NEW RULES 0VER 60-PENSIONERS FOR RESIDENCY VISA

[annanirvanna]

I have read recently on a number of ex-pat sites that the rules for residency for over 60's receiving pensions have been relaxed. There is so much conflicting information on this topic I now post this thread to try and ascertain the facts (that is if the government has deemed to make this change accessible in the 'public domain' yet).

Do we still need to apply/re-apply for Visa's every year or two or is it true the govt. now allows over 60's to remain without having to apply/pay at all?

Do we apply but use a streamlined system of one set of papers at one central office and will get res.visa without major problems?

Is there a cost for the new streamlined system? If so which is the correct fee?

Anything else we need to know not covered above?

Anyone who can now provide the rules for any new system for over 60-pensioners could they please reply. This will greatly help me, plus loads of other ex-pats who, from reading their threads are still not privy to accurate facts. Many thanks Kibkomers

[stellasstar1]

Hi, it was all in last Saturday's Cyprus Today. If you read the other thread, it is all their, but THERE IS NOTHING about not having to renew residency for the over 60's in the paper. If you are over 60 you either renew residency every 1 or 2 years(although there is talk of every 3 years) or take out permanent residency if you have renewed your residency for 5 years. The cost for every 2 years is the same for 1 year but times 2. I can't give you a figure as I haven't been recently, and it's probably changed.

[annanirvanna]

Cheers StellaStar. Many thanks for the reply. Let's hope they do make it easier for everyone wanting to get renewals &/or residency. Far too much bureaucratic tape in this world and no consideration for the hassle it causes for the more elderly folk who are forced to run from office to office and spend hours queuing etc. to get their papers in order.

I will to try & locate the posting I read yesterday, (think it may be on the British ExPat site). I'll post which site if I find it again on this thread so other interested parties can have a look at it and then comment if they wish. The postings also discussed the costs and I believe some-one thought it would be about 1500TL. As I said I'm speaking from what I read yesterday and it's now another day & the grey matter is sluggish .

[Marions]

Just a quickie response. This has been discussed a lot recently, and opinions given and..................
1. when yuou come best apply for temp res, as this idea of no need over 60 means you won't have peace of mind, and won't be able to get a driving licence. there seems to be no official ruling on this.
2. Permanet residency has been resotre,d but you need to be here for 5 years before applying, so it won't affect you just yet.
3. tlak to me about it when you come, becuase it might change by then.
4. costs vary year after year. The perm res is now to be 1300tl, but the annual sum is under 200tl , but now you can get 2 years (for twice the annual cost) plus the cost of some stamps etc.
5. don't worry your pretty little head about it for now -things change so much.

the British Residents Society have something on their web page http://www.brstrnc.com, but really best to come and get a temp res at least it gives a sense of belonging.

[annanirvanna]

Hi Marion - How R U, OK I hope. Thanks for that my dear, as always good advice from you. Must get myself sorted & get over for a holiday/recce ASAP, no good dithering here.

Which is the best option do you think for me to get to TRNC:-

1. fly Egypt-Larnaca then across the green line to TRNC or
2. fly Egypt - Turkey -TRNC airport?.

Wonder how this thread will go - will it get the HOT sign that my other one has X

[Marions]

you seem to want to generate heat, Anna, and who knows whether this thread will get a red hot rating. I doubt it, because this is one that gets warmed up periodically but has worn out much of its fire.

Coming over? Well I normally say use Ercan and support TRNC but quite honestly to fly to Turkey and then back will take you more than twice as long and probably cost twice as much. You will be faced with something like a £50 taxi fare from Larnaca to TRNC,but there are oother options such as a bus, or maybe a shared taxi. However, I would say (and I hate tohave to) that travelling Egypt to Larnaca would be the easiest option for you. (and there are other considerations too but won't go in to that now). make investigations as I could be wrong, but you woul dbe adding on about 2 hours flying time I reckon at least.

yes, you have to do a reckie!

Excuse me for now. midnnight oil to burn and a busy day tomorrow. May all your plans go well

[Keithcaley]

annanirvanna, I found links to the 'Cyprus Today' article that someone posted elsewhere: -

http://i317.photobucket.com/albums/mm39 ... dc23c9.jpg

http://i317.photobucket.com/albums/mm39 ... 3033da.jpg

So you can make your own mind up about what it means

[JoandJelly]

For info, when I renewed my annual residency in July it was 213TL per person plus 8.50TL stamps plus 135TL for blood test/x-ray.

[gemini39]

Can I ask if this is for over 60's ?

[annanirvanna]

Thanks to all for your help once again. (Need to make a 'smilie' for superstar.

Marions hope you got some good sleep At last I got to sleep before dawn last night as I refused to play games on my IPAD2 and get sucked in!!! and it's now a bit cooler.

JoandJelly cheers for the detailed b/down for annual renewal

KeithCaley - cheers mate will check the link out after I've had brekkie

[annanirvanna]

Read the article KeithCaley & I am really glad that the red tape has been streamlined for all of you.

One quickie: Will I be required to produce a copy of my birth cert.? I lost it years and years ago. Normally producing my marriage cert. (which shows my date of birth) as an alternative legal document has sufficed in the past.

[ozankoys]

You will not need to produce your birth certificate, only passport and marriage certificate if applicable.
Forgive me for saying this but surely these are details you need not concern yourself with yet, you have not even visited to see if you would like to live here!

[annanirvanna]

Thank you Ozenkoys for the details of what is obligatory docs to be provide the immigration.

As for my birth cert question, no I do not think I am planning ahead too early!. If the birth cert was a pre-requisite I would have to make application from the UK for a replacement (that takes time). Then to have the document posted to me takes even longer. Post takes 8 -12 weeks to reach us here in the desert region from the UK. If it gets lost on it's way, (as a number of my other official post has), then I would have to go thru the process again. I have enough to sort out as it is, so I will always check what I need to prioritise, whether I end up in TRNC or another country.

[Rambling Rose]

Anne: I think you are wise to check in advance - so many people dont and then complain because it wasnt as they expected.

On the other hand, it is sometimes difficult to advise, because they DO have a habit of moving the goalposts! Understandandable because it is a new country and the influx of expats (and not just Brits) is comparatively recent, but frustrating and leads to insecurity. The good side is they are listening and sometimes make concessions - albeit some might think too little and too late!

If I may be forgiven for going ot, for a moment, when are you thinking of coming? Just to say the next couple of months will be good climate wise (not too hot to be rushing around investigating etc), Flights, airports, etc. get busy over Christmas period and prices generally tend to rise. Jan and Feb tend to be wet and windy.

[annanirvanna]

Hi RamblingRose, thanks for your kind words. ASAP re: a trip over as I need a serious break - it's doing my head in here AArgh,

I will be checking with a friend - she knows someone who regularly flies from where I live (Dahab) to Cyprus for his diving business. So I will ask him the ins & outs of flights etc. Hopefully want to come over before Christmas - also want to check out a possible property that is available to rent. When I have firmer details will let you all know & will probably have to ask for more advice how to get from airport to you in north - a bus was mentioned so that may be a good cheap option.

I can just see the border guards scratching their heads and giving me strange looks when they see my passport with all the Egyptian Visa stamps in it, ha ha

Good night all my dear Kibkomer friends

[sophie]

One matter I would consider important for everyone and the Over 60's debacle. Nothwithstanding the fact that the papers said it all came into force last Friday, I still suspect it might have to be passed by the Government first. However a friend of mine is going to Lefkosa tomorrow to give it a try, so w';ll see how she gets on. It's really a case of working out your finances, as there are no perks to getting a permanent residency other than the lack of hassle and the hope that you live long enough to get your monies worth!!

[stellasstar1]

Also another point to remember about permanent residency is I'm sure they would stamp your passport. Sooooo if you are one of the people that are also pretending to the English Government that you are still living in England, that could cause a problem should anyone in England as to see your passport.

[Keithcaley]

...that could cause a problem should anyone in England as to see your passport.

Tell 'em you lost it!

Tell 'em you never had one in the first place...

Tell 'em you've never been further South than the Isle of Wight

[ozankoys]

The Driving School have phoned me this morning and have brought up a new rule if I understood them correctly. They are saying that you cannot have been out of the country for more than 40 days in the last year to qualify for the permanent residency. Anyone else heard this?
Am going to go there next week to see how we get on.

[annanirvanna]

Oh those pesky 'mobile' goal posts!. Bit like where I am, they make the rules up us they go along to A) keep us guessing and B) to keep those in charge feeling ever ever so very important

Fingers crossed for you for next week

[Deniz1]

I will be ok then havnt been anywhere for 9 years.

[Rambling Rose]

When I got permanent residence they DIDN'T stamp my passport, and when I renewed my passport of course it was virgin, which (when I went to Istanbul) resuted in a very worried man at Passport control here, who wanted to know how the **** I got here and how long I had been here. Before I had time to explain and dig out the permit (another very scrappy bit of paper btw) he looked again said "OH, I see, never mind, I find you on computer" Before I had time to explain and dig out the permit, three clicks, a beaming smile and he waved me through.

[Deniz1]

Did you then have to buy a temp visa for turkey ?

[Mel7348]

Yes, permanent residencey is not a passport and they go by passport. The temp visa being for 3/12. Last year went to Turkey twice within the 3/12 and they were obviously disappointed that I did not need to pay for the second visit, they insisted on counting the number of days left to run on a calendar and recounted 3 more times as I only just scraped in and out. Almost but not quite felt guilty.

[Deniz1]

They should be the guilty ones for making us pay!

[Deniz1]

A turkish friend had to pay 480$for a visa to go to UK this week from TRNC and it is done by the Italian embassy not the turkish one.Talk about round the houses

[mamachina]

Once again, unfortunately the goal posts have been moved!! News from someone who went to get residency this week say they would give a 2 year stamp - but still needed muktars letter and bank statements etc - which is NOT what was agreed, but did say they would be phased out by the end of the yearr - maybe they have not been informed yet!? Also, Permanent certainly not finally agreed (which BRS did say was still being worked on) and that may still mean some sort of medical test and MORE money! I will certainly NOT be going for that!
Wouldnt it be nice if when they stated something was so, and agreed it could be publicised, they didnt change their minds the following week!

[annanirvanna]

I stand by my reply (post 20 above) MamaChina Can't have things easy for us can we, that would be too much like wishful thinking.

I wish all the Kibkomers brave enough to make their applications good luck and hope your attempts go thru easy (ish) and not to many 'curved balls'.

All of you should all get together and write a book - I am sure it would make intense reading & demonstate to other expats around the world how easy they have it

[cyprusishome]

Surely it is an easy decision to make, medical yes or no, why all the thinking? Suppose that is an easy answer, they want to continue getting as much blood out of us as possible.

One thing for certain, at 1.300tl I would have considered, any more not a chance just not cost effective. If they made the cost sensible there would be a charge from ex pats to get it. There is one problem, everybody gets perm. res. there would need to be a cull of immigration staff and nobody would want that!!