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What is the time difference?
The island is two hours ahead of British GMT.
Is it safe?
Northern Cyprus is extremely safe with nearly no crime rate.
Is it easy to buy things? Are they
expensive?
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 cafes and bars to choose from. An average
restaurant bill with drinks is £10-15 per person.
Are there any foreign exchange controls?
No, foreign exchange currency can be brought into the country and taken
out through the banks without any restriction or control.
Are there any international banks? What is
the banking system like?
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 recommend you use these rather
than the numerous local and Turkish banks. Although the Turkish Lira is
the principle currency, sterling, euro, Cyprus pounds, and the dollar can
be used everywhere. Traveller's cheques can easily be exchanged at any
local bank, currency exchange kiosk, and hotels.
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 will need to
get a visa extension or alternatively apply for residency. becoming 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.
What would the property running costs be -
would they be expensive?
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, landscaping, etc)
Are pets allowed in?
Pets are welcome in Northern Cyprus so long as you obtain correct
documentation from your vet in your country of origin. There is however a
4 week quarantine period on the island for all animals brought into the
country.
Is it easy to drive and do I need a
license?
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. Driving in Northern
Cyprus is on the left hand side, as in the U.K. Road surfaces between
major towns and villages are reasonably good, but some mountain and
village roads are still unmade. In wet weather roads can be treacherous
due to the build up of oil on the surface during the dry summer months.
Visitors to Northern Cyprus can drive using a valid international driving
license or a valid driving license from their country of origin and car
hire is readily available. Parking is available in all major parts of the
town.
How can I rent a car?
In North Cyprus the minimum car rental age is 25 and a valid driving
license or an international permit is required. Don't forget, only the
approved person(s) at the time of rental can drive the car.
Do I need health insurance?
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
expects use local doctor's surgeries and treatment centres.
Where are the best beaches?
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 the 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 Alsancak 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.
Where is the London Representative Office?
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
What is the climate like?
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.
Duty-free 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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Electricity:
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.
Emergency Phone 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
Medical and Hospitals:
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.
Plumbing:
Due to a narrow pipe and septic 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 from our North
Cyprus property and North cyprus rentals.
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 lives in
the cities and 50% in the country side, 99% of the adult population are
literate.
Postal:
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" at the bottom of the address.
Telephone:
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.
Foreign Missions in Northern Cyprus:
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
Businesses, Visas, Permits and Licenses:
The North Cyprus TRNC government encourages foreigners to come and live
and work in North Cyprus - in particular, to invest in businesses,
especially within the tourism sector. This, of course, opens up a
multitude of trade and business opportunities such as, travel agencies,
transport companies (whether land, sea or air), hotels, bars, restaurants,
holiday villages, paragliding, touristy related services such as water
sports, recreational and sports such as tennis, golf, horse riding etc.
The British Residents Society is based in Kyrenia and is open on Saturday
mornings. Members of the committee are there every Saturday to give help
information and advice.
For retired persons, the TRNC residents permit is all that is required.
Retired persons may bring into Northern Cyprus a full household of
furniture. These are virtually tax free - a nominal 2 - 3% tax is levied.
Most applications for licenses, visas, permits etc., do require an
inordinate amount of patience, but the endearing charm of the North
Cypriot people make each and every excursion into Lefkosa or Girne a most
interesting and pleasant diversion, albeit retrospectively. You can
however, engage the services of a local 'runner' who for as little as £50
will help with all the running around and translation.
Starting Your Own Business:
Many foreigners from overseas are returning to Northern Cyprus to
investigate the possibilities of starting a new business here. At the
present time, the majority of these people are from the British Isles ,
and several have commenced trading in such businesses as water sports,
restaurants, property management, shops, construction companies, etc.
If you wish to operate a business in the
TRNC the following procedures apply:
To form a limited company you must instruct an accountant to make the
necessary applications on your behalf to the Council of Ministers
outlining the trading intentions of the company, share capital, directors
etc. The formation of the company is obviously viewed more favorably if it
has some Turkish Cypriot involvement, but it is quite possible to form a
company with 100% British or foreign ownership.
A further application has to be made to the
TRNC Immigration Department for an annually renewable business or
employment permit, which is given once the Council of Ministers has given
their approval. You must also have a medical examination for clearance of
TB and AIDS.
Finally, you register yourself and your company with Social Security for
health insurance payments, the tax authorities, and the provident fund.
Once all this has been done, you may commence trading.
Taxes:
Purchaser only pays %3 stamp duty and 5% VAT. No Capital gains tax.
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