90 day visa

[Hideaway]

My current visa ( for 90 days) expires on 15th July so I was planning on crossing to the south for a shopping trip so as to renew it, as I am not flying to the UK from Larnaca until 11th August. I have been told by a friend that there is no need to do this as because I am over 60 years of age with new rules that came in on 1st June I can stay as long as I like. Can anyone tell me if this information is correct please. My friend was adamant that this is the case as she had a 90 day visa which expired in March and she crossed the border and returned yesterday with no problems, they didn't question her out of date visa as she reminded them to check her age as she is also over 60. Thanks in advance for any information anyone can provide.

[tomsteel]

Check with the Immigration Dept at your local Police HQ (no idea where you live). Personal views/opinions expressed on here are like backsides, 'everybody has one.' At least then you'll have an official version, for as long as the current ruling is in force.

[lapta6]

Crossed over to the South two weeks ago, have not renewed our residency and our 90 visa had expired the day before. Officer said that there would be a 1 day penalty but as we were both over 60 there was nothing to pay as we could stay as long as we liked.

[the butlers wife]

Stop worrying, you are over 60 so no problems as you can stay as long as you like. If they stop you at the crossing just ask them
to check your age in your passport and then they will wave you through.


The butlers wife

[Belfast Belle]

Stop worrying, you are over 60 so no problems as you can stay as long as you like. If they stop you at the crossing just ask them
to check your age in your passport and then they will wave you through.


The butlers wife

So are you saying then that on reaching the good old age of 60, you do not need to go to immigration & pay for temp residency, just let the previous one expire & that is it, we can sit back & not worry.

[Belfast Belle]

bttt

[Navek]

Hi Hideaway,
Took a friend (UK Passport Holder) through the crossing near Pyla on 1st July.
No visa, no residency, no problem, he was over 60.
Best to tell them you're over 60,
saves them flicking through your passport,
checking their computer etc.
Which the were doing for app 5 mins.
Before it was explained the holder was over 60.
Navek

[Marions]

Whatever the rules of under or over 60 , to have or have not a visa, the one hing that matters is this:

If you wish (whenthe day dawns)) to apply for citizenship you wiill find thatone of the requirements could well be a sufficient number of 'residency' visas to cover the period you say you've been here, and proof that you have not been out of the country for more than a stated number of days in any one year.

So, if you think you will want to apply for citizenship, then you need those visas, regardless of age- iif you don't then it doesn't matter a diddly squat.l

[waddo]

Marions,

The same holds true for "Residency" as for "Citizenship" in respect of the number of "Visa's" you have in your passport - consecutive and not cumulative - so if you think that you stand a chance of either "Residency" or the mythical "Citizenship" then best to keep plodding away every year (or two) and paying your 17 pence or 71 Kurus a day to stay here, 100% within the "written" law. Of course if you have no intention of trying to gain either then if you are over 60 and you believe that, what is not actually law, would be upheld in the TRNC law courts - carry on and save your money.

I always have a laugh when my friends in cold and clammy UK ask me how much it costs me to live here and I can answer 17 pence a day!!! Cost of living is different everywhere but the 17 pence is an extra that I am more than happy to pay. My question after the reply is always the same "would you pay 17 pence a day to live here?" - strange that I have never heard a NO from any of them, lol.

[Marions]

So agree Waddo. I spend more than that in the coffee bar each day, and I bet the beer drinkers put more than 17 over the bar counter!

It is up to each person to choose, but I prefer to feel I belong, albeit in not quite the way I would like!

[johnny1]

hi all
does this apply to any nationality? what about an american citizen?

[PoshinDevon]

The thing is that this no residency for over 60s (In actual fact the term temp residency is misleading, it is really a visa extension to allow a stay in excess of 90 days) does not appear to be law....it seems to me it is some form of gentlemans agreement. Whilst I can fully understand why some may not want to pay the annual fee for residency, plus the checks etc, at the end of the day the cost per person is very small........but then again some would rather not pay if they did not have to.

The popping across the border is an option, but sometimes the immigration officers are inclined not to grant a further 90 days.....then there is the panic to sort out a visa extension. Personally I would rather be chilling by the pool than having the sweaty armpit moment at the border crossing.

However; as this over 60s thing seems to be not an official law/agreement etc for me there is always a concern as to whether at some stage the "gentlemans agreement may be revoked....could it happen, who knows. Also what about car insurance for those who stay in excess of the 90 days and do not have a visa extension -
Is your insurance valid, I am not sure it is. Would the "I am over 60 and do not need a visa extension" stand up to scrutiny in a court of law if you were unfortunate to have an accident that went to court? Again who knows.

So when we get to the big 60, if this waiver for extension of stay above 90 days is not enshrined in law, we will continue to pay the small amount due per year. Call me over cautious but thats just me!

[harita]

PoshinDevon .. We are over 60 .. Have not renewed for over 18 months ..
Go south, no questions asked ..
Holiday away .. In & out of Ercan .. No problems ..
This is our only home .. Nothing in the UK ..
What can the authorities do if we decided to stay put & not venture outside TRNC ..

[Hideaway]

Thank you so much everyone for your information and for sharing your experiences. I have no wish to apply for residency or for citizenship as I plan to sell up and leave the country in the near future, finding a buyer is taking time even though I have dropped the price by £20,000
however I live in the hopes that it will sell eventually. Meanwhile I will continue to fly home to the UK periodically when finances and time permit. Unfortunately, as I have become older I now find the heat in the summer months very oppressive and just too much to bear

[PoshinDevon]

PoshinDevon .. We are over 60 .. Have not renewed for over 18 months ..
Go south, no questions asked ..
Holiday away .. In & out of Ercan .. No problems ..
This is our only home .. Nothing in the UK ..
What can the authorities do if we decided to stay put & not venture outside TRNC ..

All I am saying is that the over 60s agreement is as far as I am aware not enshrined in law. Everyone has an opinion about it. Some are happy with what they are told that is fine, others like me would like to see something written down.

Every state has the option to deport or remove people who are not citzens or have the right to remain. Unlikely to happen of course unless for very serious crimes or misdemeanors but should not be dismissed out of hand.

Enjoy your time in the TRNC as we are, its a special place.

[Marions]

Agree but Hideaway is on the way out - then what she is doing makes sense. Good luck with the future, but make sure you keep in touch via KibKom. Selling properties at the moment seems a little difficult for many who like you want to get back to U.K. And sorry you cannot take the heat. I love it, but my body is definitely NOT made for cold weather.

I am sure you wil be O.K as you are but as Posh says - it is NOT written down, but it seems to work for those who wish to take advtange of the over 60 's 'perk'

[3dognight]

The BRS has recently updated its website pages on this topic. See the link below:

http://www.brstrnc.com/index.php/lifestyle/residency

[Belfast Belle]

PoshinDevon, is this scaremongering ,or do you know something that the insurance company's do not.
Your quote - Also what about car insurance for those who stay in excess of the 90 days and do not have a visa extension -
Is your insurance valid, I am not sure it is. Would the "I am over 60 and do not need a visa extension" stand up to scrutiny in a court of law if you were unfortunate to have an accident that went to court? Again who knows.

[tomsteel]

The only way to get fact on car insurance/'visitor' stamp in passport, over 60 years, TRNC/UK DL etc is to ask your individual insurance company exactly what is covered and when, where, who, how, why etc. Then and only then will you get peace of mind. Speculating on these forums achieves little other than a forum for discussion, which is no bad thing.

[waddo]

And once you have asked your insurance company the questions - get them to put the answers in print on there notepaper and sign/stamp it! Unless of course you have total confidence and trust in what your insurance person tells you!!! I have lived too long to beliefs the spoken word of insurance sales people and solicitors - lol.

[DieHard]

At the border in Ledra Street, it states that you have a 90 day visa now.

[PoshinDevon]

PoshinDevon, is this scaremongering ,or do you know something that the insurance company's do not.
Your quote - Also what about car insurance for those who stay in excess of the 90 days and do not have a visa extension -
Is your insurance valid, I am not sure it is. Would the "I am over 60 and do not need a visa extension" stand up to scrutiny in a court of law if you were unfortunate to have an accident that went to court? Again who knows.

As I have said in previous postings, the over 60s agreement is not law. However; it seems to be the way things are happening. In other words if you are over 60 it appears you now no longer need a visa extension above the 90 days.

As for asking your insuarance company whether there policy covers you should you be over 60 and not have a visa extension.....of course check with your insurance company and see what they say.....BUT as someone has already posted get them to document there answers so you have this to hand should it ever be needed.

Ther is no scaremongering going on........its about personal choice. We are under 60 so still have to do a visa extension.......when we reach the lofty heights of 60 we will certainly be enquiring further at the immigration office as to what the facts are then we will make a decision. At present I think the BRS website sums things up as best it can and certainly worth a read. Based on what they have to say at this moment in time we will continue to do the visa extension when we are over 60......again its personal choice.

[PapaBravo]

Post moved to another thread

[TRNCVaughan]

The thing is that this no residency for over 60s (In actual fact the term temp residency is misleading, it is really a visa extension to allow a stay in excess of 90 days) does not appear to be law....it seems to me it is some form of gentlemans agreement. Whilst I can fully understand why some may not want to pay the annual fee for residency, plus the checks etc, at the end of the day the cost per person is very small........but then again some would rather not pay if they did not have to.

The popping across the border is an option, but sometimes the immigration officers are inclined not to grant a further 90 days.....then there is the panic to sort out a visa extension. Personally I would rather be chilling by the pool than having the sweaty armpit moment at the border crossing.

However; as this over 60s thing seems to be not an official law/agreement etc for me there is always a concern as to whether at some stage the "gentlemans agreement may be revoked....could it happen, who knows. Also what about car insurance for those who stay in excess of the 90 days and do not have a visa extension -
Is your insurance valid, I am not sure it is. Would the "I am over 60 and do not need a visa extension" stand up to scrutiny in a court of law if you were unfortunate to have an accident that went to court? Again who knows.

So when we get to the big 60, if this waiver for extension of stay above 90 days is not enshrined in law, we will continue to pay the small amount due per year. Call me over cautious but thats just me!

On that basis, is your house insurance valid, and if not, why not?

[Hector]

There seems to be an awful lot of 'it seems', 'it maybe', 'this can be changed at any time', 'is not law' in relation to this issue. No one really can say and that includes the BRS what the government viewpoint / law is in relation to the over 60's other than what is usual practice at the current time (and has been for some time) that if you are over 60 you can stay or come and go as you please. Of course the law can change at any time and anyone can be thrown out of the country at any time.

Just what are the actual benefits of registering if you over 60 then? If there is a sudden change to the 90 day visa waiver for over 60's then go and register for residency.

[PoshinDevon]

There seems to be an awful lot of 'it seems', 'it maybe', 'this can be changed at any time', 'is not law' in relation to this issue. No one really can say and that includes the BRS what the government viewpoint / law is in relation to the over 60's other than what is usual practice at the current time (and has been for some time) that if you are over 60 you can stay or come and go as you please. Of course the law can change at any time and anyone can be thrown out of the country at any time.

Just what are the actual benefits of registering if you over 60 then? If there is a sudden change to the 90 day visa waiver for over 60's then go and register for residency.

Hector......not a bad suggestion. If there is a change to the over 60s waiver then of course just apply for the visa extension....makes sense. However if you have already overstayed you may....and I stress the word may have to pay a fine. As far as car insurance is concerned again I would advise that anyone concerned should contact their insurance company.

The BRS advice is probably the best guidance we can get at the moment and again its not 100% clear about those over 60 and I maintain its personal choice whether to renew your visa extension or not.

All I am trying to do is make people aware that things are not as clear cut as they may think.

[waddo]

Hector/Posh,

Here is just another thought for you to throw into the collective! Just for fun!!!!! Let us say that in the year 2000 you came here to retire, being a good and honest chap/chapes you did all the right things (because this was going to be your new home forever) and because age did not matter at that stage, you went through all the hospital checks etc and at last, after fighting the huge ques gained a 1 year visa stamp in your passport. You did this every year for five years and then your situation changed. You had to leave for personal reasons and go back to the UK for a few years, leaving your dream here for a later date when you planned to return. Now it is 2015 and you have come back again to continue the dream.

Do you now have to start again with the full health check (regardless of your current age) or do you think the TRNC will say "That's ok, because you have had no Visa stamp in your passport for the past "X" years BUT because you are over 60 you can just get come and stay as long as you like with no further checks?

Going on the basis of letting your road tax expire for three years and then having to re-register your vehicle AND pay all the back road tax, IMHO I do not think that you would get a free pass to live here. But then the copy of the BRS Fax (well one page of it anyway) that is in Turkish anyway, may well allow you to do that.

What do you think?

[PoshinDevon]

Waddo

Based on your scenario I would reckon....under 60, go thro the normal visa extension process....I.e. police forms, ank checks, health screening etc etc

Over 60.....no idea but I suppose if you went to the police station and started the process they would do the normal checks and then either send you for health screening or say no need for health screening.....or maybe they would just say go away you are over 60 .......no problem!

[PapaBravo]

I emailed Trevor Hughes (agent for Dagli Insurance) this question: "It has been suggested that you must have a valid Residency stamp in your passport for your car insurance to be valid. Are you able to provide a substantive response to this?"

This is Trevor's reply:

The Law here states that you must have a current and valid driving licence from your own country to be legal when driving, not necessarily a T R N C licence. The requirement here is that you must apply for a T R N C driving licence when you have spent more than 90 days here in any one year, otherwise the police may frown upon you for not having one. Irrespective of age and whether or not you have a valid temporary residence does not affect your application for car insurance. The premium you pay will be calculated on many factors one for instance is being under 25 years of age or over 64 years old, a little like the U K.

[waddo]

PB, Thanks for that, interesting indeed, in particular the part about "you must apply for a TRNC driving licence when you spent more than 90 days here in any one year" - wonder how many swallows fully understand that part? Noted that age and having/not having a valid temporary residence does not affect your "application" for car insurance. I never have - yet - notice a difference in premiums in the last eight years - normal price rises accepted - and I was 60 when I got here so have passed the 64 barrier some 4 years ago without any change. Maybe that bit refers to "Comprehensive" insurance and not the standard "no real cover at all" that most people have on older cars?

Good information through and thank you yet again.

[PoshinDevon]

I emailed Trevor Hughes (agent for Dagli Insurance) this question: "It has been suggested that you must have a valid Residency stamp in your passport for your car insurance to be valid. Are you able to provide a substantive response to this?"

This is Trevor's reply:

The Law here states that you must have a current and valid driving licence from your own country to be legal when driving, not necessarily a T R N C licence. The requirement here is that you must apply for a T R N C driving licence when you have spent more than 90 days here in any one year, otherwise the police may frown upon you for not having one. Irrespective of age and whether or not you have a valid temporary residence does not affect your application for car insurance. The premium you pay will be calculated on many factors one for instance is being under 25 years of age or over 64 years old, a little like the U K.

PB, Thanks forthe above....interesting


The TRNC driving licence issomething people should be aware of even the swallows .......which we are and spend over 90 days in any year here in the TRNC. We got our licences a few weeks back. Some may be under the misapprehension that popping over the border wipes the slate clean and the 90 days starts again...clearly not the case. 

Car insurance....I think the response leads to more questions.....I accept that you do not need a visa extension to apply for car insurance. However that really is not the point.......its when you come to make a claim on the insurance policy that the visa extension may and again I say may come to light. 

It seems that if you are here in excess of 90 day in any year the police may frown on those that do not have a TRNC driving licence...the question here would be are you still driving legally if you do not have a TRNC driving licence? If the police deem it to be illegal and you are involved in an accident, will the insurance company then take this into consideration when processing the claim? Also even if you have the TRNC licence will the fact that you dont have the visa extension also suddenly come into play if you do make a claim.

In my experience insurance companies will gladly take your money but when it comes to claiming they will take into consideration any information the police may have....no TRNC licence, no visa extension could have a bearing on whether they pay out. 

I know some will not want to hear or read the above and will push this out of their mind but personally believe people do need to confirm for themselves if their insurnce is valid or not.

[waddo]

Posh, I raised the point about insurance companies trying to wriggle out of paying anyway they could some years ago - the response I got back was a resounding "I don't care" so I left it at that. I have tried to get it in print from my insurance company about cover if you have neither visa or license but that is the same as trying to get your Kocan - always something missing that stops it happening!! Best for anyone who worries to seek out the truth for themselves.

[PoshinDevon]

Waddo....agree 100%.

Seems to be to many IFs and BUTs for me which is why we have decided that getting a TRNC licence and doing the visa extension works for us. Its a difficult area with to many pitfalls as far as we are concerned so are trying to remain as legal as possible.

Insurance companies will investigate fully before paying out on a claim.

Good discussion which hopefully gives food for thought.

Time now for a beer