Northern Cyprus - Passport requirements
 

hi, I've been searching the interweb for the last couple of hours bad haven't found a definitive answer.

I'm travelling to/from N. Cyprus by land in December/January. (Flying UK - Larnica? ) My Canadian passport is due to expire in April 2014 - four months later.

From the net I know that Canadians do not need a visa, but I can't find anything on passport validity. I did note that British Passport holders need 6 months on their passport so am suspicious I likely need the same.

Does anyone have access to a TIM or E-TIM that can answer this.

Getting the passport reissued isn't an issue, although as our (issued overseas) passports are only valid 5 years and are quite expensive, I'd hate to lose the 4 months.

Many thanks in advance.

I've just come back from Cyprus and as a UK Citizen, I know that you don't need any passport validity beyond your stay in Cyprus (it's on the gov.uk site), but I'm not sure how that applies to a Canadian (Annex II) passport. (I take it when you say North Cyprus you don't mean the Turkish occupied area - it will have its own regs, but they do let tourists pop in/out).

Why not give the Cyprus High Commission in London a buzz and check?

High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus in London - Contact Us

I've crossed the land border into northern Turkey a few times (on an EU passport). They check passports very thoroughly in both directions and a couple of US passport holders were taken off the bus on the way in, but I have no idea why. I spoke to several regular travellers on my last trip and they said that the Turks are very fussy about passports, whatever their origin. They are very concerned about fugitives, apparently.

Wouldn't it be worthwhile to contact the Turkish embassy where you live?

As I'm sure you know, TRNC is not recognised de facto as a nation and many insurance companies will not cover you for travel there as part of their standard policy. It's well worth the visit though. Cyprus as it used to be - and not a Russian in sight!

It might also be worth checking with the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree site - I've always found it helpful and accurate:

Cyprus - Lonely Planet travel forum

Sloppy, yes it is the Turkish bit that we are going to. As a Swiss resident I can travel visa free to Cyprus for up to three months.

I just checked passport requirements for Turkey and I see that all nationalities require at least six months validity on their passport and one blank page.

Sigh, looks like I need to get mine reissued.

Just a thought, but will they not just add on X months to your new passport, with X being whatever time is still left on your current one?

When I applied for my last passport (UK passport, live in the UK) I still had 5 months left on my old one. When my new passport came through it was valid for 10 years and 5 months (Issued Feb 2006, Expires Jul 2016).

They will add on up to 9 months on according to the UK Passport website, I imagine other countries offer something similar to enable people to renew while they still have plenty of time, but not be left short changed, so to speak.

The Turkish Cypriots at the border will not stamp you in. They will issue you with a card that will be stapled into your passport, and returned on your return to the south of the island, the legally recognised part.

I believe that you will need six months and two pages.

Edit;

You will have issues if you enter the occupied territory (the 'TRNC') from the south and leave from the north's unrecognised airport, Ercan. You will have no problems if exiting from either of the legally recognised airports of Larnaka or Pafos.

As a Canadian,you are entitled to 90 days visa free entry, see link below for Ercan airport. it's the same entry requirements for you.

Visa Requirements | Ercan International Airport (ECN) Northern Cyprus

Thanks to you both, the Canadians don't do what the Brits do. My only option is to have a new passport issued and my still current one voided.

We'll be do a surface transit from/to LCA so won't have an issue, but thanks for the link - it confirmed my fear.

Thanks again to everyone who commented!

That UK policy is the most customer-friendly and enlightened passport expiration/issuance rule that I have ever heard of. No wonder the U.S. Passport office doesn't follow it.:{