Registration of the Sales Agreement in Northern Cyprus

Purchasing real estate in Northern Cyprus always involves several steps. One of the key steps is the registration of the sales agreement with the Land Committee. Signing the contract with the seller is not enough: until it is registered, the buyer’s rights are not legally protected.

• Why registration of the agreement is necessary
• Required documents
• Stages of agreement registration
• Registration without visiting Northern Cyprus
• Common buyer mistakes
• Conclusion and contacts

Why registration of the agreement is necessary

Registration of the sales agreement is not a formality but a mandatory legal action that ensures the safety of the transaction. It provides the buyer with:

• Protection of property rights — after registration, the property cannot be sold or transferred to another person.
• The right to apply to the Council of Ministers — a required step for foreigners before obtaining the title.
• Transaction security — the seller cannot impose encumbrances or use the property again.
• Progress toward the title — full ownership cannot be obtained without registration.

Required documents

To register a sales agreement in Northern Cyprus, you need to prepare:

• the sales agreement itself with attachments;
• passports of the parties or the registration documents of the selling company;
• a notarized power of attorney (if a lawyer is acting);
• construction permit, architectural and floor plans;
• receipts for taxes and fees paid.

Important: in Kyrenia, powers of attorney must be submitted in advance for verification at the Land Committee.

Stages of agreement registration

1. Preparation of the agreement — for new developments, this is usually done by the developer; for the secondary market — by a lawyer.
2. Submission of documents and opening a folio — a personal file is opened in the tax office and cadastre in the name of the buyer.
3. Property valuation — the Land Committee conducts its own appraisal, often higher than the contract price. This amount is used to calculate taxes.
4. Payment of taxes and fees:
   • stamp duty — 0.5% of the value;
   • property transfer tax — 6% for foreigners (lower for Cyprus and Turkey citizens);
   • fee for application to the Council of Ministers — ½ of the minimum wage.
5. Registration with the Land Committee — after payment, an S.S.K. extract is issued, confirming registration.

The S.S.K. extract is a key document. Keep it carefully, restoring it is extremely difficult.

Registration without visiting Northern Cyprus

The procedure can be completed via a notarized power of attorney. In this case, the lawyer handles the process completely: from submitting documents and paying taxes to obtaining the S.S.K. extract.

Common buyer mistakes

• Paying only the stamp duty — without the other taxes and S.S.K., the agreement is considered incomplete.
• Lack of Search — purchasing property without a prior check can lead to debts and encumbrances.
• Incomplete document package — delays are often caused by missing architectural plans, power of attorney, or receipts.

Stamp duty is paid at the tax office where the property is purchased. Here is a list of Northern Cyprus tax office addresses with their jurisdictions.

More details in our article about taxes when buying property.

Conclusion and contacts

Registration of the sales agreement in Northern Cyprus is a necessary step to protect the buyer’s interests. It confirms rights, opens the way to the title, and eliminates the risk of resale to third parties.

If you need assistance with registration or full transaction support, contact the lawyers at DeJure Consulting.

• Telegram: @dejurecy
• WhatsApp: +905391190555