White ID cards.

[jackvern]

White ID cards.Whilst we qualify for most of the criteria to apply for permanent residency I notice that we must also have a private health insurance valid in the TRNC. Having always paid for private medical at the Near East and being able to do so we have never researched fully private medical insurance or found a company that would insure a 75 year old at reasonable costs. It now seems that to become a card holder We have to consider this option. What companies here in North Cyprus are available to us.

[sophie]

jackvern, I think they may be referring to State/Government Insurance, similar to that which is compulsory for Expats in Turkey. I'm sure those on the Forum better informed than I will soon put me right if I'm wrong!!

[Esta Group]

Can you please tell me where you can the information on these new white cards?

[sophie]

On the front page of C2D it stated. "Full details and application forms - in both English and Turkish- are available from district offices and applications should be made at the Interior Ministry in Lefkosa, after which they will be evaluated by a special commission"

[charlie]

"special commission" that's a bloody joke. Lets see how much more we can rinse the nice people that come to live in the TRNC more like !

[Munchkin]

"State/Government Insurance" yet another "Government" led expat rip off how much longer are they going to stab the expats in the back ? no surprise this as nearly all the so called people in government have a "medical" background hence blood tests every year but then somebody has to pay for their kids to go to the Polly Peck School of English don't they. it's no surprise all the expats are leaving the TRNC has become an extremely unwelcoming place to invest.

[banjo]

The Insurance will be mandatory for Turkish Cypriots as well.
When the application is handed to the office in Lefkoşa together with the usual things you will
be given papers for hospital check up.
The white card is expensive 2.000 TL, and as I understand it there will be some sort of control
every two year.

[sophie]

Why would anyone want a bit of plastic that limits you to how many days a year that you can leave the country, beats me.

[WotNoDeeds]

This white card/permanent residency is too little too late. It seems to be a reincarnation of one of Talat's proposals of a few years ago where "permanent" residency had to be renewed every two years! If there is a settlement in the near future, surely healthcare will come under EU control and residency will be unnecessary?

[Keithcaley]

...If there is a settlement in the near future...

You're right, of course, but we've been saying that "If" every year, year after year after year...

[waddo]

Do we now take it that the law has been signed off by the President and that the information in C2D is correct? Has anyone out there actually obtained any forms as yet?

[tomsteel]

What benefit(s) does having this 'white card' actually provide for under and over 60 years old expats, what cost is involved, what procedure has been introduced, how long is it valid for before renewal are but a few of the many questions arising from this initiative? I understand there is also a limit on the number of days a holder of this card can be out of the TRNC during the lifetime of the validity!

[sophie]

Perhaps a visit to the offices in Lefkosa is the only way to get to the root of your questions. I can vaguely remember in one of S. Days articles a couple of months back he listed all the basic requirements needed to obtain a white card and by the time he got to the bottom of the list he estimated that only about 47 foreigners who would eventually be eligible. It was very funny but actually contained a lot of truths in it. I don't believe he came up with any benefits at all though!!

[banjo]

Yes, it has been signed by the President.
You will have to provide
copy of passport
koçan
police papers here and from your country
police papers how many times you have been leaving/returning
proof you are able to support your self (bankbook, pension)
There is no limitations as to how many days you are alowed to leave, when you have the white card,but ofcause you will have to prove you have been living here permanently for, I think 5 years, but I really do not remember.
The only thing that irritates me is, if I still have to go to Lefkoşa every 2 years, but suppose it has to do with health Insurance.
Yes 2.000 tl sounds expensive. On the other hand where in the world is a permanent permission free of charge? And finally I would much prefere to leave the visitor status behind me, since I live here

[waddo]

Keeping in mind that this card is not an "Identity Card" but is proof of "Permanent Residency", I find myself asking why should EU citizen actually want one? The current push for the settlement between the "Occupied" (By Turkish troops but not Greek Troops) TRNC and the "Unoccupied" (Not by Turkish troops but by Greek troops) region of Cyprus known as the RoC, if successful, would mean that the whole of Cyprus would be fully in the EU and have to comply (ish) with all the rules/laws and regulations that apply to other EU members. When the settlement happens - as I have no doubt that it eventually will but no timescale for it - then the White Card will be as much use to current EU citizens (and others who wish to become EU citizens) as the proverbial chocolate fire guard!

Having spent the last 8.5 years on the Island - without a single day away - whilst awaiting the never ending changes to the availability of "Permanent Residency" I now feel that this law has been pushed through in a way that makes it virtually impossible for a large body of people to obtain it. The fact that there is now a charge incurred, for obtaining this "White Card", which is presumably the same card that the President stated 40,000 of which would be given - note the word GIVEN - to people requesting "Permanent Residency" has cause me to wonder if this is just another invention of a quick method of obtaining 2,000TL from each applicant? Now if all the previously stated 40,000 apply (2,000 X 40,000 = 80,000,000.00TL) and gain the White Card then that will be a fair income - for what?

I am also confused by the requirements. 125,000.00 Euros in a TRNC bank account - why? The bank account holder will have made at least 9% interest PA on that deposit - what did the country make from that deposit, if anything? Purchased a property of the same value - yes I did - via leasehold - then I cancelled the lease and rented (same thing really) so would that count as I no longer OWN (and never really did) the leased property in the first place - but it did put well over 125,000 Euros into the TRNC economy! Medical insurance - at what cost, is this just another way to prop up the economy?

I am disheartened by this White Card, will it now replace the "agreement" that over 60's no longer need residency of any type? Will "Temporary Visitors Permits - the 1 and 2 year variety - be done away with? Lots of questions so far and a final and important one: When you apply for the "White Card", is the 2,000TL required then or only when you have been accepted?

[banjo]

Merry Christmas

[banjo]

sorry forgot to mention hospital check up after that

[Esta Group]

Having spoken to a owner of an insurance company over here, unfortunately even the insurance companies are waiting for more details on the government issued insurance. As far as I understand you will be required to purchase a health insurance which will be available for any of the insurance companies over here, soon! The companies themselves have not been informed of the cost yet and are waiting! As Ahmet said, this is Cyprus. We are waiting to find out if the Emergency Health Insurance product will be sufficient but we think not, as this does not cover on going treatments.
So soon as we have the answers we will let you know!
Esta Insurance....wishing you a safe and claim free Christmas!
0090 392 444 3782

[sophie]

If as you say Waddo, some will be eligible and some won't and like you I am disheartened as there is in all likelihood a two tier being created of haves and have nots amongst ex-pats both British and other nationalities. I do know people who will almost certainly be granted one automatically i.e. those who were given "yellow" cards 13 or 14 years ago.

[waddo]

Sophie, I note you use the word "Granted" and not "Given" - there is a difference of 2,000TL between the two words but I am willing to bet the word of the week to replace "Granted" and "Given" will be "Purchase" - lol.

[Ragged Robin]

Thank for the info on the , to me, most important points Esta?

Do you know, will you be able to tell us, what the compulsory Government Insurance covers?

Will it cover ongoing treatment and check ups , and existing (non infectious and not immediately terminal) illnesses and disabiliities? Will those of us who are already paying for private care now be able to get it free? Or does it like most private medical insurance exclude existing conditions?

Does it include dental and optical care.


Incidentally, I thought the EU "Green Card" only covered reciprocal care during holidays - and was not available to permanent overseas residents in and from member countries? Does anyone know better?

[Esta Group]

At this point we are waiting to hear from the insurance agencies we work with. Ahmet did imply it will have to cover long term illnesses such as cancer, but he could not give further information. I shall call him on Monday 28th to see if we are any further forward.
As soon as we know we will post it on here.

Merry Christmas

[waddo]

I would think that most of us with the current Visitor permit in the passport would qualify on some points such as "Copy of Passport", "Proof you are able to support yourself - pensions" and "days spent off Island" but just how many people actually have their "Kocan's" and why, if you already have completed your very first Visitor permit years ago do you now have to provide police papers from your originating country? You have already done that! Why do you have to provide the leaving/return information from the TRNC, the immigration dep't has that information on its computer, as that is the same dept you are applying to, it makes no sense!

2000TL is fine by me - payable on confirmation that I have been accepted - but as I have lived here for years, proven by the passport stamps - why have to go through the whole rigmarole all over again? Not well thought out I feel.

[charlie]

So what happens to people who paid for there homes there and never got them ? How can you show a kocan. Its just another scam for robbing people who thought it would be nice to live there. We had 6years there and we are so glad to be back in the UK. I know a fair few that have been there for years and have never bothered with residency. We did ours and never received any benefits for that

[sophie]

I met a TC today and was glossing over an extremely serious structual problem we have with our property. The reply was, "why are foreigners so innocent" "didn't you realise when you first came here that we would cheat on our own people if we thought we could make a quick buck" "Its the way we are"

I didn't reply other than to think to myself "No I wouldn't have set foot on the island if I'd have know that and I'd certainly be a whole lot richer" White Card............no I don't think so.