Northern Cyprus work visa
If you want to work in Northern Cyprus, you must look for a job and apply for a work visa in advance. The process of drawing up an employment contract is complicated and requires the employer to prove that they want to hire you for the job. If you are applying to a university in Northern Cyprus, you do not need a work visa as students can work while studying in the country.
If you have a job offer in Northern Cyprus, you must be outside the country to receive temporary approval for the work visa. Your employer will help you apply for the visa, which is issued for one year and must be renewed. The work visa application process also requires a medical examination, a government fee and a deposit. If you resign, the work visa will be canceled and the new employer will have to go through the process again.
If you do not have a work visa, you can also set up a business in Northern Cyprus and employ yourself. Please note, however, that not all university documents are recognized in Northern Cyprus and that you must check whether your education is recognized before applying.
How do you get a work visa in Northern Cyprus?
First, the employer must prove that they want to hire you for the position. So if you find a job in Northern Cyprus, you are not allowed to fly in at first. Only then can the employer submit an application to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Northern Cyprus that he wants to employ you. This is possible if you are outside Northern Cyprus. You will then receive a temporary permit that must be presented when crossing the border. Your employer will help you apply for a work visa. He will contact the migration service, provide proof and then send you an invitation to work. Unless you already have a residence permit. You will receive this when you purchase a property in Northern Cyprus.
Conclusion of an employment contract
You must fly to Northern Cyprus and obtain a certificate of all visits to that country, if any. This document is issued by the General Directorate of Police in Nicosia and a fee is charged for it. After that, you must undergo a medical examination, receive a certificate, and then pay a state fee for it. At this point, the employer, in turn, prepares the necessary documents. The work visa is then issued at the immigration authority. It is initially issued for one year, then it must be renewed. You then pay the employer a deposit, which he then transfers to the state for the duration of your employment. If you resign, the work visa will be canceled: the new employer will have to go through the entire procedure again. Not all university documents are recognized here. You need to find out if your diploma is valid in Northern Cyprus. It must then be translated into Turkish and certified by the authority. How your training or studies are recognized depends on your educational institution: the order is different everywhere.
Another option is to set up a company in Northern Cyprus and hire yourself.