Passport validity requirements for entry to Northern Cyprus

As of January 2026, the validity period of a foreign passport required to enter Northern Cyprus depends on citizenship: for citizens of EU countries and countries that have an official representation of Northern Cyprus, it is sufficient that the passport be valid for at least 2 months on the date of entry; all other citizens must have a passport valid for at least 6 months on the date of crossing the border.

• What passport validity periods are required
• For citizens of the EU and countries with a Northern Cyprus representation
• For citizens of all other countries
• Pre-trip checklist
• How to check
• Glossary
• Frequently Asked Questions
• If you need advice on entry and visa status

What passport validity periods are required

The rule is checked at the time of crossing the border: it is important that your passport be valid for a sufficient period from the date of entry.

For citizens of the EU and countries with a Northern Cyprus representation

Citizens of European Union countries, as well as states that have an official representation of Northern Cyprus, are allowed to enter provided that at least 2 months remain before the passport expires on the date of crossing the border.

The list of countries with representations is available on the Northern Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

For citizens of all other countries

If your citizenship does not fall under the category of “EU countries” or “countries with an official Northern Cyprus representation,” entry requires that your passport be valid for at least 6 months at the time of crossing the border.

Pre-trip checklist

• Determine your category: EU/countries with representation or all others.
• Check your passport’s expiration date and compare it with your planned entry date.
• If your passport has less than the required remaining validity (2 or 6 months), plan to obtain a new passport before the trip.

How to check

1. Open your passport and find the expiration date.
2. Compare it with your entry date to Northern Cyprus.
3. If you are an EU citizen or a citizen of a country with a Northern Cyprus representation, make sure at least 2 months remain before expiration.
4. If you are a citizen of another country, make sure at least 6 months remain before expiration.
5. If the remaining validity is less than required, obtain a new passport before traveling.

Glossary

• Passport validity period — the period until which a passport is considered valid; for entry, the remaining validity as of the date of crossing the border is taken into account.
• Official representation of Northern Cyprus — a diplomatic mission/representation whose presence affects the applicable rule for remaining passport validity (2 months instead of 6 months).

Frequently Asked Questions

If my passport has less than 6 months remaining but I am an EU citizen, will I be allowed to enter?

A more lenient rule applies to citizens of EU countries: on the date of entry, it is sufficient that the passport be valid for at least 2 months.

If my passport has less than 2 months remaining, what should I do?

If your passport has less than the minimum required validity for your category (2 or 6 months), it is better to plan your trip after obtaining a new passport.

Where can I check whether my country belongs to the “countries with a Northern Cyprus representation”?

The list of countries is provided on the Northern Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Is the “2 months/6 months” period calculated from the ticket purchase date?

No. The check is performed on the actual date of crossing the border (at the time of entry).

Does this rule replace visa requirements?

No. Passport validity is a separate entry condition. Visa requirements depend on citizenship and your status.

If you need advice on entry and visa status

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

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