North Cyprus Inform

Work and Working Permits for Foreigners in North Cyprus

There is no acute unemployment problem in the TRNC and the number of registered unemployed has declined steadily since 1978. The official working week is 40 hours in winter and 36 hours in summer. Foreigners wishing to work must obtain a work permit from the Immigration Office.

Working permits are valid for 1 year for foreigners. After 1 year employe must prolong his working permit.

For those who are coming from abroad, the entrepreneur must send the invitation. Entrepreneur’s accountant must apply to Working Department for receiving the permission for job placement of the employe.

After coming to North Cyprus the employe must receive the reference about his entrances/exits from/to North Cyprus. He should apply for the reference in the Main Police Department in Lefkosa. For registration the reference he will pay 4ytl of duty.

After that the accountant applies to Working Department and employe will pass medical test.

The medical test consists from blood test and x-ray test. It takes not more than 1 hour. The test results will be available in 3 days. The price of the medical test depends of laboratory price-list (90ytl - 230ytl).

After passing medical test the employe must visit Immigration Department in Lefkosa for receiving his working permit. For this he will pay duties 130ytl and 5 ytl.

Next year the employe will prolong his working permit for 1 year more with the same way.