If we leave the EU

[niceone]

This may already have been mentioned but I have not been on for a while
If Britain leaves the EU you won't be able to fly to or from the south
you won't be able to cross to go shopping
none of this bothers me but I know loads of people who go south shopping weekly
If the ROC can legally prevent crossings they will, just as they did in the past

[Belfast Belle]

This may already have been mentioned but I have not been on for a while
If Britain leaves the EU you won't be able to fly to or from the south
you won't be able to cross to go shopping
none of this bothers me but I know loads of people who go south shopping weekly
If the ROC can legally prevent crossings they will, just as they did in the past

And this is based on what.

[brian24001]

You will, it's not an EU ruling to open the crossings, it's a UCHR ruling broughtafter a TC brought a case that he should have free travel across the island if it is 'one island' so they cannot close it.
If they stopped people coming, would have a serious affect on tourism, and money through the tills at the likes of Alpha Meag.
I think you have been listening to Camoron and the 'desperation to stay in' crew a little too much.

[waddo]

It is up to the RoC and nobody else - if they want to stop you they will find a way, no matter what the law or rules say they are within their rights to hold you for hours just asking questions! They can also do it now and will on occasion hold travelers at crossing point (Vehicle search's etc) just long enough to let them miss their flights out. Remember that the North is "Occupied Territory" to them and the rest of the world so they can get away with just about anything they want.

I think that the silly move of UK leaving the EU (As far as expats are concerned) will just give the RoC more chances to prove how brave, strong and considerate they are!!!

[kibsolar1999]

brian, to my opinion that is not 100% correct.
- we talk here the crossing from north to south, entry to cyprus was either through ercan, girne or magosa = the "illegal ports of entry"

the borders opened in 2003 and only TCs were able to cross the border.
in 2004, the RoC joined the EU and it took say, 3 - 4 weeks until the RoC "adjusted" that to EU law. since then, also EU citizens can cross.
Reason: the RoC can not deny the wish of an EU citizen to enter the EU, especially within the Schengen agreement (free travel, the RoC is member of Schengen, but it is not "fully implemented").
So, if the EU citizen comes to cyprus and even, say, through the illegal port of Ercan, i only need to show my ID card to enter the RoC.
this we do "with a little delay" when we cross the border to the south.
(when we cross from south to north, we do not need to show passports at "GC border control", because we do not leave the territory of the RoC)

if you are not an EU citizen (and not married to a TC or EU citizen), then all is much more complicated to enter the RoC = Europe. depend from which country, you need visas to enter the RoC and you have to choose a "legal port of entry", eg, Turkish citizens must apply for a visa in Athens (as the RoC has no embassy in Turkey) and must fly in via Larnaca-Pafos. Same applies, eg, for all the (african) students in the north, but not, eg, for US american citizens.

so, in practice a possible brexit will take time anyway. during this negotitations, iam sure that britain and the RoC will find a solution for this problem.
to my opinion, nothing will change.

[erol]

It is possible, though very unlikely that if the UK leaves the EU, the RoC will require UK citizens to have a visa in order to travel to the RoC. If the RoC were to require UK citizens to have a visa this could become a means by which they stop UK citizens who live in the north crossing the Green line, by simply not granting visa's to such people. Possible but unlikely imo.

[kibsolar1999]

erol, additionally:
the green line crossing points, as eg, Metehan, are not entitled to issue visas for the RoC.

but, eg, if you have a visa for the RoC (or also possible, for a third, but schengen country), you can enter through the green line, a far as i understood that regulation.
the "new non EU, UK" citizens- government just need to manage not to be deleted from this list
http://www.cyprusvisa.eu/countries-not- ... yprus.html
working visa, eg in the tourism as tour guides and so on, may become a different subject...

waddo
especially in the last years, the GC green line controls, incl police and customs, became more and more friendly. no one i know has any serious problems.
as long you do not show an "arrogant attitude", have big luggage or bags of " content not known yet ", it is all easy and good.
you can not blame them for introducing law under the green line regulations (same as TC customs does.. or not...) or GC law in general..

but of course, if you carry eg, too much money or documents showing "off shore business", architecture plans or even a TC issued title deed in your luggage, then you will have to answer some questions.,..

[Groucho]

It is possible, though very unlikely that if the UK leaves the EU, the RoC will require UK citizens to have a visa in order to travel to the RoC. If the RoC were to require UK citizens to have a visa this could become a means by which they stop UK citizens who live in the north crossing the Green line, by simply not granting visa's to such people. Possible but unlikely imo.

They would be shooting themselves in the foot if they did... it's never stopped them before.... but they need to money... more than ever.

The idea that expats would be stopped from crossing is yet more evidence of the stay campaign's panic...

The Metehan crossing is a UN opened border not ECHR and no one but the UN can close it...

The Beyarmudu/Pyla crossing is on the SBA and no ROC ability to close it... it's all just more - oooh - scary, nonsense...

[waddo]

Groucho, quite correct in the UN opened border at Metehan and the SBA controlled (for customs purposes only) crossing point at Beyarmudu. However, if you are not an EU citizen then once across the crossing points please be expected to be arrested and deported back to the country you originated from - it happens all the time to non-EU citizens which is what British Expats will become if the scare campaign of the OUT party get there way.

kibsolar1999, agree that the RoC staff have (in general) become more friendly in the 12 years we have been crossing but there are still the odd ones out who like to posture, shout, be abusive and in general try to make life for the friendly traveler just more of a misery. I have found that either taking down the epaulet number or asking them for their number returns them to normality.

[brian24001]

A small price to pay to be 'OUT'.

[waddo]

Maybe the price you will end up paying if you are OUT won't be quite a small as you think! Anyway, as a guest in the country it will only effect the British so the larger community of the TC will still be able to go South when they want too as the RoC will never vote OUT - they have too much to gain by staying IN. It will be sad to see he effect on tourism in the North though when all the Brit Paphos and Larnaca flyers will need a visa to land there.

[elizabeth]

We need a visa to fly to many countries but we still travel there.

[jofra]

IF we were to leave the EU....
IF we were then required to obtain a visa to enter the ROC....
Could they/would they demand details of where you intended to stay during your visit?
And then could they/would they refuse a visa if/when you said North Cyprus ("ocupied territory") because "they could not guarantee your safety" or for any other "reason"....?

[bigOz]

I think the old Commonwealth ties would then be active, as it was before UK became full member of the EU. Before EU, UK citizens were able to enter Cyprus with no restrictions or PPR. The same applied to Cypriot passport holders entering UK. I feel there are still very strong economic and social ties with UK and Commonwealth countries, whose citizens had emigrated to UK in large numbers during 1960's and 1970's, which would be a barrier for any stringent visa requirements or restrictions.

What I am trying to figure out, since UK is very likely to stay in EU, how is this going to affect the British Pound? Any ideas?

[waddo]

bigOz, can you really see the RoC missing out on the chance of making money out of a visa???

[erol]

bigOz, can you really see the RoC missing out on the chance of making money out of a visa???

If they were to choose to require UK citizens to need a visa, should the UK leave the EU, this would generate some new income but that extra income would have to be balanced against any income lost by UK tourists choosing destinations other than the RoC because it has a visa requirement. I personally think the chances of the RoC requiring UK citizens to have a visa to visit the RoC as a tourist should the UK leave the EU is next to zero. However I also think the chance that they will allow UK citizens the same rights to reside and work in the RoC as they currently have as part of the EU, after a UK exit from the EU is also extremely unlikely.

[waddo]

But the RoC already have huge numbers of Philippine citizens working there, all of them paying taxes and earning the Government money and all of them needing a visa just to get there! If they suddenly say there is no requirement for a visa just because you are a UK tourist then the rest of the World (that requires a visa) is going to have a huge grievance.

Current regulations are:

Non-EU travellers are only permitted to enter the Republic of Cyprus through Larnaca or Paphos airport, or the ports of Larnaca, Limassol, Latsis and Paphos, which are situated in the area under the effective control of the government of the Republic of Cyprus.

Any ports or airports in the area of Cyprus in which the government of the republic does not exercise effective control (Turkish occupied area), are deemed illegal points of entry by the Greek Cypriot authorities and any attempt at entry into the Republic of Cyprus via these routes may be denied to non-EU passport holders, with penalties including detainment and deportation. EU passport holders are exempt from this ruling and are free to enter Cyprus regardless of the point of entry.

So OUT of the EU and you can "Probably" still visit the RoC but not via a crossing point - eg Land at Larnaca, cross to Kyrenia, try to go back to Larnaca - NOPE, sorry????

Could be interesting this one.

[WotNoDeeds]

TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK.

[erol]

But the RoC already have huge numbers of Philippine citizens working there, all of them paying taxes and earning the Government money and all of them needing a visa just to get there! If they suddenly say there is no requirement for a visa just because you are a UK tourist then the rest of the World (that requires a visa) is going to have a huge grievance.

Some (non EU) countries citizens need a visa to enter the roc and some do not. That has always been the way. NZ natonals do not need a visa to enter the RoC (as a tourist). The list of countries that require a visa is here

http://www.cyprusvisa.eu/countries-requ ... yprus.html

in theory the RoC could add the UK to that list if the UK were to leave the EU. In practice it is extremely unlikely they would do so imo.

Current regulations are:

Non-EU travellers are only permitted to enter the Republic of Cyprus through Larnaca or Paphos airport, or the ports of Larnaca, Limassol, Latsis and Paphos, which are situated in the area under the effective control of the government of the Republic of Cyprus.

Any ports or airports in the area of Cyprus in which the government of the republic does not exercise effective control (Turkish occupied area), are deemed illegal points of entry by the Greek Cypriot authorities and any attempt at entry into the Republic of Cyprus via these routes may be denied to non-EU passport holders, with penalties including detainment and deportation. EU passport holders are exempt from this ruling and are free to enter Cyprus regardless of the point of entry.

So OUT of the EU and you can "Probably" still visit the RoC but not via a crossing point - eg Land at Larnaca, cross to Kyrenia, try to go back to Larnaca - NOPE, sorry????

Could be interesting this one.

The RoC has not repealed it's legislation re entering Cyprus via an illegal port of entry but in practice it knows it can not enforce such for EU citizens, by agreement with the EU, and thus by extension it can also then not enforce them for anyone. It could try but a legal challenge would have very strong grounds. They simply do not enforce this law because they know it can not withstand legal challenge. They have not repealed the law because of politics. My NZ national partner has and continues to cross the green line without any risk she will then subsequently be charged in the RoC for having entered Cyprus via the north - which she did. This is the reality. They do not stop her crossing (because they can not according to the green line regulations they signed with the EU) and they do not seek to prosecute her for having entered Cyprus via the north (because they know such would not stand up to legal challenge).

The only effective control the RoC has in terms of who can cross the green line, regardless of how they have entered Cyprus, is if they require a visa or not. The RoC CAN make it a requirement of granting a visa to those nationals that need such, that they do not have property in the north or have not entered the north via ercan in the past etc. However if they grant a visa to such a person they can not then stop that person entering the RoC via the green line having first entered Cyprus via the north. The only control they have is in the granting or not of the visa. That is it.

[waddo]

Erol, the URL you gave is one I have been using for ages but today it reports this: http://www.cyprusvisa.eu’s server DNS address could not be found. I had to search elsewhere for information - the first time ever?
However, a true (this year's) story for you which I feel points out the intransigence of the RoC. A Philippines friend of mine applied for and received a work visa for the RoC, work was carried out but she then came across the Green Line and obtained a job (work permit and insurance fully paid for) in the TRNC. After some years she decided to return to the Philippines and not return to the TRNC however her RoC visa had expired by three months. She purchased a flight leaving from Larnaca - some £350.00 cheaper than via Istanbul - and tried to cross back into the RoC via the Beyarmudu crossing point. The SBA Police are responsible for customs and immigration issues at this crossing point! The TRNC immigration was happy to let her cross and the SBA Police were happy to allow her to cross as she had a ticket proving she was flying out of Larnaca that very day. The TRNC immigration phoned immigration at Larnaca and asked if she would be allowed to fly - the answer after 20 minutes of talk was NO!
Now, I agree her RoC visa was out of date and that if she had been found in the RoC with an out of date visa she would have been deported back to her country of origin. However, the SBA were happy to "let her in" but Larnaca said they would not let her fly? She had a ticket - she would have deported herself and saved the RoC the cost of the flight, the paper work involved and all the hassle - but NO! So she lost the cost of the ticket and eventually had to fly via Istanbul.

Where is the common sense in this I ask? Would I expect the RoC to treat British (EU) expats the same after they have voted OUT as they do now? My answer I am sorry to say is NO!

[niceone]

This may already have been mentioned but I have not been on for a while
If Britain leaves the EU you won't be able to fly to or from the south
you won't be able to cross to go shopping
none of this bothers me but I know loads of people who go south shopping weekly
If the ROC can legally prevent crossings they will, just as they did in the past

And this is based on what.

Belle it is based on the fact that before the ROC joined the EU we could not cross the border, people actually got arrested for using an "illegal point of entry" only TC's were given the right to cross

[elizabeth]

I can't really see the ROC turning away the large amounts of Euros that ex pats spend in the South, they are virtually bankrupt now so it would be cutting their nose off to spite their face.