting towards the down payment, usually, this deposit is non-refundable unless otherwise negotiated and agreed on by both parties. Following this, a sales contract is drawn up between the developer and the buyer, where we strongly recommend a local lawyer’s assistance to act in the best interest of the buyer.

Once the sides agree, the contract is signed in person by the buyer or buyer’s representative and the developer’s representative. It should be noted that the contract will need two witnesses and should be signed in blue ink pen. It should also be double-checked that the representative has a valid POA or is the director of the developer company. The next step is registering the contract of sale to the District Land’s Office.

5)   Buying investment properties remotely

When selecting a property for overseas buyers, there are two main factors to eliminate unfit portfolios. The first one is the deed of the property that should be checked to ensure a clean deed for potential investors and the second one is the turn-key management and maintenance services. It is a great challenge to manage a property from abroad, especially if the property is intent on being used as a holiday/short-term rental, so after-sales assistance and coordination are very important.

Once these two factors are sufficiently fulfilled and the person finds a property of interest wanting to buy sight unseen they must ensure they understand the details of the deal and make their best offer. Once both of the parties agree on the terms of the deal, the first step of securing the deal is signing a reservation contract with a small fee ranging between $1,000 and $5,000 acting towards the down payment. In exchange for the reservation fee, the buyer receives a reservation contract and a receipt ensuring that the property is off the market and reserved for them for an agreed period usually one month. The payment can be made through a wire transfer or via credit card using a mail order form. The person would also need to provide a digital copy of a valid passport, and some basic personal information regarding current address, contact details, etc. filled in a form.

It is very important to note that the agreed timeline in the reservation contract should be met, otherwise the reservation contract expires and the developer has the right to sell the unit to someone else and keep the deposit/payments made towards the property. Usually, the down payment will be due one month before the reservation and the payment should be made to the developer no later than the deadline stated in the reservation contract to avoid the cancellation of the deal. Until the deadline the down payment can be held in a lawyer’s client account which acts as an escrow. The deadlines set for the monthly payments should also be met, even if the contract stage is taking longer than anticipated to avoid losing the deal. Usually, the contract of sale is completed within this period and ensures the protection of both parties.

The next step is the Contract of Sale. The contract must include all the details of the agreement, including the payment terms, late delivery penalty clause, title deed copy, site plan copy, and the list goes on. The buyer is strongly advised to work with a trusted local lawyer at this stage that will handle the details professionally and protect the buyer’s rights. To avoid conflict of interest, the lawyer chosen is advised to be a third party and not represent the seller, to act in the best interest of the buyer. You can get recommendations from realtors on the best real estate attorneys that operate locally and are capable and experienced with overseas transactions.

The lawyer will suggest a few packages of services, from simple sales contract signing to permission to purchase application and even the permanent residency application. It is best to state your full intentions related to your purchase to determine the best package for you. When obtaining a power of attorney for the contract of sale, the buyer is advised to add the utility connection and key-handover admin work to the list of coverage of the POA just in case they may not be able to travel to handle it personally at the time of key-handover of the off-plan property being purchased. Most lawyers offer similar services, just to give an idea they are likely to do an in-depth search on the property to inform the buyer of any liens, charges, or encumbrances, check building permits and approvals, draft up a sales contract where responsibilities of both parties and default penalties and compensation clauses are clearly stated, handle and/or assist procedures with the local government offices, and the list goes on.

Currently, the original sale contracts must be signed and registered in the Turkish language however an English translation will also be provided and signed for international buyers.

When buying a property remotely, two of the most common methods used are using a Trust Company in North Cyprus or obtaining a Power of Attorney. With both of these methods, you attain your local lawyer as your nominee to act on your behalf to sign documents legally. The latter will require travelling to the North Cyprus Representative offices of Turkish Embassies in the country of residence of the buyer, which can be a tedious process but can also be done in North Cyprus easily if the buyer is already travelling to see the property or properties of interest. Even if the buyer or potential buyer is only considering some options but has already travelled to North Cyprus, we recommend getting this POA notarized while in the country as usually it is still valid after many years and the buyer can avoid the tedious process of having to do it abroad if they decide to buy a property sometime in the future.

The trustee option is relatively more convenient and offered more as a VIP package. The buyer will need to send an email approval for the contract of sale between the trust company and the seller. Later, a trust agreement is signed separately between the buyer and the trust company. The initial fee for this is 500GBP for 18 months, where in the meantime most off-plan properties will have the provisional title deeds to the unit being purchased ready which can be used to apply for permission to purchase directly in the name of the buyer, exiting the Trust agreement. Once the permission to purchase is applied for in the name of the client and not the name of the Trust, then the title deed can be transferred directly into the buyer’s name. The title deed transfer should be done within 6 months of obtaining Permission to Purchase.

If the buyer needs to hold the property in the Trust name, which can be the case if the buyer is buying more than one unit, usually the holding fees are about 1,000 GBP per annum. It should be noted that the Permission to Purchase application can not be submitted to the Ministry of Interior until the provisional unit title deeds or the actual title deeds are issued. The provisional title deeds for the unit usually can be obtained from the developer even before the construction of the unit is completed. If the provisional deeds are not ready then the Permission to Purchase application can not be submitted and the buyer will need to renew the Trust agreement for another year or a term.

Once either a trust or a power of attorney is obtained, and the details of the contract are agreed upon by the seller and the buyer, the contract then must be registered to the District Land Office and stamped by the Government. There are 21 days from signing for the parties to do this, a representative attorney does this service for you.

The buyer can use the same documents of POA or Trust to buy multiple properties later on, which makes the following purchases easier than the initial one.

6)      Registering the Contract of Sale

At the time of the sales contract, the buyer usually pays 30-60% of the sales price as the down payment depending on the stage of construction the property is at. For these payments, the buyer can use the client account of the local lawyer to avoid the need to obtain a local bank account. If the property is ready for key handover or a resale, then usually the full sale price is paid at the time of title deed transfer, and a portion of the payment is made while under contract waiting for the permission to purchase application to be finalized.

Next, the sales contract should be deposited to the District Land’s Office within 21 days of signing. At this stage, the stamp duty of 0.5% is also paid to the Government. Registering the sales contract to the Government Land’s Office secures the property under the buyer’s name and is legally binding. Registering the contract ensures that you are protected from the property being sold or transferred to a third party and from any subsequent liens being placed on the property.

If the property is complete, the buyer does not need to wait until the purchase permission application is finalized. The buyer can take possession of the property once the sale contracts are exchanged between the parties and registered at the Land Registry, the buyer will acquire beneficial interest and contractual rights of the property.

Should the buyer decides to re-sell the property before obtaining permission to purchase, unless otherwise stated on their contract of sale, they can re-sell with no limitations. 

7)   Following the Sales Contract Registry

After the sales contract registry and down payment, the remaining balance is paid according to the terms set out in the reservation contract and the contract of sale. If buying preconstruction, instalments are the typical payment plan. For resales, the buyer will be expected to remit full payment when the title deed is transferred. Meeting the payment deadlines is very important as otherwise, the developer holds the right to re-list the property.

8)      Permission to Purchase Application

Foreign Nationals must then request permission to acquire (PTP) the property. To acquire the immovable property, foreign nationals and companies are required to obtain ‘Permission to Purchase’ which also requires a clean criminal background check from their local Police Department. This step is usually just a formality. You will also be required to submit bank reference letters and several other documents. The buyer’s lawyer can make the application for a purchase permit on their behalf to the Council of Ministers and follow it up until the completion.  It can take up to a year to complete the process, but you can use the property as you wish in the meantime. In the rare event that this request is denied, you can reapply, and inheritance and residency rights will not be affected.

The obtaining of permission to purchase is a protracted procedure but this does not mean that the buyer will be unable to take possession of the property once sale contracts have been exchanged.

The buyer can also sell the property with a sales contract even if the title is not yet transferred to their name. The title can be transferred directly to the next buyer’s name.

9)   Residency permit

Given that the person intending to apply for residency in North Cyprus has initiated the property purchasing and the person has a clean police background check; the person becomes eligible to apply for residency and reside in the country while this is being processed.

To initiate this process the buyer does not need to obtain a title deed to the property in their name nor that they need to pay off the property or pay any minimum sum of the property value in North Cyprus. The value of the property is also not of relevance, there is no required minimum sum of money/ investment criteria to qualify for residency, unlike in other parts of Europe.

If relatives and/or family members of the buyer wishes to apply for residency in North Cyprus using the purchased property in question, they either need to be the children of the buyer that are younger than 18 years of age or they need to be the legally wedded husband/wife. If anyone else other than mentioned family members wishes to apply for residency, for example, a parent of the buyer, older children or siblings, their name should also be in the contract of sale and they need to own some rights to the property being purchased.

This is a very straightforward application, and the buyer can reside in the country while their application is being processed, and the buyer holds the right to reapply. This is a formality, as having purchased a property with a Government registered Contract of Sale makes the buyer eligible for residency given that they have a clean background report.

9.1) Requirements for the ‘Permanent Residency Scheme’

Persons must be present at the time of application in relevant Government Offices

  • Passport original and photocopy
  • Owning a property/land in Cyprus (Contract of Sale deposited to the District Land Registry) or in-case of purchasing a resale, the Title Deed of the property
  • Proof of sufficient funds to support the buyer. Before application, persons must open up a local bank account and deposit 8000GBP as proof of sufficient funds to support themselves for two years. The value of the investment is not relevant.
  • Health tests obtained from licensed clinics or State Hospital
  • Proof of adress obtained in letter (Ikametgah belgesi) form from local Muhtar (Village chief)
  • Clean background checks obtained from your local (passport origin) Police Department

It is important to note that the residency permit only entitles the person to live in North Cyprus. It does not entitle the person to work or set up a business. To do these, the person either needs a work permit or a permit to set up a business. The residency permit should be renewed every year by following the same procedure except for the hospital check.

It should be noted that children under the age of 18 years, do not require residency permits. Therefore, families moving to North Cyprus only need to apply for residency for the adult members of the family.

10)    Citizenship

Becoming a citizen of North Cyprus is not granted. However, citizenship is granted to all persons whose mother or father is a Cypriot or to those married to a Cypriot. At the moment, there is a new law in Parliament to allow foreign nationals to become citizens after 10 years of residence.

11)  Key-Handover (KHO)

Some vendors may offer buyers longer payment plans than the completion period. In this type of scenario, the buyer can receive the keys to the property, move in for personal use, or start generating returns through rentals without the need of paying the full price if agreed as such in the contract of sale. The buyer can also obtain a residency permit before they finalize their payments and the title deed transfer. At this stage, further taxes and infrastructure contribution fees must be paid (please refer to the costs section below). If the buyer is strictly interested in investment gains, a period for furnishing should be accounted for before the property can generate returns.

12) Title Deed Transfer

Under the laws of North Cyprus, the property should be completed at the time of title deed transfer. Recent legislation (Oct. 2022) states that the buyer should apply for the transfer of the title deed of the immovable property within months from the date that permission to purchase status is granted. For transfers made after the 6th month, the transfer tax will double, between the 7th and 12th month the transfer tax will be fivefold and after the 12th month, the permission to purchase application will become ineffective.  

Separation of title deeds for individual properties when an off-plan unit is bought can take up to 2 years after the date of completion. Following this, it is a very simple procedure to transfer the Title Deed, usually, the buyer’s lawyer can assist them on the day of the application, and it is usually completed on the day of application. The fee of 3% for first-time buyers is payable to the Government, second purchase transfer fee is 6%. Please see the taxes and other fees below for more details.

13) Taxes payable by the purchaser

  • Stamp Duty: 0.5% of the purchase price due payable at the time of registry of the Contract of Sale (one-time payment, applies to resales)
  • VAT: 5% of the sale price is due and payable at the time of Key-handover to the first owner of the property (one-time payment, only applies to the first buyer of a new property)
  • Title deed transfer fee: (one-time payment, applies to resales)

6%. However, every person has a once in lifetime to reduce this Transfer Fee tax in North Cyprus to 3%. If the immovable property is a field or a plot, 4% of the immovable property value (is payable by the buyer).

  • Infrastructure contribution and utility connections fee: ranges between 1000 STG and 3000 STG (only the first owner of the property pays this fee, and in some cases, if stated by the contract of sale the vendor covers these costs)
  • Home Ownership Tax is currently 3 Turkish Liras per sqm (recurring payment)
  • If the owner receives rental yields from their property, they should pay a capital gains tax of 13% of their revenues. The buyer should check with their local tax authorities if they will be subject to double taxation in their country of residence. (recurring payment)
  • PS: 4% withholding tax on the value of the immovable property, and 2.8% if the seller is not a professional payable by the seller although this can always be varied by the parties by an express clause in the Contract of Sale.

13.1) Inheritance Taxes

Different taxes are applicable where the transfer is made by way of a donation (gift);

To a child from parents with 0.2%

To spouses with 0.4%

To a grandchild with 0.4%

Plus withholding tax is payable to the Finance Department.

13.2) Taxes when selling your property

Every private individual has a once-in-lifetime tax-free sale option for a house and land not exceeding 1 donum. Should the land exceed 1 donum in size, the once-in-lifetime tax-free sale option may only be used in connection with the property and the first 1 donum and so Capital Gains Tax will be payable upon the remainder of the land at 2.8%. On all subsequent sales, Capital Gains Tax will be payable at 2.8%, provided you do not sell more than 3 properties in one year, making you a professional Vendor.

For professional Vendors (those selling 3 or more properties), there are no tax exemption rights. Capital Gains Tax is payable on every sale at a rate of 4.7%.

Please note, if you have not yet taken the title deed in your name, and the title deed is in another name or Company name, and you sell the property for more than you paid for it, you will most likely be liable to pay 2.8% Capital Gains Tax to the owner for the difference between the price what you bought it for and the selling price.

If the person chooses to work with an agent the commission is payable by the seller.

14) Other closing costs

The two other main costs are the legal fees which are starting from 1500 STG and depend on the services chosen by the buyer.

The other is the furnishing. Most vendors offer furniture packages. Even when the property is advertised as unfurnished; it usually comes with fitted tiles, kitchen cabinets, fitted sink, toilet and bathroom, and AC infrastructure. However, the buyer must always double-check what is included in their purchase price with the vendor and have it in the written form attached to the sales contract.

The buyer might also get into a maintenance agreement for the common areas of the complex the property might be sharing, and these maintenance fees are payable monthly or annually. An agreed amount of deposit per the agreement might be paid at the time of entering into this contract usually at the time of Key-Handover. Full recurring costs should be discussed with the developer and/or their representatives.

15) Opening up a bank account in North Cyprus

A buyer does not need to open up a bank account to purchase a property in North Cyprus. They can simply use the client accounts of the lawyers, developers and rental teams to handle local transactions and use a wire transfer to access the accounts.

If the buyer is intending to live in North Cyprus, then they should obtain a bank account to deposit sufficient funds to live in North Cyprus. Some banks do ex-pat banking, allowing foreigners full access to their accounts even when they are abroad, or the account owner can install the app bank to their smartphones to access their accounts. The bank accounts can be opened in different currencies and the options are TR, USD, Euros and British Pounds. Buyer can ask their realtor to put them in touch with a trusted local bank accounts manager.

To open up a bank account documents below are needed:

Applying in person

  • A valid passport
  • Proof of address
  • An income certification, or certification of funds from the home country

Written by Soylem Coli – Realtor- Head of Regional Sales and Marketing Operations at Avertiss exclusive partners

Contact: soylemcoli@gmail.com OR +90 533 864 1652                      

Address: Bellapais, Kyrenia, North Cyprus

Disclaimer: This document was prepared to simplify the buyer’s experience when purchasing a property in North Cyprus and to highlight important steps in the process. This is not a complete guide and the laws are subject to change over time, so the buyer is advised to always check with their lawyer, realtor and the official government websites (TRNC Ministry and the Deed and Cadastral Office) to ensure that the information in this guideline is not outdated.

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