Interior Minister Dursun Oğuz announces stronger border security in Northern Cyprus, including extended questioning, deportations, and a new fingerprinting system for all non-TRNC citizens by 2026.
🚨 TRNC Tightens Border Security to Protect Public Safety
Interior Minister Dursun Oğuz has announced a comprehensive set of border security measures in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in response to a recent increase in criminal activity.
Key steps include:
- 🔎 Extended questioning of travelers at entry points
- ✈️ Increased deportations of irregular migrants
- 🆔 Fingerprinting system for all non-TRNC citizens starting in 2026
“Our goal is to prevent criminals from entering the country. Border security is a critical priority,” Oğuz stated.
📊 Numbers Behind the Crackdown
Between January and August 2025:
- 🚫 2,500 foreigners were denied entry
- 🔄 821 individuals were deported
Those turned away included citizens of Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, and Pakistan.
At entry points, travelers are asked about their purpose of stay, accommodation, and local contacts. Unsatisfactory answers can result in refusal of entry. Deportations are carried out in cooperation with Türkiye.
👮 Crackdown on Illegal Residents & Informal Employment
- Around 100,000 foreigners currently live in TRNC.
- Police are locating and deporting those without valid residence permits.
- Deportations of non-criminals take 3–4 days, while criminals are deported after judicial procedures.
- A new center for combating informal employment has been set up, with mobile inspection devices to detect illegal workers.
🏛 Migration Transfer Center Changes
Previously, deportees were held in prisons before transfer. Later, the state rented a private dormitory as a migration transfer center for 90 million TL annually.
That lease expired in July 2025, and now a state-owned facility will be used, eliminating rental costs.
🔒 TRNC’s Safety & Reputation
Despite stricter border rules, Oğuz reassured:
“If this were a crime haven, neither investors nor students would come.”
The TRNC continues to attract foreign investment and international students, reflecting its reputation as a safe and stable destination.
🆔 2026: Fingerprinting for All Non-TRNC Citizens
From 2026, fingerprinting will be mandatory for all travelers except TRNC citizens at border crossings.
This move will:
- Enhance identity verification
- Strengthen border control
- Prevent fraudulent entries
📉 Prison Population
Currently, 799 detainees and convicts are held in TRNC prisons. Out of these, 288 are TRNC citizens, while the rest are foreign nationals.
✅ With stricter controls, fingerprinting, and a crackdown on illegal employment, the TRNC government aims to strengthen security and maintain its reputation as a safe destination for residents, students, and investors. northcyprusinvesting.com, Investra.io