Biometric scanners

[greengate]

Does anyone know if the New biometric fingerprint/facial scanners (required for Non EU citizens entering an EU country) are going to be installed on land borders (e.g travelling to the south) or only airports/seaports.

I understand that the law comes into force in October, but will be implemented over a six month period.

[frugal90]

Do you mean across the green line or entering the south by sea?

[greengate]

North to South (across green line) and by sea

[Mimi2]

All part of Shengen regulations. If GC put them on Green line. They are admitting it's a hard border!!

[laptawrinkly]

As well as admitting the Green Line was a hard border, practically it would be a nightmare. Not only scanning non-EU citizens, but also having to scan TCs who do not hold an ID card from the south. Cannot imagine the chaos it would cause at the crossing points. Also begs the question how the British Bases would cope and what would they do in terms of checks!

[waddo]

Why would the British Bases do anything? UK is not in the EU!!

[laptawrinkly]

Waddo, because under the SBA agreement they are responsible for checking people who will access the south via the base areas. That is why they check your passport or ID when you travel to Larnaca Airport. For example, they would not allow someone with a Turkish passport enter the SBA, as they could then enter the south, which they are not allowed to do (unless the had a south visa) for example.

Even when the UK was in the EU, the SBAs where not part of the EU under the various treaties when they were setup. However, the SBAs (I.e. UK) agreed to 'mirror' the EU rules/laws with those in the south as far as practicable without being a signatory to them itself to make the administration and collaboration of the SBAs with the south easier.

The laws of the Sovereign Base Areas are based on the laws of the Colony of Cyprus as they existed in August 1960, with amendments made as necessary. Efforts are made to keep these laws aligned with those of the Republic of Cyprus.

https://hadjivangeli.com/en/expert-repr ... ase-cases/

[waddo]

So would that also mean that if the South did decide to close all the crossing points (gates) then no third country national or TC that did not hold a EU passport would be allowed to cross via an SBA crossing point either? Only looking at this as our final resting place will be Dhekelia Military Cemetery and it may cause problems in that respect! Not that the one in the box would worry I guess - lol.

[Keithcaley]

waddo - I think that hope lies in the phrase 'Efforts are made' - that does imply some degree of discretion!

In any event, I hope that I am still alive to visit your final resting place, rather than vice versa - no offence implied!

[waddo]

Keith, if you make it then contact the wife first - the fish and chips are on me!!! Well, not literally but you know what I mean - lol.

[laptawrinkly]

Waddo, another issue to bring to your attention- sorry

You will need to check if this applies to burials in the SBA military cemetery or not. Whilst you can access the cemetery via Pyla without entering the 'republic of Cyprus' , I am almost 100% sure deceased can only be taken over via Metehan crossing, happy to be proved wrong!

Any person who dies in the north and has a death certificate issued there -irrespective of whether a post mortem has been carried out or not, if taken to the south, either for burial, hopefully soon a cremation (Paphos) or repatriation to another country, will have another post mortem done at Nicosia General Hospital. The south refuses to recognise any death certificates /post mortems issued by the north. https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... prus-north

Ridiculous I know- even more bizarre for example: your north death certificates says you died on 01/01/2025. Say you are taken south 03/01/2025, and a new PM done. Your south death certificate will give your date of death of when you crossed over (green line, not when you headed 'for the light'!).

So now you potentially next of kin have two death cert's with different dates! This has been raised with the UN and British High Commission (useless). Personally, I'd use the north death cert for the UK notifications.

The UK accepts all major event documents (birth,death and marriage) issued by the north for 'administration purposes'. Remember as Cyprus is a Commonwealth Country as far as the UK is concerned, you can use the 'Tell Us Once Service in the UK https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/death-abroad

[waddo]

Laptawrinkly, Thanks for that but I will leave it in the hands of Burial people who are based in the South and will come to the North to collect the remains of whichever of us goes first. I really don't care which crossing I use when I am in the box anyway - lol. But the burial will take place in Dhekelia so I was only concerned that anyone who wanted to attend would be able to still get through the crossing point. If not then they will have to stay in the North I guess. As for death certificates the UK Govt can either accept them or not - in either case I will still be dead - and I have no doubt that my State pension will stop like lightning whilst other things will drag on and on.

[Mowgli597]

Er. What size boots d’ye take Waddo ?

[waddo]

Mowgli597, Worry not, there will be loads of ‘Gizzits’ left behind for the taking! Size 42.5 and I have loads of hardly worn Sketchers! Two death certs will be funny but we will use the one from the North or the bloody income tax office will only want more tax if the South one has a later date!