3 Day Only Visa?

[johnerebus]

I went South yesterday with a friend. On our return The TRNC customs insisted on giving the friend who wanted a 90 day visa only 3 days. The official said this was the new law and that my friend has to apply for residency if she wants to stay longer in the North. Can anyone confirm or not this "new" law please?

[Belfast Belle]

How old was your friend.

[johnerebus]

54

[kaiserphil]

Maybe the government is short of funds? Or, as has been the case before, the "new law" doesn't exist.

[Dalartokat]

Did your friend actually ask for a 90 day visa, just wondering if your friend did and it upset this person.

[waddo]

How long has the friend lived here? If it is more than 90 days then it is not a new law, it has always been the law!

[mickhm]

When we moved here 5 yrs ago some friends took us South in the 90 day period and on the way back the immigration chap did some calculations and gave us a visa for 56 days.

[waz-24-7]

It is plausible that this type of VISA issues will arise when crossing south If and when we leave the European Union.
The ROC will have no obligation to grant UK aliens VISA to enter the European Union.

[elizabeth]

It is plausible that this type of VISA issues will arise when crossing south If and when we leave the European Union.
The ROC will have no obligation to grant UK aliens VISA to enter the European Union.

But will they be willing to turn away the euros that UK aliens spend over there

[waz-24-7]

Elizabeth,
I would expect a degree of animosity against ex pat movements from the North into the South for reasons well known.
Tourists flying into Paphos or Larnaca will be welcomed with open arms to spend those euros. There will be no legal right to enter the South. I wouldn't mind betting there may be a small charge for a tourist VISA as one does in say Egypt.

[mokfey]

Did your friend enter the TRNC some three months ago and has perhaps used up 87 days of a previously granted 90 day visa? They would not issue a further 90 day visa if she holds a current one. She would be required to quit the TRNC to discharge that visa and then re-apply on a return visit.

[kerry 6138]

Was -- and lets ignore any posible reciprical agreement , anyone who's been in North Cyprus long enough knows full well the difficulty crossing the green line if the south choose to be difficult , but lets not miss a opportunity to scare people into voting IN.

there is a supposed gentlemans agreement for over 60's not needing to apply for annual permits, this maybe immigration cracking down on under 60's using the crossing to avoid applying.

[tomsteel]

How has this thread gone so quickly off topic with mention of north-south animosity, possible Brixet, RoC difficulties, et al? The point raised was the 3 day visa issued by the TRNC Immigration authority upon return here. The visitor is under 60, so the nub of the question, as raised by mokfey, is - has the original 90 day visa expired? If so, follow the rules!

[Dalartokat]

Until the OP comes back to tell everyone, what's the problem, everyone's talking, keeps the forum going.

[tomsteel]

Agreed, but posters should keep to the theme of the original topic, not roam off into their 'wonderland'.

[laptatony]

Surely if the law has changed a lot of people will have been affected and so far it appears only one person has had reduced period of time. I think they were just unlucky but I have never understood why the Government do not restrict the number of times you can get 90 days. They are missing out on a good source of income.

[Dalartokat]

Agreed, but posters should keep to the theme of the original topic, not roam off into their 'wonderland'.

Nobody in this thread is going off into "wonderland" they have expressed their opinions or thoughts on the subject until the original poster replies back, there is nothing wrong with doing that in this instance.

[waz-24-7]

Kerry,
The facts are that whilst members of the EU.; UK citizens have right of passage and entry into other member states including the ROC.
Outside of the European Union that right is forfeited. Certainly I would expect negotiation, once again, with individual EU countries to allow freedoms of movement. This could take years to sort.
However it is apparent that many people seek to re claim our borders and close the door to many. I suspect that stance will make our own negotiations rather more difficult. This is fact. be scared if you want Or just smell the coffee and ensure you understand ALL the implications of leaving the EU.

[frontalman]

As they are not issuing paper visas any more how did he know he was only getting three days. Did he say something first, or was he told first that it was three days? If he asked for 90 days instead of just assuming he would get it, then I suspect he knew this might happen.

[johnerebus]

Clarifications explanations and elucidations which hopefully, will attract definitive answers on the original topic. Apologies for the brevity of the original that caused much chasing around the houses.

Yes my friend has been here for many months now. Since her arrival she has crossed to the South many times and received 90 day extensions.. She is 54 years of age.

Two days ago she was told simultaneously as her passport was handed back to her by the official that her remaining legal time for staying was 3 days only. My friend did not ask for a 90 day extension as she handed over her passport, assuming the 90 days would automatically apply as it had done previously. She queried this 3 day term when her passport was returned and it was reiterated by the official. The official then told her she had to apply for residency if she wanted to legally stay longer.

My friend then walked the 10 or so paces and asked the same question (why only 3 days?) of the woman in the information kiosk next to the border control windows. My friend received the same answer there as the one from the border control official, i.e. she has to apply for residency if she wants to stay for more than 3 days.

These are the facts guys and hopefully someone will be able to help with a definitive and final answer to the original question, "Can anyone confirm or not this "new" law please?"

Thanks in advance.

[snd1966]

Unfortunately the written law states after 90 days you have to apply to residency but it has hardly ever been enforced. At present there is a gentleman's agreement for over 60's but it is not law.
They are even getting fussier at Ercan and people have been given 30 days especially non Europeans but the law. We always seem to be in the hands of who is on that day especially on the green line as there seems to be no law, I was shown a law book pre 74 which stated the recognised ports of entry when I queried why my dog had to do 90 days quarantine threatened 180 days as he arrived through Metehan but when shown I noticed Larnaka was a registered entry point and he was allowed home.

3 days does not give you a lot of time, it maybe worth a trip to Turkey or another visit across the border, even if she does apply for residency as this will take at least 2 weeks as she will be here without a valid visa.

Good luck

[Deniz1]

It may have happened to many people but they dont all post on here or even read it.

[waddo]

Over the past 9 years I am aware that it has happened quite often. More often than not those folk who do not want to pay out the huge annual sum of around 250TL to remain within the law will refuse to talk about it - saying instead that we only stay here for 90 days then go away for a couple of days and come back again for a new visa (That is to leave the Island and NOT to just go South) and another "Free" 90 days. Many of the people I know who do not have residency have commented on the fact that coming back from the South they have only received 7 or 14 or 30 days instead of the 90 expected.

It is the law and has been since 1974 that if you stay for over 90 days then you must apply for residency - there is no getting around it legally.
I can post the URL for the law for you if you wish but it is confusing when you find you have to apply to the Captain of the ship first - lol.

[johnerebus]

Thanks Waddo for your reply. I'll pass it on.

[butterfly]

Well said waddo. No new law, just implementing the existing one. 90 days free, then residency. More than enough time to get you affairs in order.

[PoshinDevon]

Agree its 90 days initially and then to remain legal you have to apply for residency.

For over 60s there is a gentlemens agreement that this is not needed. But it is not the law and could be withdrawn at anytime.

For those under 60, residency should be applied for.

Applying for residency saves the hassle, worry and inconvenience at border crossings not to mention the panic and running around needed to get things sorted if you only get a week and dont get 90 days. In addition for those without residency, there could be ongoing problems re car insurance etc if you have stayed over 90 days irrespective if you have a stamp giving you another 90 days and are involved in an accident - are you here legally?I am sure the cousin of the policeman would certainly pick up on this if you hit his car.

The residency process is straightforward. We took all paperwork to police station, it was checked, got paperwork to go for blood test, did that same morning and back at police station to hand over paperwork. Took a morning. Two weeks later we went to Lefkosa, waited 20 mins and all sorted. So two mornings required to get things sorted. When you work out the overall cost per person per day it is less than a bottle of beer, which for us is great value and removes all the worry - we are here to relax and enjoy ourselves not stress over whether we are legally in the country.

[sophie]

Not wanting for any of us to set off a "Residency Stamp" or Not to Residency Stamp" thread YET AGAIN, the fact remains that it is the law and as Waddo says, why go through the hassle, when it is so simple these days. Unlike standing in queues in horrendous temperatures for hours on end as it was 10 years back. However, there are members of the BRS committee who don't (or certainly didn't - they may have changed their minds by now) buy residency stamps and that doesn't help the situation at all.