What amount must be in the account to obtain a residence permit in Northern Cyprus

To legally stay in Northern Cyprus, you need to obtain a residence permit (RP). It allows you to stay on the island longer than a tourist visa permits.

Sections:

• How much money is required in the account
• Who the amount is calculated for
• In which currency the money can be held
• By what date the amount must be in the account
• How to avoid fines and rejection
• Other questions
• Where to get help with obtaining an RP

Previously, we detailed the process of obtaining a residence permit.
In this article, we will cover the financial part: how much money should be in the account, in which currency it can be held, and by what date it must be in the bank.

We should note immediately that for property owners with a title applying based on property ownership, this article is not relevant, as they do not need to provide proof of financial means when applying for an RP.

The most popular way to legalize your stay is through a high-income RP.

This type of RP is suitable for those who rent accommodation and can prove their financial capacity.
However, for any type of RP, except for property title owners, a certain amount must be in a bank account.

For first-time RP applications (6 months), a statement from a foreign bank can be provided.
In all other cases, only funds placed in TRNC banks are accepted.

How much money is required in the account

Before applying for an RP, your account must have an amount calculated using the formula:

• 1 minimum wage (MW) × number of months — for property owners
• 3 minimum wages (MW) × number of months — for those applying for a high-income RP

The minimum wage (MW) is taken before taxes.
From January 2026, the MW is 60,618 TL.

The current MW can be viewed here.

Example calculation (as of January 2026)

Who the amounts are calculated for

The specified amounts are calculated for each adult family member, including the main applicant. For minor children, no amount is required.

If there are additional adult members in the family, +25% of the amount should be added for each.

Example: a family of two adults and two children → the deposit should be 2 × 1 MW or 2 × 3 MW per month of RP application.

In which currency the money can be held

Funds can be held in Turkish lira (TRY), as well as:

• US dollars (USD)
• euros (EUR)
• British pounds (GBP)

The conversion is done at the exchange rate on the date of application.

By what date the required amount must be in the account

This is a critical point:

• For first-time applications (6 months), you can show money in a foreign bank, but it must be in the account before applying.
• If the money arrives after applying but before the appointment, it may be considered a loan — and a fine of 835 TL will be imposed for each day between the application date and the date the funds arrive.

How to avoid fines and rejection

• Deposit the money in advance, before applying.
• Keep a bank statement showing the date the funds arrived.
• Ensure that the bank is part of the TRNC banking system (except for the first RP).

Frequently asked questions about RP in Northern Cyprus

How to register with the Ministry of Interior?

Go to the official Ministry of Interior website and follow the instructions.

Where is the appointment scheduled?

At the nearest police station to your residence. Contacts: via this link.

Which medical tests are required?

The list of tests is published in our article.

MW updates are published in this section.

If you want to get an RP without unnecessary errors and problems

Contact our partner — the law firm DeJure.

• Phone: +90 539 119 05 55
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