Northern Cyprus Introduces Temporary Rules for Work Permits of Third-Country Nationals Starting July 28

The Ministry of Labor and Social Security of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has announced temporary changes to the work permit policy for foreign nationals employed in agriculture, livestock, and construction.

These new regulations, effective from July 28, 2025, are part of an ongoing effort to evaluate labor needs and manage migration flows more efficiently.

Here are the key points:

1. Lateral Transfers Within the Same Sector Group Permitted

Foreign workers who have held valid permits for at least one year in agriculture, livestock, or construction will now be allowed to switch employers — but only within these three sectors. Transfers to unrelated sectors will remain prohibited.

2. Current Legal Exceptions Remain Valid

Provisions outlined in Paragraph 9 of Article 30 of the Work Permit Regulation, which allow for employer changes without a mandatory one-year wait in special cases, will continue to apply based on inspection reports issued by the Labor Department.

3. Bangladeshi Nationals Temporarily Barred from New Applications

As of July 28, 2025, the Ministry will no longer accept preliminary work permit applications from Bangladeshi citizens across all sectors. This restriction will remain in place until further notice.

4. Turkmen Nationals Restricted to Domestic Work Only

Also starting July 28, Turkmen citizens will only be eligible to apply for preliminary permits in the domestic services sector. All other sectors will be closed to them temporarily.

The Ministry emphasized that these regulations are temporary and aimed at maintaining a balanced and well-regulated labor market. The measures will be reviewed and adjusted based on future assessments and policy developments.