TRNC Parliament passes Amnesty Bill

The TRNC Parliament approved the Foreigners and Immigration Bill and it is applicable from the 04th of November 2021.
The Bill provides amnesty for foreign nationals living in the country illegally or who have been fined for overstaying their ​

Residence, Work or Student Permits. Such persons can apply online within 90 days of this law coming into effect, via the form provided on the Immigration online portal. To apply for the Amnesty benefit, one must click on the application, which looks like the Residency application form – check that it is headed ‘Immigration Amnesty for Foreigners’, choose the ‘Şimdi kayıt ol / Sign Up Now’ option and then complete the form as requested. Once the person has proved that meet these conditions, they can pay 1 x gross minimum wage (4,970 tl) within 10 days of approval from the Immigration Office. They will then be exempt from paying any fine. There is no requirement to leave the country while the Amnesty process is being progressed. Once payment has been accepted, the applicant will be able to obtain a 60 day visa. During this 60 day visa period, the person should seek to obtain a legal permit be it a Residence Permit, Student Permit, Work Permit, Business Establishment Permit or Permission to Do Business.

Those who have lived or worked here without permission before this legislation came into force, against whom there has been an arrest or deportation decision made by the Immigration office (which has not yet been activated) may also apply online using the Immigration web portal. If Immigration approves the person for the amnesty; they then must within 10 days of the decision, pay 1 month's gross minimum wage to the tax office. Upon doing so, they will be exempt from paying any outstanding fine and the arrest and deportation decision will be cancelled. They will then be given a 60 days Visitors Permit during which they must apply for a Work Permit - otherwise they would need to leave the country. 

This law does not apply to those who entered and remained here following a Visitors Permit which expired before 1st January 2020. The amnesty law is effected for 90 days since the date of its publication in TRNC Official Gazette. Therefore the application for the amnesty has to be made before 1 February, 2022.

Those who have been deported who were living or working here before this law came into effect can apply within 90 days to the TRNC Embassy, Consulate or Representative in the country they are in. The Immigration Office will decide whether they will be granted permission to return. They must apply to enter within 90 days of that decision provided that they can show that they have found a job. The person applying under this category must pay 1 month’s gross minimum wage on entry. If that person who is aboard has an expired Immigration Visa before the 1st January 2020, they are not eligible for the amnesty. Those to whom this legislation applies, and who have obtained the 60 day permission, can apply to bring their partner, their single child under 25 or their disabled child over 18. The application must be made online within 60 days so that they can be given a 60 day permit for their above dependents.

Spouses of TRNC Citizens, Spouses of people with Residence Permits, Student Permits, Work Permits, Business Establishment Permits or Permission to Do Business in the TRNC, as well as unmarried children aged <25 years and children with disabilities >18 years old will be able to avoid fines and obtain a visa for 60 days by paying the gross monthly minimum wage, without the condition of seeking employment or obtaining prior permission from an employer. 

On the 09th of November 2021, the TRNC Interior Ministry Immigration Department announced an extension of application time for people to apply for a Residency or Work Permit. This applies to people who had valid permission to be here prior to March 13, and entered the country before September 10. These individuals have now been granted a 30 day extension, from September 10 to October 10 (dates included) and will not be penalised for applying during this period. 

Source: http://basimevi.gov.ct.tr/Portals/105/2020/173.pdf?ver=2020-09-09-174747-067 Entry to and exit from the TRNC is only via approved ports and borders with a valid passport or travel certificate. 

Those who are already in the country are also registered with this Bill. The Amnesty Bill does not cover those who come to North Cyprus on a tourist visa.

Please do not hesitate to contact our office should you require any further details.

This article is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. BHLEX Law and Consultancy Bureau does not accept liability for any loss which may occur to any person as a result of relying on or otherwise using this information.









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