Currently there are no direct non-stop flights to Northern Cyprus (Ercan is the main airport in the Northern part of the island). Due to a rapid increase in international flights, Ercan airport underwent major reconstruction. Gecitkale was the back-up airport where all flights to North Cyprus were made. All flights are routed through mainland Turkey. You do not have to leave the plane as a general rule and will remain on board for 45 minutes at one of the airports in Turkey (Dalaman, Antalya, Izmir, Istanbul etc).

 
It is a 20 minute drive from Ercan to Nicosia (Lefkosa) – the capital of Northern Cyprus, 35 minutes to Kyrenia (Girne) and 40 minutes to Famagusta (Gazi Magusa). Hopefully, in the near future there will be direct flights from London, Manchester and Frankfurt.

2. What flights are available to Northern Cyprus now?

North Cyprus has direct air links only with Turkey, where all planes from Europe must land prior to flying on to North Cyprus. This is due to the Chicago Convention whereby North Cyprus has no recognised international ports and all air and sea traffic must land in Turkey and proceed to North Cyprus as an ‘internal’ traffic. More than 90 flights to Northern Cyprus arrive per week at Ercan airport during the summer. Currently, there are approximately 20 flights per week to North Cyprus from London (Heathrow, Gatwick and Stanstead). For passenger convenience most of them arrive in the evening.

There are also flights to Northern Cyprus from Manchester, Glasgow and Dublin. There is also a big selection of ferries from Turkey - the fastest is 2 hours.

3. What is the cost of living in Northern Cyprus?

The cost of living in Northern Cyprus is cheap compared to other countries in the Mediterranean region (Southern part of the island in particular) or popular European destinations. The utility bills are exceptionally affordable. Living in Northern Cyprus, you will be looking to pay £200 a year for electricity and water for an apartment. A lot of the houses and apartments are built with solar water heating systems, which ensures cheap running costs, even in winter. Communal maintenance fees are also payable, depending what facilities you share (pool, security, sewage, etc).

Northern Cyprus living is changing for the better. In recent years the number of the supermarkets that sell foreign food has grown (including leading English brands), which has brought the price of export goods down slightly, but they still remain higher than in the UK. Turkish produced food could be purchased at a fraction of the cost of UK branded food and is good quality with a varied choice. Northern Cyprus is a paradise for smokers and alcohol is exceptionally cheap. For a bottle of a local lager (EFES) you would pay 50p and a bottle of a local Red/white wine (Cankaya) £2.50.

Northern part of Cyprus has restaurants galore – for every taste and pocket. An average restaurant bill with drinks per person is £ 10-20. You can pay in most restaurants and supermarkets directly in pounds and in Euro, without losing in conversion rates. The cost of living in North Cyprus is very cheap compared to UK.

4. How long can a British citizen stay in Northern Cyprus?

British and the majority of Western Europeans on arrival would automatically receive a three month visa. If you decide to stay on the island for a longer period you can get an extension or if you decide to permanently settle here, you would need to get a residency permit. We can point you in the right direction on how to receive it quickly.

5. Are there any limitations on buying property in Northern Cyprus for a foreign person?

Yes, there is a limitation. The land in Northern Cyprus is measured in donums. The foreign national cannot buy more than 1 donum of land (which is 1,338 square metres or approximately 14,000 square feet) for one property. This area of land will satisfy the majority of our clients. In the case where you want a bigger piece of land, this can be easily met by adding members of your family as the owners or by forming a local company to buy the land in its name.

6. What are the procedures to buy the property in Northern Cyprus?

Due to the buoyant market situation, we do advise our clients to arrange finance before travelling to Northern Cyprus and to have the reservation fee available, if you find something you like. Otherwise it could be a wasted journey. Please also note that a debit/credit card payment is not acceptable when it comes to a reservation fee. You would need to see a solicitor during your visit if you decide to purchase a property and issue him with the Power of Attorney, so he can follow your instructions during your absence.

 
You appoint a solicitor who checks and confirms the title deeds. The next stage is to draw up a sale contract. It will define the payment terms and the completion date. Your attendance is not essential as the solicitor will act on your behalf if you issue a Power of Attorney.

 
On the day of the completion, the monies are paid to the vendor and the Land Registry (stamp duty at 6%) by your solicitor. Your name will be included into the Land Registry's books, but it takes up to 12 months for the new title deed to be issued.

7. What are the costs involved when buying a property in Northern Cyprus?

The solicitor's costs are in the region of £1000 (be aware that some solicitors charge an hourly rate fee, that could work out very expensive). We can always refer you to the solicitor we work with, who is more competitive and charges at £700.

The stamp duty is 6% of the property value, but more often than not the valuation is lower than the selling price of the property. Some may consider to build their own house as the stamp duty will be payable on the cost of the land rather than the built property - if the permission to porchase is received before the construction begins.

Also the buyer has to bear in mind the sales tax (VAT) at 5% on newly built property.

Sales and stamp duty tax is payable to the Land Registry office when the permission to purchase is granted and the property is completed as well as a nominal registry fee (in the region of £200).

The buyer also should enquire about the other costs in relation to the electricity, water and gas installations. Sometimes, the costs are built into the selling price, but more often than not there is a separate cost, especially if you are building your villa in isolation to the main road or the nearest village and there is not construction nearby.

8. What types of deeds are available?

Like in the UK there are two main types of deeds in TRNC – Freehold and Leasehold deeds. However, there are some significant differences the UK buyer should be aware of when he comes to buy a property in Northern Cyprus.

Leasehold property or land is, as a rule, restored buildings which are leased to foreign nationals by the Government for a period of up to 49 years. The ground rent is negligible. A typical example of such properties could be found in the well established Karmi village near Kyrenia (Girne), where originally all foreign nationals settled. Most of them are English, but also other European nationals, like Germans, Swiss, and Dutch live there.

There are three types of deeds for Freehold property, which differ significantly, but all of them are absolutely legal.

The first one is the Freehold property that belonged to a foreign owner (pre-1974), which are rarely found on the market these days, as the owners consider it a good investment and do not feel like parting with it while property prices are going up.

Second type is the deeds that belonged to Turkish Cypriots before 1974, which are also internationally recognised title deeds.

Third type is the TRNC absolute possession document, which was issued to Turkish Cypriots by the TRNC Government in compensation of their lost property in the Southern part of the island. The land or property before the conflict belonged to the Greek Cypriots. The Turkish Cypriots signed over their property left in the Southern part of the island in favour of the TRNC, who issued full possession title in return. It is also often referred to as a basis points land. However, the buyer should be aware that some plots of land or property located close to military sites cannot be completed (e.g. your name will not appear on the title deeds). It is a common belief that TRNC title deeds issued to military serviceman for their service on the island carry a high risk of repossession as they were issued, not on a basis points system, but as a reward for services.

Land and property with no title deeds issued (that belonged to Greek Cypriots pre-1974 and not reclaimed by Turkish Cypriots) as well as “pending ownership” (the purchase that did not complete pre-1974) are illegal and are not considered safe.

Your new home could be at risk if you complete your purchase without confirmation of the title deeds by a solicitor!

9. How long does it normally take to complete the purchase of a property in Northern Cyprus?

Be prepared to wait. It could take up to 12 months to complete the purchase, but its nothing to worry about if you are not planning to sell the property during this period of time. The waiting will be rewarded by becoming the owner of your dream home.

10. What are the terms of payment for buying a property in Northern Cyprus?

The terms of payment depend upon the property you buy. Re-sale property is paid fully on the exchange of the contracts, however a reservation payment to your solicitor is advisable, which takes the property off the market until the title deeds are checked and the contracts exchanged.

The payment terms for a newly built or built to order property varies depending upon the construction firm. It could be from 100% upfront to 10-30% deposit with monthly instalments until completion. Please indicate your financial position and your preferences regarding how you would like to settle your purchase. As we are not tied to one specific contractor we would be able to find the right property for sale in Northern Cyprus that would suit your financial status.

11. Is it possible to bring personal possessions (furniture, pets, etc) into the country?

There are several removal companies that offer this service. The price depends upon the cubic metre capacity of the container. To shop around for quotes would be the best route to follow. We can provide you with several contact numbers.

There are no harsh requirements on bringing pets into the country if you have a UK veterinary certificate stating that the animal has not got any infectious diseases, and has had all relevant injections, This needs to be presented to the Ministry of Agriculture. The quarantine period is 4 weeks. Bear in mind that you would have to look after your pet whilst it is in quarantine as this service is not offered.

12. Is a local driving license required in Northern Cyprus?

Driving in Cyprus, like in many other ex-colonies, is on the left, which should not create any problems. You are allowed to drive on your UK Driving License for a period of three months, after that you would need to apply for a TRNC driving licence.

13. Are there any limitations to repatriate rental or any other income from Cyprus?

There is no limitation on repatriating profits, including rental income from your property in Northern Cyprus. There are no questions asked about the origin of income.

14. What is the banking system like? Is it possible to open a bank account in Northern Cyprus in £?

There are a lot of local private banks in Northern Cyprus, as well as branches of Turkish banks. You would be able to open a £sterling currency account which offer good interest rates. However, we do recommend you to go for the reputable banks as there have been instances of bankruptcy of local banks in the past. HSBC International has opened branches in Kyrenia (Girne), Famagusta (Gazi Magusa) and Nicosia (Lefkosa), which is a sign of financial and political stability on the island.

15. What are the major cities and what do they offer from the point of view of buying a property in Northern Cyprus?

Lefkosa (Nicosia) – is the capital of the Northern part of the island with a population of 150,000 and is divided into Turkish and Greek sectors by a boundary known as the `green line' that runs through the city. This city is fascinating, steeped in history, architecture and places of interest. Lefkosa might attract buyers who are planning to work for the local Government or international companies. Any investment in property here might be very rewarding if and when the island reunites. There is massive potential for investment growth.

Famagusta (Gazi Magusa) - is like an outdoor museum in itself, but also it has so much historical interest concentrated in and around the ‘old city’ with many museums. To name but a few, Saint Barnabas Monastery and Museum, Agios Ionnis Greek Orthodox Church and Icon Museum. This is very much the cultural centre of the island. This area would appeal to families with children of different ages, just like Kyrenia. However, the landscape of this area is very different, it is more flat and the sea view is more restricted, but the golden sand beaches are the best on the whole island. This area is becoming increasingly popular amongst foreign buyers, not just British. The British community here is smaller than in Kyrenia at the moment, but this keeps the property prices lower therefore making it more attractive to other European buyers.

Girne (Kyrenia) – is famous for its resorts, beautiful seaside, restaurants, casinos and large British community in the town itself and its vicinities. The head office of the British Residents Society is located here. 
A few minutes drive from Kyrenia there is Karmi (an English village settlement), situated high in the mountains. The property for sale there is leasehold only.

Guzelyurt - is famous for its olive and orange tree orchards. It is located 30 miles west of Kyrenia (Girne). This area is also renowned for its tasty apples, vegetables, grapefruit and melons - due to the underwater springs. Guzelyurt is also famous for its annual Orange Festival, which is a major event lasting two weeks. The golf club (9 holes) is located outside the town. It is open every day to the public.  Clubs are available for hire at the clubhouse. The best days to meet and play with friendly local members are Tuesdays and Thursdays.  However, do not expect to see a sophisticated golf course by European standards. It is basic, but the views are fantastic. Imagine finishing the game just before the sun dips over the horizon across the blue shimmering sea...

16. What is the official language in the TRNC?

The official language is Turkish; however English is a business language and widely spoken.

17. What is the time difference with UK?

Cyprus is two hours ahead of UK GMT time.

18. Is TRNC recognised elsewhere in the world?

The TRNC has an Embassy in Ankara and Consulates in Mersin and Istanbul; Offices of Representatives in London, Washington, New York, Brussels, Pakistan and Abu Dhabi. Honorary Representatives in Italy, Germany, Austria, Canada, South Africa and Finland.

There is a Turkish Embassy, British High Commissioner and German Consulate in the TRNC.

Taken from Kozansoy Basim Yayin ltd.