How to obtain a student visa in Northern Cyprus: a step-by-step guide

The student visa (Student Permit) in Northern Cyprus is issued after arrival and is provided electronically through the immigration portal. As of January 2026, the basic process is as follows: university registration → personal account on permissions.gov.ct.tr → payment for medical tests and insurance → waiting for results (usually around 7 days) → payment of the government fee → e-visa (approximately 2 weeks after payment). For language courses at universities, the Student Permit may become available within 10 minutes after paying the government fee. Indicative cost of language courses: 1,200 EUR for 1 year or 1,500 EUR for 1.5 years. The cost of medical tests for residence permits as of November 2025 is 8,704.34 TL.

• What is a student visa (Student Permit)
• Step-by-step instructions for enrolling in a university program
• Documents required for university registration
• Registration on the immigration portal (personal account)
• Medical examination and health insurance
• Government fee, timelines, and obtaining the Student Permit
• Step-by-step instructions for language courses eligible for a Student Permit
• Documents required for language courses
• Cost of language courses
• Benefits of the student visa
• Visa renewal and important deadlines
• Helpful tips and common mistakes
• Glossary
• Frequently Asked Questions
• If you need consultation regarding student status and documents

What is a student visa (Student Permit)

The student visa (Student Permit) in Northern Cyprus is issued after arrival and confirms the right to reside for the duration of studies. It is usually renewed annually in autumn (typically in October), so renewal documents are submitted in advance, in August–September. The visa is issued electronically based on data in the personal account on the immigration portal and confirmations from the university.

There are no age restrictions for master's programs, while the maximum age for bachelor's programs is 25 years.

Step-by-step instructions for enrolling in a university program

How to do it

1. Upon arrival at the university, complete initial registration: visit the student registration office, obtain the list of courses from your advisor, and confirm your residential address.
2. Fill out the student form at the registration office and provide your residential address. The university will inform you if additional address verification is required.
3. Create a personal account on the immigration portal, fill out the online form, and follow the steps shown in the account: directions to the clinic for tests and instructions for payment will appear.
4. Pay for medical tests and health insurance through the personal account. Indicative cost of tests can be found in a separate article: cost of tests and insurance.
5. Wait for the test results (usually around 7 days) and pay the visa fee (government fee) in your personal account.
6. After processing, download the electronic Student Permit from your personal account.

Documents required for university registration

• Passport (original).
• Copies of the passport (photo page + all filled pages).
• Certificate from the mukhtar (local administrative head).
• Diploma or high school certificate (original) + notarized translation.
• Photo 3×4 (2 pcs.; electronic version may be acceptable).
• For master's programs: transcript + notarized English translation.

Registration on the immigration portal (personal account)

The immigration portal is used for registration: permissions.gov.ct.tr. In your personal account, you complete the form, after which the system guides you step-by-step: payment for tests and insurance, undergoing tests, payment of the government fee, and a link to download the permit once approved.

Medical examination and health insurance

Medical tests are mandatory for student status registration. Referrals for tests are issued via the personal account. Payment for tests and state health insurance is also done through the portal.

As of November 2025, the cost of tests for residence permits is 8,704.34 TL. Details and updates: cost of tests and insurance.

Government fee, timelines, and obtaining the Student Permit

The government fee is paid through the personal account. After payment, the student visa is issued electronically and becomes available for download. Estimated time to receive it after payment is approximately 2 weeks.

Step-by-step instructions for language courses eligible for a Student Permit

Language courses at universities also allow for the issuance of a Student Permit and are available to people of any age and nationality if requirements are met and full registration is completed. The mode of study (offline or online/offline) depends on the specific university's conditions.

In practice, the process is: enrollment in a language program → placement test → submission of documents → university creates an account on the immigration portal (or provides instructions for self-registration) → then the steps coincide with the regular procedure: medical exam and insurance → payment of government fee → obtaining Student Permit.

For language courses, the Student Permit may become available for download within 10 minutes after paying the government fee.

Documents required for language courses

• University registration form (application).
• Language placement test.
• Passport (original).
• Information about the last entry to Northern Cyprus (entry stamp or entry confirmation accepted by the university).
• Diploma or high school certificate (original) + notarized translation.
• Photo 3×4 (2 pcs.; electronic version may be acceptable).
• Certificate from the mukhtar (local administrative head).
• Receipt of tuition payment (for the selected period — 1 year or 1.5 years).

After submitting documents, the university will create your account on the immigration portal or provide instructions for self-registration.

Cost of language courses

Indicative costs for university language courses: 1,200 EUR for 1 year or 1,500 EUR for 1.5 years (prices with maximum discount for international students, average market level).

Benefits of the student visa

• No property ownership required for issuance.
• No bank statement of local funds required.
• Phone customs clearance at a fixed cost, regardless of model.
• Importing a car with foreign plates for the duration of studies upon payment of the applicable vehicle tax.

Visa renewal and important deadlines

The student visa is usually renewed annually in September–October. Updates in the personal account and document preparation should start in advance — August–September. Pay attention to notifications in your account and messages from the university, and make timely payments for tests, insurance, and the government fee.

Helpful tips and common mistakes

• Scan and store documents (passport, translations, receipts) in advance — this speeds up verification.
• Double-check personal data in the account (name, passport number, date of birth) before payments.
• Follow the sequence of steps in the portal: tests and insurance → results → government fee.
• Do not ignore notifications from the personal account and university messages.
• Plan for the time required for test results (on average around 7 days).

Glossary

• Student Permit — electronic residence permit in Northern Cyprus for the period of studies, issued after arrival through the immigration portal.
• Immigration portal — government online service for submitting forms and paying the stages of status registration (permissions.gov.ct.tr).
• Personal account — account on the immigration portal showing steps, payments, and the completed document for download.
• Mukhtar — local head of a district/village who issues proof of residence (address confirmation).
• Government fee — mandatory state payment for permit issuance, paid via personal account.
• Medical tests — mandatory step for student status registration; performed by referral from the personal account.
• Transcript — academic record required for admission to master's programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to arrange a student visa before arriving in Northern Cyprus?

No. The Student Permit is issued after arrival in Northern Cyprus through the university and immigration portal.

How long does it take to obtain a Student Permit through the university?

Tests usually take around 7 days, and the e-visa becomes available approximately 2 weeks after paying the government fee.

Is the Student Permit issued faster for language courses?

For university language courses, the Student Permit may appear in the personal account within 10 minutes after paying the government fee.

Which documents are most often “forgotten” and cause delays?

Delays are usually caused by missing the mukhtar certificate, incomplete passport copies, lack of notarized diploma/certificate translations, and errors in personal data in the personal account.

How much do medical tests cost?

As of November 2025, the cost of tests for residence permits is 8,704.34 TL. Updated details: cost of tests and insurance.

When is the student visa usually renewed?

Renewals are usually done annually in September–October, with preparation and updates in the personal account starting in August–September.

If you need consultation regarding the student visa

You can contact our legal partner — the company DeJure for consultation with a licensed attorney in Northern Cyprus.

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