Q. What is the time difference?

A. The island is two hours ahead of British GMT
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Q. Is it safe?

A. Northern Cyprus is extremely safe with minimal crime. People leave their cars and houses unlocked.
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Q. Is it easy to buy things? Are they expensive?

A. It is extremely easy to buy things. Larger supermarkets now sell leading British branded products. Although these can be slightly more expensive, Turkish produced items are much cheaper with fresh fruit and vegetables in abundance. Alcohol and tobacco is also extremely cheap.

Eating out is also very good value with a huge number of restaurants and cafes to choose from. An average restaurant bill with drinks is £10-£20 per person.
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Q. Are there any foreign exchange controls?

A. No, foreign exchange currency can be brought into the country and taken out through the banks without any restriction or control.
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Q. Are there any international banks? What is the banking system like?

A. The banking system is very straight forward and many international banks have branches on the island. HSBC International in particular has opened branches in both Kyrenia and Nicosia. We recommended you use these rather than the numerous local and Turkish banks. Although Turkish Lira is the principle currency, sterling can be used almost everywhere. Travellers cheques can easily be exchanged at any local bank.
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Q. What is the government's attitude to foreign investment?

A. The government is very keen to attract foreign investment in the country and has a number of incentives.
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Q. Do I need a visa? How long can I stay?

A. valid passport is required and on arrival you will automatically be given a three month visa. If you decide to stay longer, you could get an extension or alternatively apply for residency. To become a resident is a very simple process. Certain documentation is required which is then stamped enabling you to stay on the island as long as you like unrestricted.
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Q. Can I own more than one property?

A. There are restrictions. A foreign national cannot buy more than 1 donum of land which is 1338m square or 14,400ft square. If you are interested in more than one property other members of your family can buy or you can form a local company.
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Q. What is the procedure to buy a property?

A. Due to the buoyant market situation, it is advisable to have arranged financing before travel to the island particularly with regards to the reservation fee. You will also need to appoint a solicitor which we can help you with on the island.

There is a certain procedure for buying property:

The validity of the title deed is checked and confirmed by a solicitor. Contracts of sale are drawn up, with the purchaser paying a 10% deposit, and a completion date is set. In many cases, the purchaser returns to the UK or wherever, and the solicitor attends to the completion in the purchaser's absence, having been given Power of Attorney.

If the property is registered in the name of a local person, then an application must be made to the Council of Ministers; allow 4- 6 months.

The Land Registry values the property for Stamp Duty purposes.

On the day of completion, the monies are paid by the solicitor to the vendor and the Land Registry respectively; the name of the purchaser is entered into the Land Registry's record books, and the new title deed is subsequently issued.
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Q. What are the costs involved in buying?

A. The solicitor's costs are in the region of £ 1000 (be aware that some solicitors charge an hourly rate fee, that could work out very expensive) when buying a property in Northern Cyprus.

All purchases are subject to a 6% stamp duty. The amount is accessed by the Land Registry Office.

There is a sales tax (VAT) at 5% on newly built property.
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Q. What would the property running costs be - would they be expensive?

A. The cost of living is cheap in Northern Cyprus and utility bills in particular are exceptionally good value. For an average apartment you can expect to pay £200 a year for electricity and water. Communal maintenance fees are also payable depending on what facilities you share (sewage, pool etc)
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Q. Are pets allowed in?

A. Pets are welcome in Northern Cyprus so long as you obtain correct documentation from your UK vet. There is a months' quarantine on the island.
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Q. Is it easy to drive and do I need a license?

A. You can drive with your British license for three months, after that you will need a TRNC license. Once you have been issued with your residency permit, a local license can be obtained within days.
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Q. Do I need health insurance?

A. There are several insurance companies who provide private health insurance - The British Residents Society are the best people to contact. Local medical care is good and extremely reasonable. The majority of local expats use local doctors surgeries and treatment centres.
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Q. Where are the best beaches?

A. North Cyprus has plenty of sandy beaches. The best beaches are in Karpas - the worldwide famous Golden Beach (7 km. long) is here. The Malibu Beach is also another lovely beach of Karpas area.

After Karpas comes the beaches of East Kyrenia - the best of these is the Alagadi Beach (also known as the turtle beach), then Acapulco Beach , Lara Beach and the beautiful Esentepe Beach.

The Escape Beach in Alsançak is one of the safest beaches close to the west of Kyrenia. There are many hotels with private bays which permit non-residents to use them for a small fee - the best one is the Acapulco Beach.
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Q. Where is the London Representative Office?

A. Office of the London Representative, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, 29 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3EG, United Kingdom.
Tel: (00 44) 171-631 19 20 (3 Line) 171-631 19 30 (2 Line)
Tourism Fax: (00 44) 171-631 19 48 / 171-631 18 73
E-mail: webmaster@trnclondon.demon.co.uk
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Q. What is the climate like?

A. Cyprus enjoys an intense Mediterranean climate, with long dry summers from mid-May to mid-October and with mild winters from December to February, which are separated by short autumn and spring seasons. Summer is the season of high temperatures with cloudless skies, but the sea breezes create a pleasant atmosphere in the coastal areas. Winters are mild with some rain, but even in January (usually the coolest month) there are generally six hours of bright sunshine during the day. During the summer months very light clothing is all that you will need. In spring and autumn daytime temperatures are generally warm enough for light summer clothing, but in the evening one might feel the need for a light jacket or pullover. In winter, you should be prepared for all kinds of weather that a European spring may bring. It is advisable to pack a light jacket and pullovers, although you may not need them during the day.
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Q. Can I take advantage of duty-free?

A. Each adult is permitted to bring 400 cigarettes, 500gr tobacco or 50 cigars, 1 litre of wine or spirits and up to 100cl of perfume into the country. Duty-free is available on arrival in Northern Cyprus at airport shops and the ports of Kyrenia and Famagusta. It is significantly cheaper than buying on the airplane or in U.K. duty-free outlets.
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Q. What about electricity?

A. Electricity is the same as in the U.K. (240 volts) and wall fittings are generally the U.K. three-pin type, so all your U.K. electrical items will function as they should.
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Q. What are the Emergency Services phone numbers?

A. Here is a list of emergency services and their contact numbers:
First Aid / Ambulance Tel: 112
Forest Fires Tel: 177
Police Nicosia Tel: 228 3311
Police Kyrenia Tel: 815 2014
Police Famagusta Tel: 366 5310
Police Guzelyurt Tel: 714 2140
Police Karpaz Tel: 381 2325
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Q. What if I need medical advice or a hospital?

A. The main hospital is in Nicosia and there are other smaller ones in Kyrenia, Famagusta, Guzelyurt and Lefke. There are also clinics in smaller towns and some villages. Private medical care is widely available and much cheaper than the U.K., with many doctors trained in the Britain and other Western European Countries.
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Q. What if I need a plumber?

A. Due to a narrow pipe and sceptic tank system in Cypriot plumbing, many sewerage systems cannot cope with toilet paper being flushed, as it may cause blockages. You will find a bin provided next to the toilet, provided for the disposal of toilet paper, which is emptied daily.
Population The population of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was recorded as being 183,220 in the last census in 1996. 50% of the population live in the cities and 50% in the country side, 99% of the adult population are literate.
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Q. What's the postal service like?

The postal service in Northern Cyprus is reasonably fast and efficient. Please remember that to receive mail from abroad letters must be addressed "Mersin 10-Turkey"
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Q. How do I make calls to and from Northern Cyprus?

A. The dialling code for England is 00 44 followed by the local number but omitting the first number (0). The dialling code from abroad is the same as that for Turkey (00 90). To call a Cypriot number dial 0090 392 followed by the local number. Public telephone booths are available, telephone cards can be purchased from the Telecommunications Office and local mobile “pay as you go” services are available through Turk Cell and Telsim.
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Q. How do I contact the local Foreign Missions in Northern Cyprus?

A. Here is a list of embassies and their contact numbers:
Australian Representative Tel: 2277332
French Cultural Association Tel: 2283328
German Representative Tel: 2275161
Turkish Embassy Tel: 2272314
UK Representative Tel: 2283861
US Representative Tel: 2252440

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