Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Hi. Does anyone know if there is any problem or fines from flying into larnaca, and flying back to UK from ercan?

Sorry, forgot to mention that I have residency.

My current understanding is: -

It could depend on whether you have ever done that before...

If you have done that since Brexit, then the Greek Cypriot side may consider that you are still 'On the Island' (because they will not have any record of you actually leaving) and penalise you for 'Overstaying' when you arrive at Larnaca.

If you've never done it before, then it won't be a problem when you arrive at Larnaca or leave via Ercan - this time.

However it could create difficulties if you want to enter the South again - either via Larnaca or by crossing the Green Line from the North.

The south if you are allowed to enter give you 90 days out of 180, flying out of ercan does not stop this. If you do not fly out of the south within the 90 days I assume you go on the stop list. People have arrived and been turned around so like Keith says it depends on your previous travel arrangements after Brexit
Not sure whether the same rules apply if you have an EU passport.

Unless you have residency in the South or an EU passport, the 90 days you are given at Larnaca will not be reset until you leave via a ROC port. Leaving the TRNC via air or land does not count. If you arrive in ROC in the future they will have no record of you leaving and you may be subject to a fine for overstaying and/or refused entry and/or put on a stop list so you are prevented from travelling to ROC for a period of time, can be up to 5 years. The best advice is always come and go via the same side airport.

Thanks for all the information. I have a new British passport, and have walked over to the south twice last year. So I presume this is OK?

Yes, going over the crossing points does not set off the ROC 90 days but it can set off the 90 days in 180 days that the TRNC give. After 90 days you may be prevented from travelling South for another 90 days.

There are two separate "90 in 180 days" systems for the Brits relating to the South.

One is entry and exit from the island, as mentioned above, coming in to Larnaca, Paphos or a port triggers an automatic counter of the days you are there, using a system likened to the Schengen visa. Your days only count when on the island. If you leave via Ercan or a port in the North, then your days are still being counted until you leave via an airport or port in the South.

The other is crossing North to South, which the RoC 'generously' allow due to them not considering it a border. With this, a 90 day count starts the first time you cross, and from day 91 you cannot cross again until day 181 at the earliest. The next time you cross the count starts again.

Steveodp, interesting - so what happens when you go South & have your passport scanned? Presumably, your 90 days starts from then? When you cross back again without having your passport scanned - via SBA crossing point OR they just wave you through because they can’t be bothered - your 90 days must continue to count down until the next time you cross?

So next time you go to the South via a non-SBA crossing point why - when your passport is scanned again - what happens then? You never left the South so how can you come back again??

Over the years I have been crossing back and forth I have never had my amount of days (90 in 180) challenged and until a few years ago I stuck rigidly to the 90/180 system but for the last 2 years I have not bothered with it! A lot of times when crossing at Metahan in the early morning I just get waved through without a scan at all in either directions - the system is there but it is hit and miss it seems.

I understand the same (hit and miss) system is not applied if you fly in/out from the South but having never done so I can’t confirm that.

In effect it seems like the whole thing is dependent upon volume of traffic, time of day, shift change overs, police on their mobiles, holiday periods in the South, muscle flexing by authorities and sheer luck! I find it best just to smile and play the game, being a third world citizen, unable to speak Greek or Turkish and elderly I can act confused by the constant change in rules - lol.

They don't need to check you leaving the South when crossing into the North, via SBA or wherever, you can stay for the full 90 days if you wish (and be an illegal over-stayer for longer than that), it's when trying to cross into the South from day 91 to 180 that you 'should' have an issue. However, what I described it what the rules/regs allow - as you say, what actually happens is very dependent on 'this is Cyprus'...

...what actually happens is very dependent on 'this is Cyprus'...

90/180 EU rule.
Its effected so many travel plans.
I haven't used Larnaca now for about 4 yrs. My 180 days allowance has to be carefully planed for other trips.
UK to ROC remain very well priced and were pre brexit, the route of choice.

Ercan in and out is not a massive hassle but prices continue to rise.
Another Brexit disaster?
I remain hopeful about securing an Irish passport for freedom of travel once again.
On other matters . After 5 years. Has the UK won anything at all?