|
||||||||||||||||||
Manchester, UK Ercan, |
FAQ'sQ. What is the time difference?
A. The island is two hours ahead of British GMT Q. Is it safe?
A. Northern Cyprus is extremely safe with minimal crime. People
leave their cars and houses unlocked. Q. Is it easy to buy things? Are they expensive?
A. 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 and cafes to choose from. An average restaurant bill
with drinks is £10-£15 per person. Q. Are there any foreign exchange controls?
A. No, foreign exchange currency can be brought into the country
and taken out through the banks without any restriction or control. Q. Are there any international banks? What is the banking system
like?
A. 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 recommended you
use these rather than the numerous local and Turkish banks. Although
Turkish Lira is the principle currency, sterling can be used almost
everywhere. Travellers cheques can easily be exchanged at any local
bank. Q. What is the government's attitude to foreign investment?
A. The government is very keen to attract foreign investment
in the country and has a number of incentives. Q. Population?
A. 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 live in the cities and 50% in the country side, 99% of the
adult population are literate. Q. 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 could
get an extension or alternatively apply for residency. To become 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. Q. Can I own more than one property?
A. There are restrictions. A foreign national cannot buy more
than 1 donum of land which is 1338m square or 14,400ft square. If you
are interested in more than one property other members of your family
can buy or you can form a local company. Q. What is the procedure to buy a property?
A. Due to the buoyant market situation, it is advisable to
have arranged financing before travel to the island particularly with
regards to the reservation fee. You will also need to appoint a solicitor
which we can help you with on the island. There is a certain procedure for buying property:
The validity of the title deed is checked and confirmed
by a solicitor. Contracts of sale are drawn up and the purchaser pays a reservation fee to secure the property. In many cases, the purchaser
returns to the UK or wherever, and the solicitor attends to the completion
in the purchaser's absence, having been given Power of Attorney.
If the property is registered in the name of a local person,
then an application must be made to the Council of Ministers; allow
4- 6 months. The Land Registry values the property for Stamp Duty purposes.
On the day of completion, the monies are paid by the solicitor
to the vendor and the Land Registry respectively; the name of the purchaser
is entered into the Land Registry's record books, and the new title
deed is subsequently issued. Q. What are the costs involved in buying?
A. The solicitor's costs are in the region of £1000
(be aware that some solicitors charge an hourly rate fee, that could
work out very expensive) when buying a property in Northern Cyprus. Our recommended solicitor charges a fixed rate of £800 for Sunset clients. All purchases are subject to a 6% stamp duty. The amount
is assessed by the Land Registry Office, however there is a 50% reduction for first time buyers thus meaning you will pay just 3%. There is a sales tax (VAT) at 5% on newly built property.
Q. What would the property running costs be - would they be
expensive?
A. 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 etc) Q. Are pets allowed in?
A. Pets are welcome in Northern Cyprus so long as you obtain
correct documentation from your UK vet. There is a months' quarantine
on the island. Q. Is it easy to drive and do I need a license?
A. 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. Q. Do I need health insurance?
A. 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 expats use local doctors surgeries and treatment centres. Q. Where are the best beaches?
A. Northern 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 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 Alsançak 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. Q. Where is the London Representative Office?
A. Office of the London Representative, Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus, 29 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3EG, United Kingdom. Q. What is the climate like?
A. 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. Q. Can I take advantage of duty-free?
A. 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. Q. What about electricity?
A. 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. Q. What are the Emergency Services phone numbers?
A. Here is a list of emergency services and their contact numbers: Q. What if I need medical advice or a hospital?
A. 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. Q. What's the postal service like?
A. 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" Q. How do I make calls to and from Northern Cyprus?
A. 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. Q. How do I contact the local Foreign Missions
in Northern Cyprus?
A. Here is a list of embassies and their contact numbers: | |||||||||||||||||
