In April 2022 the British Residents Society (BRS) met with President Ersin Tatar, to discuss the ongoing issues that affect the British community in TRNC. Our advocate, Erdem Erginel, was present in the meeting.
At the meeting, which was held at the Presidency, Ersin Tatar emphasized that the BRS is one of the most important associations of the expatriates in TRNC. He also expressed his admiration for the work BRS has done and continues to do, ranging from health to charity work.
Issues that are faced by British expatriates in the TRNC
The main purpose of the meeting with President Tatar was to discuss the main issues that are faced by British expatriates in the TRNC, i.e. permission to purchase immovable property, care homes for elderly people, residency issues and voting rights.
Permission to Purchase immovable property in Northern Cyprus
The representatives of the BRS, the legal advisor, Erdem Erginel, and the President actively discussed the difficulties related to Permission to Purchase immovable property.
The BRS collected nearly twenty enquiries from members and non-members which were sent to the Presidency for the purpose of further discussion at the meeting.
The basis of all these inquiries where refusal of the permission to purchase as the current or retired members of the army had moved to the area where expats had bought their properties.
As a solution to the aforesaid matter, Erdem Erginel suggested to the President that TRNC should take the example of the army in Turkey. There the military authorities have clearly defined the areas where non-citizens would be refused permission to buy. In this way, a foreigner would know beforehand whether he would be given permission to purchase a specific property. The President said that his staff will inquire with the army about the possibility of introducing such a system in the TRNC.
Another controversial discussion between BRS, legal advisor Erdem Erginel, and President Ersin Tatar was about some residency issues. The BRS explained that there were members who had recently received large fines due to the shortcomings of the Immigration department and that there was no actual process in place for them to appeal against those decisions. In this respect, the legal team of the Presidency will arrange a meeting with a new Minister of Interior to discuss the ongoing immigration issues and to facilitate certain processes as much as possible.