Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

How do we get one, moving over full time but a phased move, not temporary residency

Mike and Sue

I presume you're asking how do you get residency once you are living here permanently?

Moyra

Hi, although we often refer to 'Residency', in the main, we are really talking about a 1 year (or 2 year, for the over 60's) Visitor's Visa.

At some point in the future, you may qualify for actual Residency, or even Citizenship, but don't hold your breath!

There is full information - updated mid-2017 - on the BRS website, or you can type the word residency into the search box at the top left of this page, and it will display all previous mentions of the word on this forum (including your current query ).

There has long been talk of a "White Card" - white Kimlik - and some progress has been made on the subject. Remember please that none of the following is written anywhere that can be found and I have tried!!!

Allegedly, all the requirements for the "White Card" have been agreed upon and the whole thing has been put before the President who will decide if he will sign off on it or not, however, that was many months ago and anything you read on the BRS website about the white card is probably well out of date by now.

There is the option of "Citizenship" available to all and again the actual requirements to be met are somewhat clouded and difficult to discover. Many years ago to acquire a RED Kimlik (citizenship) you had to have worked and paid your social insurance (a bit like national insurance) for anything up to 12 years. Governments changed and the laws were amended and the qualifying time periods changed along with the age requirements for work. Today it is an unknown quantity as the Government has just changed again and they will have bigger issues to deal with than the citizenship of foreign nationals. So what now?

At a recent visit to the immigration department regarding a question over a White Kimlik, I was informed that the 10 years of continuous Visa stamps in my passports counted for nothing but that I should apply for Citizenship - surprise! I asked how I could qualify and was told that as I had lived here permanently for over 5 years I should just apply - this even through I have never worked here. Later I found that I would not qualify if I had left the KKTC for a period exceeding 40 days in any single, rolling, 12 months, any trips/days to the RoC also count in the 40 day limit! I applied, I have heard nothing since September last year, I have stopped holding my breath! If I do find out anything else I will post it here.

I really look forward to hearing if you do ever get any response on this Waddo.

waddo wrote:There has long been talk of a "White Card" - white Kimlik...

waddo - forum member SND1966 has actually got one - see here

Remember if you are over 60 you don't need residency.

Keith, the white kimlik has been available for a long time but it is not the same as the talked about "White Card" - same name but different animal. It is a really confusing system of cards and kimliks and is always going through a "transition" period it seems. The law on Citizenship is a lot more simple, but it can be interpreted in many different ways by immigration, all you need to find is away through the maze. There is some hope on the horizon in the form of a rapidly reducing population with the right to vote - things may well change soon - ish!!!

Just read frontalman's comment as well, can I remind you that the "agreement" by the government to allow foreign nationals to live here without having to continue getting a visitors visa (what most therm as residency), beyond the legal requirement to obtain the first one on moving here, is simply that - an agreement - and that it is not written in law and can therefore be withdrawn at anytime.

We are 56 and 53 so I assume it's a confirmation of living here we need

Mike and Sue, in all fairness, even through it seems like a "put you off" you should really visit the main immigration office in Nicosia - not the same office you would use to apply for/renew your visitor visa - and ask the people in there. Take sandwiches and a drink plus a book to read whilst you wait and be patient. Only the immigration staff can answer your questions for you inline with whatever the new government have decided upon. However, if all you require is the annual Visitor Visa stamp in your passport then follow the BRS website guidelines.

Thank yoy Waddo

What do you need this "confirmation of living here" for? If it's not Temp Residency (Visitor's Visa) then perhaps it is a Mukhtar's Letter (confirmation of address) that you need?

For customs for container delivery

Mike and Sue wrote:For customs for container delivery

Right!

In that case, it's a Muhtar's letter that you need!

Just pop along to your local Muhtar, tell him what you need, and he'll oblige...

Great thanks