North Cyprus government to open ‘migration centre’, more countries will need visa to enter the TRNC

The TRNC is planing on constructing a migration center in the country to deal with undocumented and irregular migration, said Minister of Interior.

The TRNC Minister of Interior, Ziya Ozturkler, this week said efforts are underway between Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to combat irregular migration.

Ozturkler made the announcement after a meeting with Turkey’s deputy interior minister Yasin Ekrem Serim on Monday in Lefkosa.

Öztürkler said that efforts to increase the security of the public had reached a certain level announcing that a decision has been made to establish a migration centre within the Ministry of Interior to address the issue of irregular migration. 

The center will aim to identify and coordinate the situation of those who come to the country as students or with work permits and are in an irregular status, he said.

Referring to the recent steps taken to maintain public security, Öztürkler said, “We have brought the ongoing efforts, most of which are related to irregular and undocumented migration, to a certain point in order to ensure the TRNC maintains its status as a safe country.”

In addition, he said that “foreign representatives” will be involved in the creation of the new centre, and that inspections will be “especially carried out for people coming from Turkiye and third countries”.

Turkish Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yasin Ekrem Serim emphasized that they are ready to provide any support in the field of irregular migration for the defence of the interests of the TRNC. 

Öztürkler also mentioned that they have reached the final stages of the e-visa automation system and said that the embassies and consulates of the Republic of Türkiye and TRNC will be carrying out work to ensure that the system functions properly.

Öztürkler added that they have taken a decision to increase the number of countries subject to visa requirements by the TRNC, something that had become necessary in light of the increase in the number of people arriving in the country.