Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

After having to cancel a flight ourselves, having flights cancelled by the airline we finally managed to return to the TRNC. Our experience of our travel from the U.K. to Ercan is below. Hope this may prove useful!

We flew from Heathrow to Ercan via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines. Flight departed 11:25am with a 2hr stop/flight change in Istanbul arriving at Ercan at 9pm.

We had screen shots and print outs of all documents. Documents required before flying were:-

1. Proof of vaccination.
2. Proof of PCR test/Fit to fly.
3. Adapass for entry to TRNC.

Proof of vaccination was obtained via our NHS app. PCR test was done by Express Test walk in at Gatwick Airport. This has to be carried out < 72 hrs before flight. As our flight was on Tue 7 Sept we booked the test for 9am Sun 5 Sept. Express Test is in Gatwick North Terminal arrivals hall. Well signposted. Efficient service. Advised test results should be available by 10pm following day but may take up to 48hrs. We received our results at 1030am. Took screenshot of results. Our overnight hotel also printed results for us.

Ada Pass
https://adapass.gov.ct.tr/

Arrivals from overseas need to complete the information required on the Adapass form. Press the grey tab marked Passengers. This takes you to the form for overseas arrivals. Complete information on form. Plus you need to scan the QR/Barcode on your proof of vaccination document. There is also the option to upload your proof of PCR test, however if it has no QR/barcode then this cannot be done. It is not necessary in order to get the pass. Once form completed and vaccination documentation uploaded, the final page come up. Press the tab “save to pdf”. The Adapass will be saved as a pdf file on your phone. There will be a QR code in the top right hand corner. You can now screenshot the pass and print. Again our hotel printed out the pass. If you cannot get the Adapass link to work there is an amnesty until 13 Sept, just bring all documents. Wether this amnesty will be extended due to many being unable to obtain the Adapass I am not sure.

At Heathrow all paperwork less the Adapass was examined at check in. Printouts were easier. At Istanbul all paperwork plus Adapass was checked before boarding flight.. On arrival at Ercan there were 2 queues. One for those with no Adapass and one for those with Adapass. Adapass queue shorter. All paperwork checked. If ok then on to passport control, collect baggage and go.

If you have all correct documentation it is fairly easy. Print outs were a lot easier to check/manage. Many were struggling to find documents saved in their phones, plus those checking were having difficulties reading them. Those missing documents or something not correct were sent for health check.

We landed at 9pm and we’re in our place by 10pm.

We have our printed Adapass and NHS proof of vaccination with us at all times. Having been here a few days we have yet to be asked to produce documents. We do know some establishments are checking but the majority we have been to are not. There is often a temp sensor, sanitiser and a book to enter contact details but all appear to be largely ignored.

Glad to be back after 21 months.

I thought as Turkey was on the Red list you were not allowed to fly there unless you had a compelling reason.
Were you questioned on this?
Tia

No one questioned us on why we were travelling via Turkey.

Plenty of border force around. Did not see any police.

If we were questioned we were going to say we were transiting via Istanbul airport and not officially entering Turkey. We would also produce our Kocan, show old residency stamps and tell them we were returning to our property in North Cyprus (Classed as Cyprus which is not red)

We had no problems at all and there were a good number of U.K. citizens flying out on a half empty aircraft.

Did you have to quarantine when you arrived. I thought coming through Istanbul you had to. We are looking at coming out on 25th September but cannot book till a few days before.

Brend wrote: ↑

Fri 10 Sep 2021 11:49 am

Did you have to quarantine when you arrived. I thought coming through Istanbul you had to. We are looking at coming out on 25th September but cannot book till a few days before.

We travelled Heathrow- Istanbul (Transit for 2hrs in airport) - Ercan.

When you get off the aircraft in Istanbul you are a transit passenger with an onward connection. As you are not passing thro passport control/immigration you have not entered Turkey.

The U.K. was a red country but as from last week is classed as an Orange country as far as the TRNC is concerned. You can enter without quarantine if fully vaccinated and with PCR test plus correct documentation. Unvaccinated arrivals from U.K. have to quarantine for 5 days.

Therefore on arrival in the TRNC you are classed as having arrived from the U.K.

No quarantine providing you have had 2 x vaccinations and also have had a PCR test < 72 hrs before flight.

Do I not recall the (paper) passenger information form we filled in a couple of weeks ago saying something like “Countries you have set foot in in the last ten days.”? Or was that travelling somewhere else?

I would have thought the fact that you were moving around Istanbul airport for two hours (as we were) meant that the risk of catching Covid was as high (if actually not higher) than simply staying as a tourist somewhere in the country.

ETA: Turkey is now classed as an Amber country for entry into the TRNC so the above point is moot.

Thankyou both. was travelling to larnaca but think I'll go Turkish air to Ercan now.

Question for PoshinDevon - “ on your return to the UK using the reverse procedure, do you have to quarantine in a hotel as I thought the UK still classed Turkey as Red or are you saying that Istanbul Airport is Orange and therefore expensive hotel quarantine is not needed on return to the UK?”
In anticipation of an answer
Thanks

We have not booked our return flight. We own a property here and usually are on island for about 8 months in every year. In normal circumstances we have always completed residency as we stay for prolonged periods of time and don’t want the hassle or worry about how long we have stayed and when we must leave. For this trip because we own a property we were allowed 90 days stay (Stamped in passport) so will stay up to that, providing the Covid situation doesn’t deteriorate. We will not apply for residency again this time as there appear to be delays in the process but will in 2022 when the situation hopefully has improved .

To answer your question, we have taken a slight risk due to Turkey being a “red” country as far as the U.K. is concerned. Returning via Turkey to U.K. at present means quarantine as flights from anywhere in Turkey to U.K. are classed as red. It may well go to amber over the next 3 months or by the time we book a return flight. If amber we can return via Turkey and home quarantine. If Turkey is still red then we will likely book a flight to return via Larnaca. There is a risk we will get a lecture from the ROC immigration control for arriving at Ercan and leaving via Larnaca but happy to accept this. The whole of the island of Cyprus currently has no quarantine on return to the U.K. This of course may change. Hence we are keeping our options open with regards to how and when we return.

If things go wrong and both Turkey and Cyprus are classed by the U.K. as red countries there is normally a weeks notice so we will take advantage of this and book flights to return. Of course we could also decide to just sit tight and start the residency process again.

There are many like who have travelled out either U.K. to Ercan or U.K. to Larnaca. There were a good number on our flight from the U.K. travelling to Ercan. Entry via Ercan from the U.K. always means a transit in Istanbul. There were many others travelling from other countries via Turkey to Ercan. Currently for entry into the TRNC the U.K. is classed as an amber country. The same regulations apply for those entering from other countries. Providing you comply with regulations for entry, there is no problem, If arriving via Larnaca you must comply by the regulations of the ROC and when you get to the border ensure you comply with the regulations for entering the TRNC. We just felt it was easier to have one entry point to comply with.

I appreciate that those travelling for a shorter period or maybe a holiday cannot do as we have. However; I do not make the regulations for entry to the TRNC or the U.K. but this is how it is. You must be flexible, know that the rules can change at short notice, understand the options and make the right choice depending on your own personal circumstances.

Anyone who has a specific question just send a pm and I will try to answer if I can. Hope this helps those who want to travel to the TRNC. It can be done!

Posh you can always go via Turkey and quarantine in a green or amber country like the Argentinian Players are in Croatia Malta Portugal
Son who lived in Poland booked a Malta Holiday to avoid the then quarantine on amber countries at the time but failed to gain entry as a single jab re booked for croatia 10 days holiday no quarantine .

PoshinDevon. Some friends of mine who live up the road have found an answer to all this rubbish and avoided two thousand pounds quarantine.

1) Flying one way on really cheap flight to Istanbul from Ercan.
2) A bit off a wait in Istanbul but not bad.
3) Fly from Istanbul to Tirana in Albania and stay 11 nights in a 5 star hotel (super place) full board for 200 pounds.
4) Fly back via Ryan Air to UK not sure if its Leeds (but way up North) for 45 pounds and no quarantine in UK. Albania is not considered a high risk by UK.

Compare that lot to 2000 pound each to stay at a crappy Best Western Hotel. No brainer!!!!

benjaminbutton wrote: ↑

Sat 11 Sep 2021 1:16 pm

PoshinDevon. Some friends of mine who live up the road have found an answer to all this rubbish and avoided two thousand pounds quarantine.

1) Flying one way on really cheap flight to Istanbul from Ercan.
2) A bit off a wait in Istanbul but not bad.
3) Fly from Istanbul to Tirana in Albania and stay 11 nights in a 5 star hotel (super place) full board for 200 pounds.
4) Fly back via Ryan Air to UK not sure if its Leeds (but way up North) for 45 pounds and no quarantine in UK. Albania is not considered a high risk by UK.

Compare that lot to 2000 pound each to stay at a crappy Best Western Hotel. No brainer!!!!

That is certainly an option!

Just so we understand a little more…..

What are the entry criteria for Albania?
If we arrive Ercan via Istanbul does Albania class this as arriving from Turkey, Cyprus??
Is it quarantine in the 5 star hotel or are you free to go out and about?
Hotel name?

Just trying to understand a little more to be able to compare options once the time comes to return to U.K.

Of course a lot could change in the next 3 months!

We will just watch and monitor the situation and then make a decision about return flight. No rush as we have only just arrived!