An immigration amnesty officially began in Northern Cyprus on August 5. It was introduced “to ensure the registration of unregistered workers and to strengthen the country’s economy.”
The amendments to the Aliens and Immigration Law are one of the most important steps taken to address the problems caused by unregistered workers.
According to the law, foreign nationals who find themselves illegally in the country after January 1, 2021, will be able to benefit from the amnesty, provided that they participate in the workforce by paying a fine equal to the minimum wage.
Applications can be submitted online through the official website of the Ministry of Interior – by clicking on the “Immigration Amnesty” button. The amnesty decision will come into force after an investigation by the security service.
After the applications are reviewed by the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Interior, they will be approved “if there is no harm to public security.” The data will be transmitted to the portal of the Ministry of Labor to ensure the procedure for obtaining a work permit.
Applicants will be eligible for the amnesty provided they pay the minimum wage to the tax office within 10 days of the Labor Ministry approving their application. If work permit procedures are not completed within 60 days, the old immigration penalties for foreigners will remain.
It was previously reported that the amnesty will last 45 days and will affect about 4,000 people, most of whom are university students.
The regulation is expected to “contribute to the integration of the undocumented workforce, as well as promote economic development, strengthen the social security system, and ensure equal and fair rules in working life.”
