Western Union in North Cyprus: Agents, Fees, Booking and ID (2026)
Where to collect or send Western Union money in the TRNC, why İktisatbank wants a booking, which ID each passport needs and the USD fee bands.
Table of Contents
In North Cyprus, Western Union money goes through two local banks: İktisatbank and Kıbrıs Vakıflar Bankası. To collect, you bring the 10-digit MTCN and your ID; at İktisatbank foreign nationals show a passport and the receiver pays no fee. İktisatbank asks you to book online first. Sending starts at 4 USD to countries such as Ukraine and Uzbekistan, and 12 USD to most others.
In short · checked 14/10/2026
North Cyprus has its own Western Union agents and fee tables, apart from Türkiye and from the Republic of Cyprus. The fee depends on where the money goes and how much you send.
What do you need?
- Where: any İktisatbank branch in the TRNC (book first) or a Kıbrıs Vakıflar Bankası branch.
- Bring: the 10-digit MTCN and your ID. Foreign nationals at İktisatbank: passport.
- Cost: İktisatbank charges the receiver nothing; the sender pays the fee.
- Where: İktisatbank (book first) or Vakıflar. You need no account at either bank.
- Money: İktisatbank sends US dollars or pounds sterling, up to 7,500 USD per transfer.
- Fee: from 12 USD to most countries and 4 USD to the CIS list, for up to 100 USD.
- North: Western Union lists it as “Cyprus (Northern)”, with its own website and agents.
- South: “Cyprus” is the Republic of Cyprus, a separate Western Union market with euro amounts and online sending.
- From abroad: ask the sender to pick “Cyprus (Northern)” when you collect in the north.
Which Cyprus? Two entries on Western Union’s list
Western Union treats the island as two markets. Its country list has “Cyprus” and “Cyprus (Northern)” as separate entries, and each has its own website. The northern site names two agents, both TRNC banks, and publishes its fees in US dollars. The southern site shows send amounts in euros and lets you send online or in the app. Tap a town to see which side it is on.
Western Union on the island · checked 14/10/2026
North or south: tap a town
Girne (Kyrenia) is in the north: on Western Union’s list it is “Cyprus (Northern)”. Collect at İktisatbank or Kıbrıs Vakıflar Bankası.
Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
- On Western Union’s list
- “Cyprus (Northern)”, site westernunion.com/c2
- Agents
- İktisatbank and Kıbrıs Vakıflar Bankası, both TRNC banks
- Fees published in
- US dollars; İktisatbank sends USD or GBP
- How you send
- At an agent’s counter
- Collect
- Turkish lira at any agent location in Northern Cyprus, says Western Union
Republic of Cyprus (south)
- On Western Union’s list
- “Cyprus”, site westernunion.com/cy
- Agents
- Agent locations “across Cyprus”, on the southern site
- Send amounts shown in
- Euros
- How you send
- Online, in the app, or cash at an agent
- At the agent
- A valid government-issued ID and a phone number
Schematic outline; the line is drawn roughly. Facts from Western Union’s northern and southern websites.
This trips up students whose family sends money from home. Western Union’s northern site talks about sending money “to pick up Turkish Lira at any agent location in Northern Cyprus”, so ask your family to choose “Cyprus (Northern)” on the country list, not “Cyprus”. The Türkiye fee tables do not apply here either: North Cyprus has its own.
Where to go: two banks, 24 counters
Western Union’s Northern Cyprus page names two agents: İktisatbank and Kıbrıs Vakıflar Bankası. Vakıflar is a TRNC bank based in Lefkoşa, not Türkiye’s VakıfBank. You need no account at either bank. İktisatbank offers Western Union at 13 branches on its booking form, and Vakıflar lists 11 branches.
İktisatbank
Western Union at 13 branches in the Lefkoşa, Girne, Gazimağusa and Güzelyurt areas. Book a slot on the online form, then go at your time. Counter hours 08:15–12:00 and 13:00–16:00.
Kıbrıs Vakıflar Bankası
Western Union at its branches, from Güzelyurt to Mehmetçik on the Karpaz road. No booking step: you fill in the form at the counter.
Western Union counters in North Cyprus · checked 14/10/2026
Pick a district and a time
İktisatbankVakıflar6 counters
12:30 is in the lunch break (12:00–13:00): İktisatbank counters reopen at 13:00.
- Lefkoşa
İktisatbank Merkez
No:151 Bedreddin Demirel St, Nicosia
08:15–12:00 · 13:00–16:00 · book on the form first
İktisatbank Sarayönü
No:30 Müftü Raci Efendi St, Sarayönü, Nicosia
08:15–12:00 · 13:00–16:00 · book on the form first
İktisatbank Kaymaklı
No:27 Gazeteci Kemal Aşık St, Küçük Kaymaklı, Nicosia
08:15–12:00 · 13:00–16:00 · book on the form first
İktisatbank Yenikent
No:32 Belediye Blvd, Gönyeli, Nicosia
08:15–12:00 · 13:00–16:00 · book on the form first
İktisatbank Sanayi
No:15 2nd St, Organize Sanayi, Nicosia
08:15–12:00 · 13:00–16:00 · book on the form first
Vakıflar Lefkoşa Merkez
66 Atatürk Caddesi, Yenişehir, Lefkoşa
Ask the branch for its hours · no booking step
Vakıflar Taşkınköy
Kemal Ünal Cad. No:110, Taşkınköy, Lefkoşa
Ask the branch for its hours · no booking step
Vakıflar Gönyeli
Tüzün 7 No:3–4, Yenikent, Gönyeli
Ask the branch for its hours · no booking step
- Girne
İktisatbank Kyrenia
No:111 Ziya Rızkı St, Kyrenia
08:15–12:00 · 13:00–16:00 · book on the form first
İktisatbank Karaoğlanoğlu
No:70 Karaoğlanoğlu St, Kyrenia
08:15–12:00 · 13:00–16:00 · book on the form first
İktisatbank Alsancak
No:1 Karaoğlanoğlu St, Doğu Plaza Business Centre, Alsancak
08:15–12:00 · 13:00–16:00 · book on the form first
İktisatbank Karakum
No:35 Uğur Mumcu Blvd, Karakum, Kyrenia
08:15–12:00 · 13:00–16:00 · book on the form first
İktisatbank Boğaz
No:10/A Şehit Sonay Özdayı St, Boğazköy, Kyrenia
08:15–12:00 · 13:00–16:00 · book on the form first
Vakıflar Girne
Ecevit Caddesi, Girne
Ask the branch for its hours · no booking step
- Gazimağusa
İktisatbank Famagusta
No:7 İsmet İnönü Blvd, Famagusta
08:15–12:00 · 13:00–16:00 · book on the form first
Vakıflar Gazimağusa
8 Fevzi Çakmak Bulvarı, Gazimağusa
Ask the branch for its hours · no booking step
Vakıflar Salamis Yolu
İsmet İnönü Bulvarı, Dumlupınar, Gazimağusa
Ask the branch for its hours · no booking step
Vakıflar Akdoğan
Zübeyde Hanım Sokak No:4, Atatürk Meydanı, Akdoğan
Ask the branch for its hours · no booking step
- Güzelyurt
İktisatbank Güzelyurt
No:26 Atatürk St, Morphou
08:15–12:00 · 13:00–16:00 · book on the form first
İktisatbank Gemikonağı
No:33 Ecevit St, Gemikonağı, Morphou
08:15–12:00 · 13:00–16:00 · book on the form first
Vakıflar Güzelyurt
Ecevit Cad. No:4, Güzelyurt
Ask the branch for its hours · no booking step
Vakıflar Gemikonağı
Ecevit Caddesi No:30, Gemikonağı
Ask the branch for its hours · no booking step
- İskele
Vakıflar İskele
Dr. Temel Zeki Caddesi, Noyanlar Apt., İskele
Ask the branch for its hours · no booking step
Vakıflar Mehmetçik
Ecevit Meydanı No:9–8, Mehmetçik, İskele
Ask the branch for its hours · no booking step
Addresses from each bank’s branch list; İktisatbank branches are those on its Western Union booking form.
İktisatbank’s ATM-only points have no counter. Ask the branch about its opening days.
İktisatbank: book first, then go
At İktisatbank every Western Union transaction starts with the online Western Union Appointment Form, for collecting and sending alike. The bank’s mobile app lists the same form; the app works in Turkish, English or Russian.
- Open the formOn iktisatbank.com or in the app, choose Receive Money or Send Money.
- Pick the branchChoose one of the 13 branches on the form.
- Confirm itRegister with your mobile number or approve the booking by e-mail.
- Go with your IDAt the booked branch, show your ID. To collect, give the 10-digit MTCN.
Vakıflar’s Western Union page has no booking step: you go to a branch and fill in the send or receive form there.
What to bring: it depends on your passport
İktisatbank serves people aged 18 or over, customers or not. The ID it accepts depends on your citizenship: TRNC citizens can show an ID card, driving licence or passport; Turkish citizens an ID card or passport; everyone else a passport. Vakıflar asks for your ID; ask the branch which documents it takes. Set your case and the tray fills:
At the counter · checked 14/10/2026
Your counter tray
I want to
At
My citizenship
Money goes to
Collect · İktisatbank · Other
Appointment booked on İktisatbank’s Western Union form, for the branch you chose.
TRNC ID card, driving licence or passport shown at the counter.
Turkish ID card or passport shown at the counter.
Your passport foreign nationals use the passport only.
Your ID document ask the branch which ones it accepts.
The 10-digit MTCN from the sender. You are paid after the ID check.
Receive form filled in at the branch, handed in with your ID. You are paid with a receipt.
Recipient’s full name, country and the amount as they will be on the transfer.
Their IBAN or account number, bank name and sort code credited by the next business day at the latest.
Their card number for a transfer to a bank card.
Wallet name and their mobile number for a transfer to a mobile wallet.
Cash in US dollars or pounds the amount plus the fee, up to 7,500 USD per transfer.
Send form, the money and the commission handed over with your ID at the branch.
Age 18 or over you need not be an İktisatbank customer.
4 things on the tray
From İktisatbank’s and Vakıflar’s Western Union pages. Nothing you pick leaves this page.
Fees: a staircase in US dollars
The sender pays the fee; İktisatbank charges the receiver nothing. Fees go up in steps: each band of the amount has one fee. İktisatbank publishes two tables and Western Union’s Northern Cyprus page three. They agree for the CIS list. For the Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India, Western Union’s page has its own, cheaper table, while İktisatbank’s page counts them as “other countries”. Pick the destination and an amount; the chart draws both.
Fees for sending at an agent, USD · checked 14/10/2026
The fee staircase
Destination
UK, Germany, Türkiye, Nigeria and the rest of the world
İktisatbank table45 USD
Western Union page45 USD
Band: 800.01–1,400 USD · 4.5% of the amount
One cent over 1,400 costs 65 USD.
Both tables give 45 USD.
All bands as tables
| Amount, USD | Fee, USD |
|---|---|
| up to 100 | 4 |
| 100.01–200 | 5 |
| 200.01–300 | 7 |
| 300.01–400 | 8.50 |
| 400.01–500 | 10 |
| 500.01–600 | 12 |
| 600.01–800 | 14 |
| 800.01–1,000 | 17 |
| 1,000.01–1,200 | 21 |
| 1,200.01–1,400 | 25 |
| 1,400.01–1,600 | 29 |
| 1,600.01–1,800 | 33 |
| 1,800.01–2,000 | 36 |
| 2,000.01–2,500 | 40 |
| 2,500.01–3,000 | 45 |
| 3,000.01–4,000 | 50 |
| 4,000.01–5,000 | 60 |
| 5,000.01–6,000 | 65 |
| 6,000.01–7,000 | 70 |
| 7,000.01–7,500 | 80 |
| Amount, USD | Fee, USD |
|---|---|
| up to 100 | 12 |
| 100.01–200 | 18 |
| 200.01–300 | 22 |
| 300.01–400 | 30 |
| 400.01–600 | 36 |
| 600.01–800 | 40 |
| 800.01–1,400 | 45 |
| 1,400.01–1,600 | 65 |
| 1,600.01–1,800 | 75 |
| 1,800.01–2,000 | 85 |
| 2,000.01–2,500 | 95 |
| 2,500.01–3,000 | 105 |
| 3,000.01–3,500 | 120 |
| 3,500.01–4,000 | 135 |
| 4,000.01–4,500 | 145 |
| 4,500.01–5,000 | 160 |
| 5,000.01–5,500 | 180 |
| 5,500.01–6,000 | 200 |
| 6,000.01–7,000 | 220 |
| 7,000.01–7,500 | 220 |
| Amount, USD | Fee, USD |
|---|---|
| up to 100 | 12 |
| 100.01–200 | 18 |
| 200.01–300 | 22 |
| 300.01–400 | 30 |
| 400.01–600 | 36 |
| 600.01–800 | 40 |
| 800.01–1,400 | 45 |
| 1,400.01–1,600 | 65 |
| 1,600.01–1,800 | 75 |
| 1,800.01–2,000 | 85 |
| 2,000.01–2,500 | 95 |
| 2,500.01–3,000 | 105 |
| 3,000.01–3,500 | 120 |
| 3,500.01–4,000 | 135 |
| 4,000.01–4,500 | 145 |
| 4,500.01–5,500 | 160 |
| 5,500.01–6,000 | 200 |
| 6,000.01–7,500 | 220 |
| Amount, USD | Fee, USD |
|---|---|
| up to 100 | 8 |
| 100.01–200 | 10 |
| 200.01–400 | 12 |
| 400.01–800 | 16 |
| 800.01–1,600 | 20 |
| 1,600.01–2,500 | 30 |
| 2,500.01–4,000 | 40 |
| 4,000.01–5,500 | 60 |
| 5,500.01–7,500 | 80 |
Fee only: the exchange rate is extra. Western Union services to Russia and Belarus are suspended (see below).
The fee is not the whole cost. Western Union says it also earns from currency exchange, and that fees, rates and taxes vary by channel and location and may change without notice. Ask for the full quote at the counter before you pay. For sending in pounds, and for any transfer at Vakıflar, the branch quotes the fee.
Collecting money: Turkish lira at the counter
Collecting is the usual case for students and residents with family abroad. Western Union’s northern site says you can pick up Turkish lira at any agent location in Northern Cyprus.
- İktisatbank: book “Receive Money”, bring your ID, give the 10-digit MTCN. You are paid after the ID check.
- Vakıflar: fill in the receive form, hand it in with your ID, and you are paid with a receipt.
- Fee: none for the receiver at İktisatbank.
How fast? Western Union says cash can be ready to collect from an agent in minutes, but the speed depends on the service, amount, destination, currency, regulation and ID checks, and on agent hours and time zones. The other way round, money you send from İktisatbank to a bank account is normally credited by the next business day at the latest.
Ten digits: the MTCN is the money
Every Western Union transfer gets an MTCN, a Money Transfer Control Number: ten digits, unique to that transfer. You need it to collect the money and to track a transfer. İktisatbank’s advice is short: do not share it with anyone you do not know.
The other risk is a typo. A swapped pair of digits on the booking form or at the counter sends you back to the sender. Practise with the made-up number below.
Copy check · made-up number
On the sender’s receipt
4182609375
4182609735
Digits 8 and 9 are swapped.
The example shows a common slip. Never type a real MTCN into a site or chat that someone else sent you.
The sender gives the MTCN to the person collecting, and nobody else needs it. Western Union’s Northern Cyprus site uses the same number to track a transfer.
Russia and Belarus: listed, but closed
İktisatbank’s cheaper table still names 11 countries, Russia and Belarus among them, and Western Union’s northern fee page has a “Russia, Ukraine and CIS” heading. But Western Union suspended money transfers in Russia and Belarus across all channels from 24 March 2022. Read the list as a fee category, not a working route; the staircase above does not show them.
Careful
If someone offers a “Western Union transfer to Russia” through a middleman, it is not Western Union. Do not pay a middleman in advance and do not give anyone an MTCN.
Questions about Western Union in North Cyprus
Do I need a bank account to use Western Union in North Cyprus?
No. İktisatbank serves people who are not its customers, and Vakıflar says no account is needed.
Which ID do international students need?
A passport, at İktisatbank: foreign nationals use the passport only. Vakıflar asks for ID at the branch, so take your passport there too.
Does the receiver pay a fee?
Not at İktisatbank: only the sender pays. If you change the money into another currency afterwards, that is a separate exchange.
How much can I send at once?
Up to 7,500 USD or the equivalent per transfer at İktisatbank.
Can I send Turkish lira or euros?
İktisatbank sends US dollars or pounds sterling. The currency the receiver gets depends on the practice in the destination country.
Is “Cyprus” on Western Union the same as North Cyprus?
No. Western Union lists “Cyprus” (the Republic of Cyprus) and “Cyprus (Northern)” separately, with separate websites, agents and fees.
Do the Western Union Türkiye fees apply in North Cyprus?
No. North Cyprus has its own agents and its own fee tables in US dollars.
When are the branches open?
İktisatbank counters are open 08:15–12:00 and 13:00–16:00 by the posted hours; ask the branch about the days, and call a Vakıflar branch for its hours.
Can I send money to Russia from North Cyprus?
Not with Western Union: it suspended transfers in Russia and Belarus from 24 March 2022.
Related: Banks in Northern Cyprus, the list of banks and branches, and what the rules say about cash and transfers.
Sources and limits
Fees, limits and branches: checked 14 October 2026. Fees and rules can change; the exact fee and exchange rate are given at the counter.
- Fees and agents in Northern Cyprus — Western Union, checked 14/10/2026
- Western Union Northern Cyprus — Western Union, checked 14/10/2026
- Western Union Cyprus (the Republic of Cyprus) — Western Union, checked 14/10/2026
- Russia and Belarus: services suspended — Western Union, updated 29/04/2022, checked 14/10/2026
- Western Union service: rules, ID, limits and fees — İktisatbank, checked 14/10/2026
- Western Union (Turkish page) — İktisatbank, checked 14/10/2026
- Western Union Appointment Form — İktisatbank, checked 14/10/2026
- Branches and ATMs — İktisatbank, checked 14/10/2026
- Mobile app transactions — İktisatbank, checked 14/10/2026
- Western Union — Kıbrıs Vakıflar Bankası, checked 14/10/2026
- Branches — Kıbrıs Vakıflar Bankası, checked 14/10/2026
The illustrations were drawn for this guide and do not show real branches, people or documents. Western Union and the bank names belong to their owners; Turkpidya is not linked to them.
