NORTH WEST
CYPRUS
NORTH WEST
CYPRUS
Discover Cypriot Culture
You guessed right, only in North Cyprus, the island in the Mediterranean, there are many options that attract different cultures.
The diverse palette of cultures is not only due to the country’s traditions but its cuisine, classical music, and festivals that attract all kinds of tourists. The island’s multicultural character welcomes every culture and tradition with Cypriot’s hospitable and friendly approach. With a fascinating mix of influences from Turkey, Greece, and the Middle East, North Cyprus has a distinct identity that sets it apart. From exploring ancient ruins and visiting historical landmarks to sampling delicious local cuisine and experiencing vibrant festivals, there is always something to see and do in North Cyprus.
ALSANCAK
The most impressive sunset on the island
In this town, where you can sense and hear the awakening of nature in every detail, you can breathe in the scent of pine trees and orange flowers while walking the mountain roads.
Along the western coastline of Alsancak, beaches, villages, and natural beauties enrich the area's serenity.
Despite being close to it, it offers a tranquil escape from the city crowd.
Alsancak, nestled at the foothills of the Beşparmak Mountains in the district of Kyrenia, is a breathtaking example of Cyprus's natural wealth. With a population of 7.000, it's a unique location where nature's greens and the sea's blues harmoniously converge.
Our journey invites you to experience the quality of simplicity, the discovery of extraterritorial, the unification of culture, the
breath of nature, and the authenticity of architecture.
Access
Traveling to North West Cyprus
The easiest way to reach North Cyprus is via Ercan International Airport. Although there are no direct flights from other countries, Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines provide an extensive international flight network via a layover in Istanbul.
Larnaca and Paphos airports in southern Cyprus are other options. Crossing the border from the south to the north via Nicosia is straightforward, especially on foot. If driving, special insurance is needed to continue driving in North Cyprus, which can be obtained at the crossing point. The most convenient way to travel is to book a taxi, and we can assist with that.
If you belong to an EU member country, you will have free entry to North Cyprus. All it takes is a stamp on your passport from border and immigration officials. It allows you to live in any community in North Cyprus (for three months only).
You can become a permanent and legal resident if you wish. Use these three months to register and acquaint yourself with North Cyprus government policies. Remember to inform the inspecting immigration officer at the border crossing or airport that you aren’t visiting but relocating.
The officer will grant you a three-month stay instead of a one-month visit stamp on your passport. Having enough time is essential to initiating and finalizing your relocation process smoothly.
A Permanent Residence Permit makes you a Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus resident. Among the benefits for the North Cyprus expat community is the permit, which allows free entry and exit. But the permit is revocable if you fail to comply or continue to meet the North Cyprus living and residency laws.
Safety and Low Crime Rate
They say”location” is the most important factor when buying property. If you buy property in a prime location, you’ll benefit from various amenities, not to forget the increase in property value due to the upcoming developments in the neighborhood. But what exactly defines a prime location?
One critical factor is the region’s safety and crime rate. The last thing you want is to buy a home where you can’t even walk alone at night for fear of being mugged. But not in North Cyprus! This island in the Mediterranean has the lowest crime rates in Europe.
An excellent climate
North Cyprus is a hidden gem, offering a unique combination of stunning geography and a favourable climate.
From its stunning beaches to its rugged mountains and lush plains, this region offers a diverse and exciting landscape that will captivate anyone who craves exploration and discovery.
The climate in North Cyprus is typically Mediterranean, where you can bask in long, hot summers and enjoy mild winters.
Climate
The warmest winter temperatures in Europe.
This island in the Mediterranean boasts a good climate all year round, with over 300 days of
sunshine each year and some of the warmest winter temperatures in Europe. The heat in summer is also tempered by the cool Mediterranean winds, providing relief from the
scorching sun.
The temperature in summer hovers around 35 degrees Celsius, and the minimum
temperature in winter will not fall below 5 degrees Celsius.
Most days of the year are sunny in Northern Cyprus, making it the perfect vacation spot all year round! Your properties in North Cyprus can be your sanctuary whenever you need a routine break. It is the ideal environment to wind down and reset. The same is true for your potential renters and tenants.
Owing to its pleasant climate all year round, North Cyprus has become a top tourist destination and an investment hotspot.
300 Day of Perfect Sunshine
3000
BC
13th Century
BC
4-5th Century
BC
26-250
AD
965
AD
1192-1489
AD
1701-1800
AD
1878-1960
AD
20th Century
AD
3000 BC
Based on the findings of the archaeological excavations, especially the potteries found, the existence of Laphetos dates back to as early as 3000 BC.
Source: Karavas, Antreas Stylianou
13th Century BC
Although there is no concrete information about the first settlements of the towns of Laphetos (Lapta) and Karavas (Alsancak), it is said that the town of Lapitos was founded in the 13th century BC by a group of Lacionans under the command of Praxander. For this reason, the name Karavas was not mentioned in this period and this region was known only as Laphetos for a while.
This century is known in history as the early iron age. The influence of the Mycenaean civilization, which started to establish trade colonies on the eastern Mediterranean coast in the middle of 2000 BC, was also seen in Laphetos and its surroundings in the 13th century.
The Late Mycenaean Period of the Mycenaean Civilization is considered the highest phase of Mycenaean culture. Since the Mycenaean elements in the settlement of Laphetos coincide with this period and Mycenaean pottery was exported to the Mediterranean region during this period, one of the most unique products of the region known as Laphetos pottery may have been shaped by the influences of this century.
Source: Karavas, Antreas Stylianou
4-5th Century BC
According to the Sicilian writer Diodoros, who lived in the 4th century BC, Lapethos was one of the nine kingdoms of Cyprus during this period. It is written that Peisistratos, then king of Lapethos, went to help Alexander the Great to capture Tyre in Phoenicia. Alexander the Great freed this kingdom from Persian occupation and granted it autonomy because of the support given during the siege.
However, by the 5th century BC, Praxippos, who was considered the last king of Lapethos, was arrested by the Successors and the administration was handed over to a Phoenician family. Thus, Lapethos became a settlement where Phoenicians ruled for a period.
A fragment of a mosaic floor from the 5th century BC is now preserved and exhibited at the Cyprus Museum.
Source: Karavas, Antreas Stylianou
26-250 AD
Cyprus was under the rule of the Roman Empire during this historical period. Maps of the ancient city-kingdoms show that Lapethos had more than 10,000 inhabitants at this time and formed one of the four largest districts of Cyprus.
Starting from ancient times until this period, Lapethos was considered the center where copper was processed and most importantly, a pottery center due to the fertility of the soils where it was located. It was a very important trade center due to the abundance of products and its port and docks.
During this period, Lapethos was named "Lambousa", meaning "shining", because of its wealth, beauty, cleanliness and shining lighthouse.
Source: Karavas, Antreas Stylianou
965 AD
Lambousa (Lapethos) was badly damaged by an Arab raid before 965 AD and the inhabitants were forced to surrender their gold and silver and flee inland.
After the Byzantine Empire liberated the island from the Arabs in 965 AD, the inhabitants of Lapethos started to return, but this time they preferred to stay away from the sea and settled at the foot of the Pentadactylos Mountains.
From this period until the Latin raid of 1222, a widespread episcopate is mentioned. In fact, the Acheiropoietos in Lambousa is referred to as a monastery from this date onwards.
Source: Karavas, Antreas Stylianou
1192-1489 AD
Beginning in 1192 when Guy de Lusignan, King of Jerusalem, bought Cyprus from Richard the Lionheart and ending in 1489 when the Venetians invaded the island, Lapethos had a greater population than Limassol, Famagusta and Paphos on the island of Cyprus during the reign of the Lusignan Dynasty.
It was one of the leading districts as a military navy. Before the 1571 Ottoman Conquest, 3.000 soldiers were stationed in Lapithos under the command of Zanetto Dandolo.
Source: Karavas, Antreas Stylianou
1701-1800 AD
From 1571 until 1878, the island passed from the Venetians to the Ottoman Empire, and in 1780, a part of Lapethos was separated by itself and formed the district of Karavas (Alsancak). The reasons and circumstances of this separation are not fully known.
In the 1738 map of Richard Pocoche, a British explorer who visited Cyprus in the early 17th century, Karavas was mentioned as a town on the north coast of Cyprus, next to Lapithos. This map was also published in London in 1745.
The word Karavas means "owner of boats", "builder of boats". There are villages with this name in different countries such as Greece.
The ruins of the ancient city of Lambousa by the sea were used as quarries and treasure hunting grounds by the natives of the two new small towns. The most important building in the area was the Acheiropoietos Monastery. It takes its name from the holy handkerchief brought to Lambousa by Bishop Eulalios, according to a local folklore.
Source: Karavas, Antreas Stylianou Karavas-Sanat ve Zanaatkarlar, Eleni Papadimitrou
1878-1960 AD
Cyprus came under British rule as a result of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. During these years, Lapethos also became a municipality shortly afterwards and its first mayor was Andreas Koumides.
In 1902 and 1917, archaeological excavations revealed the Cyprus Collection of silver pots, plates, spoons, and jewelry. The collection is now on display at the British Museum in London, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Cyprus Museum in Nicosia.
Source: Wikipedia
20th Century AD
After the 1974 war, the Karavas natives, who were forced to migrate with the help of the United Nations, were settled in safe areas in the South; similarly, the Turkish Cypriots who were displaced from the South were settled in safe areas in the North. As a result of this population exchange, Karavas, with its current name Alsancak, took its current form with the Turkish Cypriots coming from the villages in the Paphos region.
In 1974, Alsancak Municipality was founded. In this century, Karavas and Lapta were considered the towns with the richest vegetation and natural resources on the island. Since water has been a very important natural resource since ancient times, a wide variety of crops were grown and settlements were shaped accordingly.
Two fountains were actively used in Karavas and Lapta. These fountains were very important for watering trees and crops.
In total, there were four flour mills in both towns. And these flour mills played an important role in the economic development of this century and created a strong livelihood sector.
Lapithos, in particular, was a settlement that was remarkable in pottery production since ancient times. By the 20th century, it had become a supplier town for this production.
Source: Karavas-Sanat ve Zanaatkarlar, Eleni Papadimitrou
Nature
North Cyprus’ considerable ecological diversity gives visitors and locals alike the chance to discover everything from vibrant orchids to wild sea turtles.
North Cyprus offers relatively unspoiled natural beauty.
Although small in size, North Cyprus is home to nearly 2000 distinct plant species.
The ecologically diverse island is a hotspot for nature lovers and professional botanists alike.
The North Cyprus Flora is characterised by mountainous pine forests that melt into coastal grassland, providing nature lovers with endless possibilities for exploration.
North Cyprus Flora
You can’t go to North Cyprus without taking time to see the stunning wildflowers. Springtime is the peak season for flowers; however, the tempered Mediterranean climate makes every season colourful in North Cyprus.
North Cyprus comes alive in the spring months with wildflowers blanketing the rolling countryside. The first flower to bloom is the Oxalis Pes-Caprae, also known as the Bermuda Buttercup.
As the heat of Summer sets in, the field wildflowers retreat to the mountains. Waves of Turban Buttercups blow in the breeze–a scarlet blanket punctuated by pale pink cyclamen and narcissi.
As fall begins, the autumn Crocuses bloom as vivid purple and white patches dotting the mountainside. Cypriot sage, Rock Cress, and Cyprus Cyclamen take hold in the shady corners and rocky crags of the surrounding landscape.
North Cyprus is home to an eclectic blend of wildlife.
- North Cyprus
Turtles and Mammals
Perhaps the most thrilling visitors to stop in North Cyprus are the Loggerhead and Green Sea Turtles. Each June, mating pairs arrive on the beaches to lay their eggs. Come July, nests will begin to hatch and continue to hatch into August.
Grasslands and woodlands offer ample habitats for the foxes, hares, and hedgehogs that call North Cyprus home. They share their natural habitat with a dwindling population of wild sheep called Mouflon. The fauna of North Cyprus also includes a large population of wild donkeys.
Birds and Butterflies
North Cyprus is a hotspot for bird lovers. There are over 347 different species of birds that take residence on the island.
With the abundance of wildflowers, it may come as no surprise that butterflies are an important part of the fauna of North Cyprus.
Over 50 different migrant species pass through North Cyprus each year. Among them is the delicate Cleopatra Butterfly and the bold Swallowtail.
Kıbrıs Developments can help you get there. Contact us to find out how you can make North Cyprus your next destination.
WHERE ARE YOUR PROJECTS LOCATED?
Kıbrıs Developments projects are located in North West Cyprus - in Alsancak Region.
WHAT ARE THE PAYMENT OPTIONS?
There are two payment options:
First Plan:
%5 Reservation
%35 Contract Signature
%60 Personal interest-free flexible payment plan until the Key Delivery Date
Second Plan:
Opportunity of up to 10 years with İşbank Credit Programme.
HOW CAN I BUY A HOME IN NORTH CYPRUS?
Kıbrıs Developments Team is here for you to find a Dream House. We have a big variety of unit types that can meet your expectations. Once you make a choice in order to finalize the purchase you will need to have your passport with you.
ARE THE HOMES FURNISHED?
The homes are unfurnished. However, our aftersales services include furniture, white goods and household packages on different price ranges suitable to every budget.
HOW CAN I GET A RESIDENCY PERMIT?
Foreigners who own a property in the TRNC may be granted a 1-year renewable residence permit for the first 3 years and, thereafter 2 years renewable permit provided they have obtained the title deeds (Koçan) registered in their name.
If the immovable property has been purchased by a contract of sale, and the Title Deed (Koçan) has not yet been issued, at least one-third of the sale price must have been paid, and the applicant must have applied for permission from the Council of Ministers to acquire the immovable property (Permission to Purchase).
When you apply for the residency, if you do not have the title deed, you should submit a stamped document from the Taşınmaz Mal Birimi Office in the Interior Ministry which shows the file reference number for your Permission to Purchase Application.
Family Residence Permit
Couples, co-habiting people, and/or family living in the same swelling should apply for a Family Residence Permit. If only one partner's name is listed, the primary income earner or the person whose name is on the Property Title Deeds (Koçan) should take the role of Sponsor for the Application. Only their salary/pension will be evaluated when making the Application.
Other sponsors who could be considered as a sponsor are TRNC citizens, residency permit holders, business permit holders, student residence permit holders, and foreigners who have been legally working in the TRNC for at least a year.
Residence Permit Application Process
A residence permit application must be made using the online Residency Application or Student Residence Permit. Foreigners must apply within 30 days of entering the TRNC or before their visa has expired.
Applications for renewal residence permits must be made by 60 days and by 20 days before the expiry of their current residence permit.
All applicants must submit their Application using the online Residency Permit System, available at www.icisleri.gov.ct.tr. See Online Residency Tab for detailed information on registering on the system. Please note that before registering on the system, you must obtain a Mukhtar's Letter, as you will be required to upload a copy of this as part of the application process.
Once the initial Application is submitted, the applicant(s) will be advised of their appointment date at their District Police Station.
The applicant must bring all the required documentation to their police appointment; the required documents can be found below at www.icisleri.gov.ct.tr or through the online system. The Immigration Authority of the District Police Directorate will perform an initial evaluation of the documentation at the appointment and inform you if any required documentation is missing. If you fail to submit the correct documents, the police will advise you of the missing documents and allow you to bring them to the police station within a few days of your appointment. If you fail to submit the missing documents, your Application may be canceled, and you will need to leave the country if your legal permission has lapsed.
Once your Application is approved (at the police interview), you should log into the system the next day and check what actions you must undertake. We recommend you log into the system regularly to find out what actions are required to follow the progress of your Application.
If you have requested a 1-year visa, usually, the request to pay your health insurance online appears on the system immediately; however, if you have applied for a 2-year visa, you may find that the system will show that your Application has been sent to immigration for assessment to determine whether a 2 year visa can be granted. As a result, you may need to wait 7-10 days for the approval to be obtained before you are requested to pay for your health insurance online.
Following your police interview you will be asked to pay for your health insurance online. If you are over 60 years of age- you will be asked to pay for your state health insurance (if you do not have an approved private health insurance policy). If you are under 60 years of age you will need to pay for your state health insurance and blood tests online. If you require a 'health check' the system will notify you which clinic you should attend.
Visit the designated clinic for blood & TB tests, return to the clinic after 2 days to check if there is a reaction to your TB skin test.
If your Health Check is approved your Application will be approved to move into the next stage.
Suppose a satisfactory Health Check is not received by the Immigration Department within 30 days from the date of Application. In that case, the applicant will be notified by SMS that the Application has been rejected and you must leave the country within 5 days. People who did not leave the country within 5 days will be considered to have stayed there without permission and will be fined.
In parallel with the Health Insurance/Health Check process, your application documentation will be forwarded to the Immigration Department for further evaluation.
A few weeks later, you will be informed via the Online System whether your Residence Permit has been granted. If you are granted a Residence Permit, you will be prompted to pay for the permit online. You should pay for your permit online, and once the payment has been made, you can download and print the receipt. Once the online payment has been completed, log out of the system and log in again; at this point, your Residence Permit will be available for download and printing.