The following information was supplied by the
Office of the London Representative Turkish Republic Northern Cyprus
19.12.2006


The Customs Act concerning the importation of vehicles into TRNC is as follows:


1.    Motor Vehicles:
For cars imported to the TRNC there is still a three-year age limitation.  However, it is not applied to those persons of Cypriot origin and of 18 years of age who have been away from the country for 10 years and proves that they have re-migrated for permanent residence (the university and college graduations are not taken into consideration) and,
to those persons of non-Cypriot origin and of 18 years of age who have re-migrated for permanent residence and proves it with official documents and whose income is completely coming from foreign countries and has no connection whatsoever with a government duty.  However, a reduction over the taxes of imported vehicles is applied.

Motor Vehicles        Turkey Origin        EU-EFTA Origin       Third Country

1600cc                    $1200 +% 31.88        $1200+%42.68          $1200+%67.76
(including 1600cc)

1600cc – 2000cc          $3000+% 31.88        $3000+%42.68                $3000+%67.76
(including 2000cc)

Those over 2000cc      $3600+%31.88        $3600+%42.68         $3600+%67.76

In case a foreign student is the TRNC envisages bringing his/her car to the country, the car has to go through the following procedures on entering the country.

1.    The car must be registered in the name of the student.
2.    The student must keep his/her identity card and registration documents of his/her car with him on entering the TRNC.
3.    The student must have obtained residence permit or pending to obtain it within 10 days upon arrival.
4.    The student shall be issued a temporary entry document by the police upon entering the TRNC and the student shall be asked to appear in person at the Nicosia Customs and Tax Department to complete the necessary procedures for the car (traffic licence, insurance etc.).  Upon completing these requirements, the student will be exempt from paying customs duties for the car until the completion of his/her studies.



















FOREIGN TRADE (Regulatory and Inspection) LAW

(12/1983, 46/1990 and 22/1996 numbered laws)

The Council of Ministers of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus enacts the following Regulation based on the authorization by Article 4(2) and 8(2) of the Foreign Trade (Regulation and Inspection) Law.

Short Name

1.     This Regulation shall be referred to as Motor Vehicle Age Limitation Regulation.


The introduction of age limitation for the import of motor vehicles

2.  (1) If the motor vehicle (Jeep, Land-Rover and similar type of vehicles) classified under the status 87.03.21-87.03.90 in Annex: II Table of the Customs Duty Tariff law and motorcycles (including mopeds) classified under status of 87.11 that have been imported to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are more than 3 years old upon their arrival to the customs of the TRNC, they shall not be issued an import licence.


(2)   (A)  The provisions of the above paragraph (1) shall not apply to those cars more than 25
       years old.

       (B)  The provisions of paragraph (1) above shall not apply to the TRNC citizens who
serve abroad on diplomatic mission for at least 2 years on a permanent basis.

(3)    When issuing temporary registration for export purposes to those motor cars which have been re-imported after being used abroad, the date of the car’s first arrival to the TRNC will be taken into consideration.


The rights of those who have re-migrated to settle down.

3. (1) In the event of being above the age of 5 (five) years, the import licence shall not be issued for the motor vehicles imported by those who came to settle down in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus ( The vehicles classified under status of 87.03.21 – 87.03.90 in the II. Table annexed to the Customs Duty Tariff Law [Jeep, Land-Rover and similar type of vehicles and station wagons] and the motorcycles classified under the status of 87.11), when these motor vehicles come to the Customs Office.

(2)  For the purposes of this article, “the person who came to settle down” means those people of Cyprus origin who are above the age of 18 and stayed abroad for 10 years and re-migrated to the state and declared that he/she had come with the aim of permanent residence and hat he/she had settled down (the period of education at a university or high school, are not taken into account for the calculation of 10 years) and;
The foreign nationals above the age of 18 and not of Cyprus origin who have re-migrated to the State with the aim of permanent residence and proved this with the official documents and whose income comes from foreign states and who has no connection whatsoever with a government duty and the foreign nationals not of Cyprus origin who settled down in the TRNC and who did not make use of such an import right before.

(3)    The people, who fall within the scope of this article, in order to make use of the right envisaged by the article, should apply within latest one year starting from the date of their entry to the country to settle down.



Provisional article

1.    On the condition that they are above the age of 3 (three) years and within the scope of the persons who came just to settle down, the import licence may be issued for the vehicles which are at the TRNC Customs Office, stocks and warehouses and the vehicles which entered for a temporary period at the date of entry into force of this Regulation and for the vehicles which are proved that they were handed over to the customs exit ports of the export states with the “Bill of Lading” document at the date of the publication of this regulation and that they had left the customs of the department state on the same day.

Abrogation R.G. 168 19.12.99 A.E. 769 R.G.99 17.8.2000 A.E.555

4.   Starting from he date of entry into force of this Regulation, without prejudice to the 168 and 99 numbered Official Gazette and to the proceedings carried out under 769 and 555 Public Instruments Motor Vehicles Age Limitation Regulation and Public Instruments Motor Vehicle Age Limitation (Amendment) Regulation, this shall be abrogated.

Entry into Force.


5.    This Regulation enters into force starting from the date of it’s publication at the Official Gazette.

Monday Nov 3rd 2008 -the only way I can get reliable info on the duty/taxes is by going into the Customs office in Lefkosa -I live here. Ihe rates were changed in Aug 2008 while i was in the UK. The BRS has info in their new booklet published in Aug 2008 this is out of date. The current rates for European origin cars is 28.28%of value (glasses guide maybe but they use their own which seem to give a lower value. e.g. my 1999 Passat Estate Diesel 1890cc is £1400!. Non european is 40.28%. I am not sure yet whether a UK registered Honda is counted as european. for up to 1600cc there is a further charge of $ 2.05 per cc plus 20% KDV (VAT) i.e. tax on the tax! For 1600cc to 2250cc  its $2,55 per cc, 2250 -3000cc $4.02, over 3000cc $5.02. they add it up in pounds and you pay in Turkish Lira at the days exchange rate. I have an import cert for the passat which is here but am hesitating to consider whether to buy here instead or import the 2001 Honda I have in the UK. customs said it would cost £3200 now. Road tax is by weight, for 1370kg diesel about 1100ytl (£440) if under 1270kg about 700ytl(£280) for petrol the same weight (1370kg) about 950ytl(£380) but under 1270kg 381ytl.(£152)
all bad news for a heavy car.


_________________
Colin Backhouse
01487 740456
mobile/text 0(044)7811 960048
TRNC 05338447881