Advice needed for visiting Australian friend

smwredd


Joined: 07/10/2009
Posts: 260

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 08:38

Have someone visiting from Australia. Flying via Istanbul to Ercan. What type of Visa is required, any problems regarding going South. Who to speak to for advice on these issues.

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 10:00

No problems getting to Istanbul or Ercan, but non-EU citizens may have a problem going South.

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 10:09

Msg 2

No they don't! Travelled South on a NZ Passport many times without incident.



Richard

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 10:46

I did say "may".

I do believe that the GC immigration "rules" as they currently stand, treat EU and Non-EU citizens differently when it comes to movement across the green line.

Whether they are applied or not, is entirely another question.

smwredd


Joined: 07/10/2009
Posts: 260

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 13:37

As I have two conflicting replies, who would be the best people to speak to who could give me a definitive answer. Feel it might be difficult with Police as language problem.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 13:41

Well as your guests are arriving by what the south deem an illegal point of entry I think they may well be treated to some abuse... just like home really!

Pugwash


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 1797

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 13:42

The police or immigration here will not be of any help as it is not a problem at all for them. For the GC's the "visitor" is using an "illegal" entry point into the Republic Of Cyprus and as such could be refused, in practice they do not unless they were given a good reason to.

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 14:41

Exactly.

They can't refuse free movement to an EU citizen, but Australia isn't in the EU and, in theory, Australians could be refused entry, by the GCs.

Whether they will be on the day, remains to be seen.

Krin52


Joined: 25/08/2008
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 15:31

I have never ever had any problem going across to the south, in fact when they see the Australian passport, the usually just wave us through!

YFred


Joined: 06/05/2009
Posts: 1471

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 15:34

Most important advice is to walk the right way up.



BTW the bath water runs anti-clockwise, so as it does not shock them.

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 15:37

msg 9,



They wave most people through. However, they do reserve the right to be a real pain in the arse about it, if they want to.

jerryj


Joined: 25/10/2009
Posts: 56

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 16:21

For the past two years, our son (British) his wife (Aussie) and grandson (half and half), visited here from Sydney. Came through Larnaca, then travelled to Kyrenia where we live. NO visa's needed for either side, except the stamp at the TRNC border. We travelled around the island extensively and had NO problems at all either South or North.



Hope this puts your mind at rest.

Visitor


Joined: 19/08/2010
Posts: 492

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 16:30

I think they issue is the port of entry for non EU citizens. So if they enter vie Ercan but then try to leave via Larnaca they could be theoretically arrested. Whereas EU citizens have freedom of movement.



For further advise check



http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/cyprus

smwredd


Joined: 07/10/2009
Posts: 260

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 16:31

This advice was given on the Lonely Planet website which I think I will adhere to. It is the arriving through Ercan which causes the problems.



"The Republic of Cyprus 'the south' does not recognise any port of entry whether by Air or by Sea into the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus 'the north' and defines them as 'Illeagal Points of Entry' and if you use them, you can be denied entry at the border, or (if you somehow manage to get past the border) deported when or if found out. However, as 'the south' is now in the EU it has to give it's citizens (and those of all other EU countries) freedom of travel by right of the European Convention of Human Rights, so if you have an EU Passport you can arrive and depart from where you like. The government of 'the south' did try to prosecute one of it's citizen's for flying into 'the north's' Ercan Airport, but on being threatened with being taken to the European Court of Human Rights (with associated costs and compensation payment) backed

smwredd


Joined: 07/10/2009
Posts: 260

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 16:33

down very rapidly.

HOWEVER, none of this applies to holders of non EU passports which is why the poster above was denied entry using their Australian/New Zealand Passports, and the same would apply to a US Passport holder.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 16:35

Jerry,



What is very salient here is the initial point of entry... just by luck you entered by Larnaca, so no problem but the poster's guest is entering via Ercan a very different situation. I would not venture south expecting to get in under these circumstances. It will be interesting to see. I was at the border when some US citizens in the same situation were given the knock-back.

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 17:03

Msg 16

Tosh! With multiple of in's & out's through Ercan and 6 years of 'temporary visitor' stamps from TRNC, I've never had any problem entering the South side, which I've done on numerous occasions. Even my 'blue' small booklet of my TRNC address is stapled onto the back page of my NZ passport which is scrutinised every time by the GC immigration/passport control.



Richard

Visitor


Joined: 19/08/2010
Posts: 492

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 17:20

The information I posted is from an Australian government site



http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/cyprus



I think you may get away with crossing but if you try to leave via Larnaca or Paphos that maybe another story

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 18:16

Brinsley, just because one person has got away with it for years does not mean this person will.

What matters is which initial point of entry is used on the very first visit to the island.

Did you enter via Ercan on your very first visit?

As I have witnessed non-EU citizens being refused entry at Metehan for this very reason I would not be as confident as you seem to be. As it is I hope they have no trouble but sod's law says somebody will incur the wrath of the GC Immigration authorities if they're feeling liverish or obstructive for some perceived sleight occasioned by entry via Ercan.

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 18:34

Gavin

I've always and ever only entered Cyprus through Ercan & Gecitkale airports. For me to 'lucky' from 2004 onwards on over two dozen visits to the South beggars belief! Mis/dis-information rules once again on C44!



Richard

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 18:38

My sister and brother in law flew in from Perth to Laranca, no problems whats so ever crossing both ways. I do appreciate that to come in via Ercan then out from Larnaca may be difficult. x

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 18:43

You are both right.



Technically the RoC could refuse to allow a non EU citizen to cross from north to south, if the said person has entered Cyprus via the North. In practice they have not done this for those with non EU cizitizenships of countries that do not require a visa to enter the RoC in any systematic way that I am aware of.



My NZ partner, with temp residency of TRNC, has crossed hundreds of times over many years and has only ever entered Cyprus via the North. We have only ever had a problem once at the Ledra Palace foot crossing and even then after 40 minutes or so of arguing, back and forth and humming and hahing she was eventualy allowed to cross.

Visitor


Joined: 19/08/2010
Posts: 492

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 18:44

Well thats great - I suggest you advise the Australian authorities and embassy in Nicosia to update the info they provide.

rowlo



Joined: 12/10/2008
Posts: 4796

Message Posted:
29/04/2011 18:47

i have never had my passport checked by greek customs at the border ( metahan ) and i have entered via ercan and departed via larnaca / paphos numerous times .

kazzy1010


Joined: 01/05/2011
Posts: 1

Message Posted:
01/05/2011 09:41

I am an Australian and travelled to Cyprus many times. Over 18 times in the past six years. I fly into the south a friend picks me up from Larnaca airport," He is English" he drives to the north to Catalkoy were he lives.

I spend at least 6 to 8 weeks in the north and pop over the boarder at least two or three times. The Greek or Turkish at boarder security have never given me one once of trouble.

I have stamps of TRNC and Cyprus " both sides" Stamped in my passport for all to see. No Worries if your travelling no special visa, have a great time I do.