IVF in North Cyprus

Considering IVF or egg donation in Cyprus?
The ultimate guide to your fertility treatment in North Cyprus
IVF in Cyprus | Embryo and Egg donation in Cyprus | IVF costs in Cyprus

North Cyprus is a very popular destination for IVF treatment. For a start, it is quite an affordable destination compared to other popular countries for IVF treatment in Europe. It also has a warm climate and is a popular tourist destination, so you could choose to combine your treatment with a holiday in the sun.

It is a popular destination for people from around the world, and it is especially popular with people from the UK, Germany, Turkey and many Arab countries.

There are about 16 IVF clinics in North Cyprus, most of which receive international patients. Many of these have excellent standards in terms of quality, ethics and patient support.

There are several very experienced and well-established clinics, with the most popular places to receive treatment including cities like Nicosia and Kyrenia. These clinics regularly work with international patients, and the medical staff speak English, German and other languages. Patients looking for an IVF Abroad very often include North Cyprus on their shortlist.

Another reason it is a popular destination is because egg donors are anonymous and are available from various ethnicities.

One thing to keep in mind if you are considering treatment in North Cyprus is the political situation. It is officially known as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and it is not officially a state or a country according to European Union regulations.

It is different from the southern half of the island, called the Republic of Cyprus, and it is subject to special legal arrangements on the part of the EU. But many patients choose to receive IVF treatment in North Cyprus and have very positive experiences here.

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IUI Treatment in North Cyprus: Legal Aspects

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) and artificial insemination with donor (AID) are basic fertility treatments that are legal in North Cyprus. These procedures are accessible to women under the age of 55, though, bear in mind that reproductive specialists recommend it to younger women with proven ovulation and appropriate ovarian reserve. Donor sperm used in IUI treatment in North Cyprus comes from fully anonymous donors. You can read more about sperm donors in Cyprus below in this article.

IVF Treatment in North Cyprus: Legal Aspects

One of the first considerations for anyone thinking about going to North Cyprus for IVF treatment is to look at the legal aspects, and there are several important issues to keep in mind.

For a start, there is a maximum age for female patients of between 45 and 58. However, if aged over 45, patients must meet certain criteria and undergo specific tests. There is no age limit for the male partner.

Heterosexual couples, female couples and single women can all receive treatment here. Male couples can also receive IVF treatment in North Cyprus – but it’s subject to additional arrangements with a clinic.

Gender selection is only allowed to prevent the transmission of serious genetic diseases, and it is not permitted for family balancing reasons. However, keep in mind that some clinics might reveal the sex of an embryo in the genetic embryo test results.

HIV-positive patients are sometimes allowed to receive treatment, but it depends on the clinic. The same is true for HCV/HBV-positive patients.

Whether you are using your own eggs or donor eggs, the maximum number of embryos that can be transferred in both cases is three.

IVF in Cyprus treatment availability
IVF in North Cyprus treatment availability

IVF in North Cyprus – fertility treatments

  • Woman up to 58 years old is allowed to have an IVF treatment:
    over 45 – subject to additional tests and the Ministry of
    Health approval is required; women over 55 additionally require an ethical committee meeting in the presence of the patient.
  • There is no limit on male partner’s age 
  • Heterosexual couples are welcome
  • IVF is available for single women
  • IVF is available for female couples
  • IVF is available for male couples – ask clinics for details
  • Sex selection is not allowed unless to prevent the transmission of serious genetic diseases, however, some clinics may reveal sex of an embryo in genetic embryo tests results
  • Many clinics support HIV-positive patients
  • Many clinics support HCV/HBV-positive patients
  • The maximum number of embryos to transfer is 3 (both for IVF own eggs and egg donation – depending on prognosis).

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Egg Donation in North Cyprus

If you choose IVF treatment using donor eggs, there is a lot of availability in North Cyprus due to the large donor pool. The other benefit is that there are no waiting lists, and both fresh and frozen oocytes are available.

There are a few important points to keep in mind. For example, there is a legal age limit for egg donors in North Cyprus of between 20 and 35 years old unless the patient request a donation from a specific person

Egg donors are also strictly anonymous, and their identities cannot be revealed in any situation, either to the patients or to the child. There is no mixed system comprising anonymous and non-anonymous donors. However, it’s possible to get donated eggs from a known person.

Only basic characteristics of the donor can be revealed to the recipients, but this is up to the clinic, and information can only be shared where it does not allow the donor to be identified.

Basic characteristics are used to match donors with recipients, such as skin colour, race, hair colour and eye colour. This way, the donor is as similar as possible to the recipient.

Donors must also undergo certain qualification tests, which are a legal requirement. These include tests for:

  • HIV
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Anti– HCV
  • RPR – VDR
  • HTLV – I/II
  • Chlamydia
  • Gonorrhoea.

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Sperm Donation in North Cyprus

If you choose to undergo IVF treatment in North Cyprus, you will find that there are many sperm donors available, and they comprise donors of all races. There are also no waiting lists.

It is generally the case that most IVF clinics here have their own sperm banks. However, if using a sperm donor, North Cyprus is considered quite an expensive destination.

Sperm donors are strictly anonymous, and there is no situation where the recipient couple can find out the identity of the donor.

Featured clinics in North Cyprus

IVF Costs in North Cyprus

Cost is one of the most important factors when choosing a destination for IVF treatment. The cost will vary depending on the clinic and location as well as the type of treatment you receive.

  • IUI treatment in North Cyprus starts from €500-800 and IUI with donor sperm may cost approx. €1,750-€2,500.
  • In general, for IVF treatment using your own eggs, the basic IVF package in North Cyprus costs between €2,500 and €3,000.
  • Egg donation basic packages range from €4,500 to €5,000.
  • Embryo donation in North Cyprus range from €5,500 to €6,000.
  • Egg freezing (oocytes cryopreservation) costs range from €2,500 to €2,700.
IVF costs in North Cyprus – basic packages
IVF with own eggs in North Cyprus€2,500 – €3,000
IVF with donor eggs in North Cyprus€4,500 – €5,000
Embryo donation in North Cyprus€5,500 – €6,000
Egg freezing (oocytes cryopreservation) in North Cyprus€2,500 – €2,700
Source: Average IVF costs in North Cyprus – Basic Packages – IVF Abroad Patient’s Guide 2022

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Egg Donation Costs in North Cyprus

If you are undergoing IVF treatment with donor eggs in North Cyprus, the average cost for an egg donation cycle is between €4,500 and €5,000.

However, the cost will depend on a range of factors. These include the number of oocytes that are being used for fertilisation, whether any other add-on techniques are being included, and whether the treatment is guaranteed.

In addition, keep in mind that the cost will vary based on the region and the clinic you choose.

Embryo Donation Costs in North Cyprus

If you are undergoing IVF treatment in North Cyprus using embryo donation, the average costs range from €5,500 to €6,000.

This is the most expensive European destination for embryo donation, and this is mainly due to the lack of donated embryos by local patients. This means that double donation is used for most embryo donation programmes.

However, availability is very good here, and clinics offer embryos in many different ethnicities.

Double Donation in North Cyprus

Double donation is an option in North Cyprus. This is where the embryos are prepared for patients using both oocytes and sperm from donors.

The cost for double donation is similar to the cost of egg donation programmes with the additional cost of the sperm donor, which averages between €800 and €1,000.

Other IVF Costs in North Cyprus

If you decide to travel to North Cyprus for IVF treatment, the above information gives you a general idea of the standard costs.

However, it’s important to remember that there are various additional costs that can be applied for IVF add-ons and other services. It’s a good idea to have a general idea of what these are to help you plan your treatment more effectively.

Here are some of the most common additional costs involved for IVF treatment in North Cyprus:

  • Medical consultation (doctor): €80 – €150
  • Sperm freezing: €250 – €500
  • Donor sperm: €800 – €1200
  • Embryo Monitoring (Embryoscope, Time Lapse, Geri etc.): €300 – €500
  • Blastocyst culture: €400- €500 (included in basic packages in most of the clinics)
  • PGT-A / PGS genetic embryo testing: €2,000 – €2,500
  • Vitrification of (remaining) embryos and storage for 1 year: €400 – €600
  • FET – Frozen Embryo Transfer: €1,400 – €1,600
IVF costs in North Cyprus – other costs and add-ons
Medical consultation (doctor)€80 – €150
Sperm freezing€250 – €500
Donor sperm€800 – €1,200
Embryo Monitoring (Embryoscope, Time Lapse, Geri etc.)€300 – €500
Blastocyst culture€400- €500
included in basic packages in most of the clinics
PGT-A / PGS genetic embryo testing*€2,000 – €2,500
Vitrification of (remaining) embryos and storage for 1 year€400- €600
FET – Frozen Embryo Transfer€1,400 – €1,600
Source: Average IVF costs in North Cyprus – IVF Abroad Patient’s Guide 2022
*PGT-A / PGS genetic embryo testing: include embryo biopsy and embryo diagnosis – up to 4 embryos using NGS technique

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IVF Success Rates in North Cyprus with Own Eggs

If you want to find out about IVF success rates for treatment in North Cyprus, there is no specific data for this. This is because North Cyprus is not treated as a country and, as such, no information is sent to ESHRE.

The table below shows data from the ESHRE EIM report for 2017. While no data on success rates is included for North Cyprus, IVF success rates for treatment with own eggs advertised by top clinics in North Cyprus is similar to other European clinics.

IVF with own eggs in popular countries in Europe*<3435-39≥40
Spain25.823.211.7
Portugal26.621.214.3
Czech Republic29.721.68.9
North Cyprus**no datano datano data
Greece30.422.89.7
Ukraine25.422.714.1
Poland30.525.912.9
Russia30.324.112
Latvia29.433.620.7
Denmark

30.420.212.3
Source: ART in Europe, 2017: results generated from European registries by ESHRE*
Supplementary Table SX Aspirations, pregnancy and delivery rates by age distribution (years) of women treated with ICSI in 2017.
Pregnancies per embryo transfer.
**North Cyprus is the self–proclaimed state recognised only by Turkey and is not providing and data to ESHRE EIM Consortium.

IVF Success Rates in North Cyprus with Donor Eggs

If you are using donor eggs for IVF treatment in North Cyprus, there is no specific data on success rates. In the table below, you can see data from the ESHRE EIM report for 2017. Because North Cyprus is not treated as a country, no reports are sent to ESHRE by local authorities.

However, the IVF success rates advertised by top clinics in North Cyprus when using donor eggs are in line with other European clinics.

Egg donation success rates in popular countries in Europe*Pregnancies per fresh ET (%)Pregnancies per thawed ET (%)

Spain54.751.1
Portugal52.640.6
Czech Republic42.223.1
North Cyprus**no datano data
Greece54.750.1
Ukraine61.662.2
Poland34.444.7
Russia48.045.0
Latvia39.542.3
Denmark

38.633.7
Source: ART in Europe, 2017: results generated from European registries by ESHRE*
Supplementary Table SVIII Pregnancies and deliveries after ED (fresh and frozen cycles) in 2017. In Egg Donation cycles, the age of the recipient women had no influence on outcomes. Pregnancies per embryo transfer (fresh and frozen)
**North Cyprus is the self–proclaimed state recognised only by Turkey and is not providing and data to ESHRE EIM Consortium.

Find Top IVF Clinics in North Cyprus >

Remember, North Cyprus is a self-proclaimed state that is only recognised by Turkey. It is part of the European Union, but EU law does not apply in the country. This has legal implications, and seeking legal solutions in the local courts can be very complicated. More information can be found at the Ministry of Health website.

Travel to North Cyprus

North Cyprus is a beautiful place to visit and a very popular destination for IVF treatment. It boasts good IVF success rates, despite being a more expensive option for some forms of treatment.

It is not actually an officially recognised country, and it is known as the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus. But despite any political tensions and a noticeable military presence, it remains a very safe and relaxed place to visit.

North Cyprus is a real hidden gem. It is not part of the EU, and it is far quieter and more unspoilt than the South. It is a beautiful place to visit and enjoy a relaxing holiday while you receive IVF treatment.

Travel to North Cyprus

There is only one airport in North Cyprus: Ercan International Airport, also called Lefkosa (Nicosia) Airport. From the UK, you can fly to Ercan International Airport from many airports, but you cannot fly directly and you will have a short stop in Istanbul on the way.

Be aware that if you fly into Ercan Airport, you will not be able to cross into the south side of the island.

Alternatively, you can travel to Larnaca Airport in South Cyprus and then cross the border via a transfer, and this is often the preferred route.

A return flight to Larnaca Airport costs on average $200 from London, $700 from New York and $2,000 from Sydney to give you a rough idea of fares.

Entry Requirements

Some nationalities do not need a visa to travel to North Cyprus. British citizens, for example, can travel visa-free, and a 90-day tourist visa is granted upon arrival. However, passports should be valid for at least six months after the trip. No visa is required for nationals of the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Non-EU nationals also need to show that they have sufficient funds to cover their stay. You may also need to show your proof of accommodation.

Travelling Around North Cyprus

The transport system in the north is very different to the south. It is not as well developed, so don’t expect to catch trains between cities. Instead, renting a car is by far the best option.

It’s easy to hire a car in North Cyprus. Driving is on the left, like in the UK, and while there are no motorways, you will find dual carriageways. But keep in mind that you will not be able to take a hire car into South Cyprus.

If you would prefer public transport, you can use Dolmus buses. These are a simple and affordable way to travel between major towns. You will also find lots of taxis in towns and cities.

Places to Visit in North Cyprus

North Cyprus is very beautiful and there is lots to see here. Highlights include Famagusta Walled City, which is well worth wandering around, Salamis Ruins, an ancient Roman city, and Kyrenia Harbour. You might also want to visit Karpaz Peninsula with its beautiful landscapes and wild donkeys.

Arrange Your Visit to North Cyprus

North Cyprus is a great place to visit, and you can enjoy a wonderful holiday here when you visit for IVF treatment. It’s easy to reach, affordable, easy to get around and there is lots to see. It’s an excellent option if you want to enjoy a relaxing holiday while you get IVF treatment.

IVF abroad - other popular destinations
Reviewed by:
Aleksander Wiecki
Aleksander Wiecki
Aleksander is an advocate of transparency and truth about IVF treatment and patients’ experience manager. With strong expertise and background in the IVF and infertility industry including IVF clinics and genetic laboratories Aleksander strongly believes that there is a gap between IVF patients and clinics. This is a gap where patients may fall for the most common IVF treatment traps during their infertility journey. That’s why patients need help and support which they don’t necessarily get from IVF clinics. The support which comes from an objective, trustworthy and reliable source. Aleksander is a regular guest at ESHRE annual meetings, the Fertility Show in London, the Fertility Forum, the IMTJ - Medical Travel Summit, Fertility Exhibitions and conferences around the world.
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