Crossing checkpoints: What's new for Turkish Cypriots

There is no ban on Turkish Cypriots (T/Cs) crossing checkpoints, despite reports to the contrary. According to the Police, Turkish Cypriots are advised to use Republic of Cyprus or EU documents, if they have them, to facilitate their crossing.

This change is related to Cyprus's accession to the Schengen area. The systems at all entry points in Cyprus have been upgraded for faster processing. The use of Cypriot documents speeds up the process, as the data is already registered.

For those using documents from the pseudo-state, the process is done manually, causing delays. The Police deny that entry has been banned for holders of pseudo-state identity cards, but confirm that the process is now time-consuming.

A trade union in the occupied territories reported that from August 25, those who only have a "identity card" of the pseudo-state will not be able to travel to the free areas. However, competent sources categorically deny this claim.

In summary: No Turkish Cypriot is prevented from crossing into the free areas, but the process is slower for those using documents from the pseudo-state.