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Buyers Guide

what you should know.

Step-by-step Buyer’s Guide

Once you have settled on your desired property and the final price, a sales agreement will be drawn up by either a solicitor or notary. This agreement will include the agreed price, timing, payment and delivery terms, and other such factors to do with your property. Once both parties are happy with the agreement, the contract will be signed and the sale will be considered done. After this point, the steps outlined below will take place:

  • Payment of Stamp Duty (Land )Tax

    In accordance with current legislation, there will be a stamp duty charge of 0.5% of your final agreed price. This is to be paid to the Tax Office within 21 days of the contract being signed, and will make the sale legally binding and recognised.

  • Submission of Contract to the Land Registry

    Foreign nationals will require “Property Purchase Permission” before any entry can be made in their name. The submission of the sales contract will ensure the buyer’s purchase rights are recognised and protected by law. The seller is required to register their undertaking to not allow the sold property to be passed into the possession or ownership of any third party.

  • Transfer of Title Deeds

    Once payment has been made and purchase permission has been granted, the deeds of the property will be transferred into the name of the buyer. If both parties have completed their duties as set out by their agreement, the seller will transfer ownership of the property.

  • Title Transfer Fees

    The buyer is liable for the payment of title transfer fees, which are to be paid to the Northern Cyprus Land Registry Office. If you are a first time buyer, the transfer fees of your discounted home will be covered up to 3% of the sale price of your property. For all parties who have utilised their discount right, this rate will be 6%.

  • Payment of Stamp Duty (Land )Tax

    In accordance with current legislation, there will be a stamp duty charge of 0.5% of your final agreed price. This is to be paid to the Tax Office within 21 days of the contract being signed, and will make the sale legally binding and recognised.

  • Submission of Contract to the Land Registry

    Foreign nationals will require “Property Purchase Permission” before any entry can be made in their name. The submission of the sales contract will ensure the buyer’s purchase rights are recognised and protected by law. The seller is required to register their undertaking to not allow the sold property to be passed into the possession or ownership of any third party.

  • Transfer of Title Deeds

    Once payment has been made and purchase permission has been granted, the deeds of the property will be transferred into the name of the buyer. If both parties have completed their duties as set out by their agreement, the seller will transfer ownership of the property.

  • Title Transfer Fees

    The buyer is liable for the payment of title transfer fees, which are to be paid to the Northern Cyprus Land Registry Office. If you are a first time buyer, the transfer fees of your discounted home will be covered up to 3% of the sale price of your property. For all parties who have utilised their discount right, this rate will be 6%.

Deed Types in TRNC

A title deed is a legal document that constitutes evidence of the ownership of property. The different types of deed are outlined below:

  • Turkish Deed

    Those title deeds pertaining to Cypriot Turks pre-1974.

  • British/Other national Deeds

    Those title deeds pertaining to British nationals, or foreign nationals pre-1974. These deeds are internationally recognised.

  • Equivalent Deeds

    Those title deeds pertaining to Greek Cypriots pre-1974. These deeds are to the value equivalent to the land and properties left behind in the south by Turkish Cypriot refugees, as valued by the TRNC government.

  • Designated Deeds

    Those deeds granted to individuals in return for their military contributions by the TRNC government, or those deeds granted to Turkish nationals who relocated to Cyprus post-1974. These deeds are government protected.

  • Government Territory

    Those deeds pertaining to abandoned buildings that investors can lease for 49 years’ and have permission to develop and sub-let out for profit.

  • Turkish Deed

    Those title deeds pertaining to Cypriot Turks pre-1974.

  • British/Other national Deeds

    Those title deeds pertaining to British nationals, or foreign nationals pre-1974. These deeds are internationally recognised.

  • Equivalent Deeds

    Those title deeds pertaining to Greek Cypriots pre-1974. These deeds are to the value equivalent to the land and properties left behind in the south by Turkish Cypriot refugees, as valued by the TRNC government.

  • Designated Deeds

    Those deeds granted to individuals in return for their military contributions by the TRNC government, or those deeds granted to Turkish nationals who relocated to Cyprus post-1974. These deeds are government protected.

  • Government Territory

    Those deeds pertaining to abandoned buildings that investors can lease for 49 years’ and have permission to develop and sub-let out for profit.

TRNC Tax and Property Fees

Here is a summary of the taxes payable during the sales process of property in TRNC.

  • Withholding Tax

    If the seller is an individual who is not looking to make a profit, the withholding tax will be as follows: first sale at 0%, second or third sale within a year at 3.5%. Professional property developers looking to make a profit on the sale of the property are liable to pay 6.5% tax. This tax is payable to the Withholding Tax Office.

  • V.A.T.

    If the seller is an individual who is not looking to make a profit, VAT is non-payable. Professional property developers looking to make a profit on the sale of the property are liable to pay 5% VAT, which is to be paid on the day of transfer before transfer of the property.

  • Title Deed Transfer Fee

    This fee is payable by the buyer and is to be paid before the transfer process begins. The 6% fee is reduced to 3% when the one-time right of exemption is exercised.

  • Stamp Duty

    After both parties have signed the contract, 0.5% stamp duty is to be paid to the Tax Office within 21 days. Once the payment is registered, the buyer’s ownership right is recognised and protected by law.

  • Withholding Tax

    If the seller is an individual who is not looking to make a profit, the withholding tax will be as follows: first sale at 0%, second or third sale within a year at 3.5%. Professional property developers looking to make a profit on the sale of the property are liable to pay 6.5% tax. This tax is payable to the Withholding Tax Office.

  • V.A.T.

    If the seller is an individual who is not looking to make a profit, VAT is non-payable. Professional property developers looking to make a profit on the sale of the property are liable to pay 5% VAT, which is to be paid on the day of transfer before transfer of the property.

  • Title Deed Transfer Fee

    This fee is payable by the buyer and is to be paid before the transfer process begins. The 6% fee is reduced to 3% when the one-time right of exemption is exercised.

  • Stamp Duty

    After both parties have signed the contract, 0.5% stamp duty is to be paid to the Tax Office within 21 days. Once the payment is registered, the buyer’s ownership right is recognised and protected by law.

How can we help you?

Once your property has been selected and a price has been agreed, there are a number of steps that need to be taken. A solicitor will guide you through the procedure, which can be summarised as follows:

1. The validity and legality of the title deeds will be checked

2. A sales agreement will be drawn up, outlining the property details, price, timeline, payment and delivery terms.

3. Once both sides have signed the agreement, the stamp duty fee will need to be paid within 21 days and the contract will need to be registered at the Land Registry. The buyer’s ownership shall then be legally binding.

4. If the purchaser is a foreign national, the TRNC Property Acquisition and Long-Term Leasing Act (52 – 2008), an application is made to obtain a property purchase permit to the Council of Ministers.

5. After the Council of Ministers approval, the title deed transfer procedure will begin upon payment of the necessary taxes.

The Council of Minsters can get the property purchase permit in approximately 3-12 months. However, the cost of your property can be obtained in this time. If you will be spending a lot of time out of the country, we will prepare power of attorney to follow up the transaction and manage any legal proceedings.

In Northern Cyprus...

- Construction costs vary between £300-350 per square metre, based on the selected finishing touches. Our buildings in the Mediterranean region are built using the Reinforced Concrete Construction system. Our materials are imported from Turkey, Spain, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom.

We also have a number of pre-prepared villa and bungalow plans that can be sent out upon request.

- Only 20% of the land outside of our cities is permissible for development.

- Building can only have up to two floors. This is to future-proof the designs and to ensure the environment is protected.

- Land is measured in dunam. 3 dunam are equal to 1 acre of land. 1 dunam equates to around 1388m2.

Important Information

Only citizens of the Turkish republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) are entitled to purchase property/land in Northern Cyprus. Those who are foreign nationals are required to apply for “Property Purchase Permission”, which is sent to the TRNC government for approval and can take between 3-8 months to resolve.

Non-TRNC citizens are entitled to purchase at most 1 property, or 1 acre of land. Married couples are considered one legal person, unless they do not share the same surname, in which case they are considered separate legal entities and can purchase one home each. This process is different for foreign companies.

During the sales process, the seller is liable to pay 4% withholding tax, whereas the buyer is liable to pay 5% VAT, 6% title fee, and 0.5% stamp duty fee. However, the provisions made in the sales agreement contract can alter these liabilities. Taxes will be calculated based on either the confirmed sales price, or the estimated value proposed by the Land Registry (whichever is higher). For more information regarding the taxes named in this section, click the link on the right titled Property and Tax Fees in TRNC.