TRNC Citizens May Have the Chance to Clear Their Criminal Records

A proposed amendment to the Criminal Record Expungement Bill has been introduced in Northern Cyprus and published in the Official Gazette. If passed, the new law will allow TRNC citizens who meet certain conditions to have their criminal records erased.

Under the proposed legislation, TRNC citizens convicted of offenses under the Criminal Code before the law comes into effect, and sentenced to a fine or imprisonment of up to one year, may apply to have their records expunged, provided they meet the following criteria:

• At least 10 years must have passed since the conviction became final.
• The sentence must have been fully served.
• The applicant must not have been convicted of any other crime during this period.

To apply for expungement, individuals must submit a request to the district court in their place of residence. If the court grants approval, they will receive an official document stating they no longer have a criminal record. However, the expunged conviction will still remain in a restricted-access registry, maintained by the Criminal Records Unit of the Judicial Police Department, in line with police regulations.

This application right can only be used once within a year from the date the law takes effect.