Day trip to Northern Cyprus

Question

I am a British passport holder planning to spend a week in Cyprus next month. I am contemplating a day trip to Northern Cyprus, crossing the border on foot in Nicosia (probably using the Ledra Street crossing). Am I likely to have difficulties returning back across the border to the south of the island? EU passport holders apparently have no difficulty, but I'll be travelling on a British passport, and the information I've read is rather confused for non-EU passport holders. I will fly to and from Larnaca (in the south), so the Cypriot government should accept that I've entered the country legally (as they don't consider the north to be a separate country). I'm keen to avoid a situation where my luggage is stranded on the opposite side of the border to me!

Answer 1

Since you've entered the Republic of Cyprus legally, it's fine for you to cross the border to the North and come back, because the ROC's official stance is that the north is also a part of ROC territory.

You would only have problems if you arrive via the north and try to enter the south that way, because from the ROC's point of view that makes you an illegal immigrant.

See also: Will staying in Northern Cyprus cause problems for later travel in the EU?