Cyprus Border Crossing

Following the welcome news that was recently revealed about the Turkish Cypriots having begun work to tear down the Lokmaci barrier in Lefkosia to open up the border to Ledra Street in south Cyprus, we thought we should write about Cyprus border crossing for anyone new to North Cyprus or those hoping to visit TRNC from south Cyprus.

Since the Republic of Cyprus joined the EU in 2004 the rules relating to border crossing in Cyprus have slightly changed and the majority of Cyprus guide and travel books are actually out of date.

When the Lokmaci barrier in the Arasta pedestrian area in North Cyprus is finally removed and if the Greek Cypriots take down their barriers on Ledra Street the heart of old Nicosia (Lefkosia) will one again be joined and the resulting border crossing point will be the sixth in Cyprus.

This particular barricade has been in place since 1958 - way before the 1974 troubles in Cyprus that finally divided the island - so you can see how significant the work is to open up the main shopping artery in Nicosia. Ankara have pledged 500,000YTL to the project and the Turkish Cypriots would like to build a pedestrian bridge to join the two halves of the city. When the work is completed it will mean that residents and visitors to both sides of Cyprus will have the easiest and most accessible pedestrian crossing point.

In the meantime the most used border crossing is at Metehan in Nicosia (Lefkosia). To access it by car from North Cyprus assuming you’re travelling from Girne, take a right at the first and main roundabout in North Nicosia and then at the first set of traffic lights take the left filter lane. Travel to the end of this long road and take a right at the roundabout. Move into the right hand lane and go straight over the next roundabout. You will now proceed directly to the Metehan border crossing.

If you have a British passport or are an EU passport holder or you have visa permission to enter the Republic of Cyprus you should present your papers to the Turkish Cypriot authorities at the border, fill in a white visa slip with your name, passport number and nationality and then you will be allowed to pass.

Please note that if you are in a hire car from Northern Cyprus you will not be allowed into the Republic of Cyprus. You should park your car and walk across the border.

Once you reach the Greek Cypriot side of the border you will have to present your passport again and if you’re driving you will have to buy insurance which can be bought by the month or year. If it is your first time across you should also get car tax - just ask at the insurance office on the border crossing and they will direct you. You will then have your tax, insurance and license checked by the Greek Cypriot authorities and you can then proceed to the supermarket, airport or Marks and Spencer!!

If you’re travelling to Northern Cyprus from south Cyprus you should drive to Nicosia and follow the few signs that exist to ‘Keryneia’ and you will arrive at the Metehan crossing point. You will not be stopped until you reach the Turkish Cypriot side. If you possess a British passport, an EU member state passport or have a visa to enter TRNC you will just have to present your papers, complete a white visa slip and you can proceed. Please note that hire cars from south Cyprus are permitted to enter Northern Cyprus but all cars have to purchase additional insurance at the border crossing point.

The protocol for crossing the borders in Cyprus is the same whichever crossing point you choose. There is another pedestrian crossing in Nicosia at the Ledra Palace, and there is another popular crossing point in Famagusta that people use to access Agia Napa for a good night out!

Despite what the guide and travel books say the main crossing points are open 24 hours a day and you are not restricted on the number of times you cross backwards and forwards and you will get stamps on your white visa form not in your passport so those who worry that they won’t be allowed onto the Greek or Turkish mainland with stamps from North or south Cyprus needn’t worry.

Oh, and the tour operators in south Cyprus who advise you to take your own water, sandwiches etc., with you when you travel to Northern Cyprus are slightly out of touch because we do actually have shops and restaurants in North Cyprus nowadays!!

Finally, if/when the Ledra Street/Lokmaci barrier border crossing is finally opened it will be an historic day and it should show the politicians on both sides of Cyprus that the majority of the Cypriot people and the expatriate communities on both sides of the Green Line have hope for a solution to the Cyprus problem one day.