Is a trip from Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to Turkey considered leaving the country?

Many tourists mistakenly believe that Northern Cyprus (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, TRNC) and Turkey are the same country. In fact, the TRNC and Turkey are separate countries with distinct laws, border controls, and visa policies. Therefore, a trip from the TRNC to Turkey is considered leaving one country and entering another.

What does this mean in practice?

If a tourist is in Northern Cyprus on a tourist visa, usually limited to 90 days of stay within 180 days, then traveling to Turkey after this period is officially recorded as leaving the TRNC territory. Turkey has a separate visa regime:

• For example, Russians can stay in Turkey without a visa for up to 60 consecutive days, not counting the time spent in Northern Cyprus.

Thus, a trip from the TRNC to Turkey is considered leaving the country, after which a new stay limit begins in Turkey. Upon returning to Northern Cyprus, the visa count starts over.

Important points to consider

• The TRNC and Turkey are separate countries with different visa regimes.
• A trip from the TRNC to Turkey is considered leaving the country.
• Each country provides a separate stay limit for tourists.
• A valid passport and adherence to entry rules are required for travel to Turkey.
• Overstaying may result in fines and entry bans.

Conclusion

A trip from Northern Cyprus to Turkey is unequivocally considered leaving the country and starts a new stay period in Turkey. Tourists should plan their routes according to each country's separate visa rules to avoid violations and fines.

"Movement from the TRNC to Turkey is recorded as leaving one country and entering another, taking into account separate visa stay limits."