North Cyprus Golden Visa 2026: 10-Year Residency With a £300,000 Property

Posted by Luxury Life Team on October 15, 2026

Buying Properties, Expat Guide, Real Estate

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Luxury Life TeamPublished October 15, 2026

Imagine waking up to the Mediterranean in a home that is truly yours, with long sunny summers, mild winters and an easy, safe pace of life. For many families, retirees and investors, North Cyprus has made that picture everyday reality. And since October 2026 there is one more reason to look closely: under two new official amendments, owners of property worth £300,000 or more can receive a 10-year residence permit, with no income requirement. In this guide we explain exactly what the new rules say, who qualifies and how the process works, based on the official texts published in the Official Gazette.

North Cyprus residency through property: the key facts

Title deed and total property value of £300,000 or more: a 10-year residence permit, with no income requirement.
Title deed and a value below £300,000: a 5-year residence permit, with no income requirement.
Stamped sales contract of £300,000 or more: a 5-year residence permit, with no income requirement, while you wait for your title deed.
Family: the family residence permit can now be granted for up to 10 years at a time, and children under 6 are exempt from the residence permit.
Over 60: property owners over 60, and their spouses over 60, are exempt from the residence permit and receive a free five-year exemption record.

Is there an official “golden visa” in North Cyprus?

Not under that name. In many countries, a golden visa means residency in exchange for an investment programme. North Cyprus links residency directly to home ownership: when you buy a residential property and register it correctly, the Residence Permits and Visas Regulation gives you a clear legal route to a residence permit. Since October 2026, that route rewards larger purchases with a much longer permit, which is why many buyers now call it the North Cyprus golden visa.

It is important to be precise: a residence permit is not citizenship, and buying property does not give you a passport. What it gives you is the right to live here legally, for up to ten years at a time, and to enjoy the island all year round.

What changed in October 2026

The Council of Ministers amended the Residence Permits and Visas Regulation (İkamet İzinleri ve Vizeler Tüzüğü) twice in October 2026. Both amendments came into force on the day they were published:

Official Gazette No. 193, 2 October 2026 (Supplement III, A.E. 932): 10-year permits for title deed holders with a total property value of £300,000 or more, family residence permits of up to 10 years, and an exemption for children under 6.
Official Gazette No. 194, 5 October 2026 (Supplement III, A.E. 943): 5-year permits without an income requirement for buyers with a stamped sales contract of £300,000 or more.

Residence permits for property owners in 2026

Article 14 of the regulation now sets four clear routes for property owners:

Your situation	Value of the property	Residence permit	Income requirement
Title deed in your name	£300,000 or more (total)	10 years	None
Title deed in your name	Below £300,000	5 years	None
Sales contract stamped by the Tax Office	£300,000 or more	5 years	None
Sales contract stamped by the Tax Office	Below £300,000	5 years	Monthly income of at least one minimum wage

For title deed holders, the regulation counts the total value of the properties you have bought, so more than one home in your name can together reach the £300,000 threshold. Values in other currencies count at their equivalent. How the value of an existing title deed is assessed in practice is something your lawyer confirms with the Immigration Department.

Buying with a sales contract: what you need

A sales contract stamped and approved by the Tax Office.
At least one third of the purchase price already paid, and the application for the purchase permit made.
Below £300,000: proof of a regular monthly income of at least one minimum wage, with an apostilled document from your home country or a letter from any bank in North Cyprus or abroad.

Your family: spouse and children

Family residence permit for up to 10 years: the October 2026 amendment raised the maximum from five to ten years per grant.
Children under 6: exempt from the residence permit altogether.
School pupils under 18: children who live with a parent holding a legal permit, or who attend a primary or secondary school registered with the Ministry of Education, are exempt from the residence permit.

Over 60? You may not need a residence permit at all

Property owners over 60 who qualify for a residence permit through their property, and their spouses or partners over 60, are exempt from the residence permit. They register with the Immigration Department and receive a five-year exemption record each time, and no fee is charged for it. For applicants over 60, a health report is not required.

What foreigners can buy: Decree-Law 119/2026

The purchase rules for foreign buyers were renewed by Decree-Law 119/2026, published in Official Gazette No. 196 on 6 October 2026. It replaced Decree-Law 89/2026. With a purchase permit from the Council of Ministers, a foreign individual can buy:

up to three apartments (six for citizens of countries that recognise North Cyprus and grant the same right to its citizens), or
one detached house on a plot of up to 3,300 m², or
two two-storey villas on a residential site (three for citizens of those countries), or
a building plot of up to 1,338 m² for one home.

The decree also sets clear timelines that protect both buyer and seller:

The stamped sales contract is registered at the district Land Registry within one month, and the purchase permit application is made in the same period.
Transfer fees are paid within 75 working days of the purchase permit being published.
The title deed transfer is completed within one year of the permit being published.
Up to 80% of the units in a residential project may be sold to foreign buyers.

Step by step: from your first viewing to your residence permit

Choose the right home. We help you compare areas, projects and budgets, in person or by live video if you are abroad.
Appoint an independent lawyer. Your lawyer checks the title deed, building permits and any debts on the property before you commit.
Sign and register the contract. The contract is stamped (0.5% stamp duty) and registered at the Land Registry within one month.
Apply for the purchase permit. Your lawyer submits the application to the Council of Ministers in the same period.
Apply for your residence permit. With your stamped contract, or later with your title deed, you apply with your passport and supporting documents.
Receive your title deed. Once the deed is in your name, a property value of £300,000 or more opens the way to a 10-year permit.

What it costs

The main one-off costs for a foreign buyer in 2026 are the title deed transfer fee (9% of the property value, usually paid in two parts), 5% VAT on most new-build homes, 0.5% stamp duty and your lawyer’s fee. You will find a full, up-to-date breakdown in our guide to property taxes in North Cyprus, and every legal step in our guide to buying property in Northern Cyprus.

Why buyers choose North Cyprus

A real home, not a fee: your money goes into a property you can live in, rent out or pass on to your children.
Up to ten years of residency with a title deed and a property value of £300,000 or more, without proving an income.
Room for the whole family: family permits of up to ten years and exemptions for young children and school pupils.
Mediterranean lifestyle: beautiful beaches, mountains, historic harbours and a warm, welcoming community.
Education: international universities with programmes taught in English, close to home.

Frequently asked questions

Does buying property in North Cyprus give me citizenship?

No. Buying property gives you the right to a residence permit. Citizenship is a separate process with its own conditions.

Do I get 10 years with a sales contract?

Not yet. With a stamped sales contract of £300,000 or more you receive 5 years without an income requirement. The 10-year permit is available once the title deed is in your name.

Can two cheaper homes together reach £300,000?

For title deed holders, the regulation refers to the total value of the properties you have bought, within the purchase limits for foreigners.

I already have a 5-year permit. Does it become 10 years automatically?

Existing permits are not converted automatically. When you renew, you apply under the new rules.

Can I buy from abroad?

Yes. With an independent lawyer and a power of attorney, much of the process can be handled while you are abroad, and we keep you updated at every step.

Find your home in North Cyprus

Whether you are looking for a home above the £300,000 threshold or a smaller apartment by the sea, our team in Famagusta will guide you from the first viewing to your title deed and residence permit, in English, German, Turkish and Persian. Browse our properties for sale in North Cyprus, read about our legal and residency services or contact us on WhatsApp at +90 533 886 6891.

Sources

Last updated: 15 October 2026. This guide is general information based on the official texts listed above, not legal advice. Rules in North Cyprus change regularly, so always confirm your own situation with an independent lawyer before you buy.