People residing in the territory of the TRNC can no longer obtain a residence permit in the Republic of Cyprus — Supreme Court ruling

The Supreme Court of Cyprus has confirmed that residing in areas not under the control of the government of the Republic of Cyprus constitutes a legitimate reason for refusing to issue a residence permit. The decision was handed down on October 24, 2025, in the case of a Turkish citizen married to a Turkish Cypriot living in Northern Cyprus.

The woman applied for a residence permit in the Republic of Cyprus, but the Population and Migration Department rejected her application, stating that her registered address is located in a territory controlled by Turkey. The Supreme Court upheld the rejection, emphasizing that the law requires applicants to reside in areas under the effective administration of the Republic of Cyprus.

The court ruling stated that this criterion does not violate the principle of equal treatment and is consistent with the provisions of migration law. The court noted that residing in areas outside the government’s control makes it impossible to apply Cypriot administrative procedures and monitor the legality of foreigners’ residence.

Thus, the Supreme Court effectively established a precedent allowing migration authorities to deny residence permits to those living in Northern Cyprus, regardless of their family or personal circumstances. Lawyers note that this decision may complicate the legalization process for many foreign nationals married to Cypriots and residing in the northern part of the island.