Living and Working in North Cyprus

Unlike the Greek Cypriot controlled Republic of Cyprus, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is not in the EU therefore it has different entry requirements for citizens of EU countries and anyone hoping to work in North Cyprus must have a work permit.

This article outlines the most relevant facts about living and working in North Cyprus and where to look for jobs in North Cyprus and how to settle into the excellent quality of life achievable on the island.

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Entry Requirements

If you are a citizen of Turkey or of an EU member state or from Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway you can travel to Northern Cyprus without the need for a visa but with your valid passport (or national identity card if it has a picture of you) according to the TRNC government’s website.  You can remain for up to 90 days before you need to apply for temporary residence or leave the island

If you come from any other country you may be allowed entry with a valid passport and a visa which can be obtained from your nearest Turkish embassy, but before you travel you should check whether any changes to these requirements have been made or whether any restrictions apply by contacting your nearest embassy.

Living in North Cyprus

Expatriates living in the TRNC generally enjoy an excellent quality of life.  The climate in North Cyprus is mild and beautifully temperate for most of the winter with the occasional cold snap and then it goes from being warm and balmy in the spring to beautifully hot in the long summer before cooling down again in the Autumn.

Although the cost of living in North Cyprus rose by 0.2% in July it remains low with the only significantly expensive items being imported wines, spirits, specialist foodstuffs and cars.  Property in Northern Cyprus is incredibly good value for money and the cheapest in the Mediterranean region by far.

There are many social clubs for expatriates living in the North and they are suitable for all ages, there are mums and toddlers groups, rugby and football for men and women, bridge, badminton and church groups as well for example and the local weekly and daily papers list details of all events.

Neither education nor health care in North Cyprus need be a concern if you’re thinking of moving to the island.  There are many local schools available which teach through the medium of the Turkish language and there are also a growing number of private English and International schools in TRNC available.  Health care is affordable and of a high standard and it is not usual for expats in North Cyprus to bother with health care as their policy excess is usually far more than they pay for standard treatment anyway.

Working in North Cyprus

As the average age of the TRNC expatriate drops dramatically as more and more young people and families move to the island so the requirement for work opportunities and jobs on the island intensifies.

According to the TRNC government website a work permit must be secured before a worker moves to the island.  In practice it is possible to move to Northern Cyprus before either securing a job or a work permit…but if in doubt contact the government to check.  On their site they state that a work permit is only granted on a temporary basis where a job offer has been made and there are no TRNC citizens available or qualified for the post.

In terms of the work available - because of the boom in property development on the island there are specialist jobs available in the construction industry from civil engineers to plumbers and electricians.  Vacancies for estate agents often come up as well.  Furthermore as the number and size of schools on the island grows so the demand for internationally qualified teachers intensifies.  There are also vacancies arising in the tourism industry from travel reps to bar and waiting staff for example.

The best places to search for jobs are in the local papers like ‘Cyprus Today’ and ‘Cyprus Weekly’ and the best place to learn more about North Cyprus is from the brand new book all about the island which has only just been published!  ‘Northern Cyprus (Landmark Visitors Guides)’ came out in January 2005 and has already been highly acclaimed.

To learn more about this book, to see reader reviews or a content synopsis, or indeed to purchase a copy online, please click here.