ECN-IST-JFK and return - is a Turkish visa required?
Aug 23, 2016, 2:00 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Happily living in Frenaros Cyprus having escaped the near-death experience called Sofia Bulgaria
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ECN-IST-JFK and return - is a Turkish visa required?
Looking at booking ECN-IST-JFK and return. Will not be leaving the IST airport. travelling on a US passport. Will I have to get a visa upon arrival in IST (or online beforehand)? Am I correct in understanding that ECN-IST is considered a domestic flight?
And to complicate matters (or maybe not), I live in the RoC (have a residency permit) so I will have no stamps in my passport from the TRNC. TRNC does not stamp passports when crossing by land from the RoC to the TRNC.
I will be driving to the RoC the same day I arrive in EVN. Will TRNC to RoC customs conditions apply when I cross from the TRNC to the RoC? Or will RoC customs conditions apply as if I were just arriving into the RoC? The TRNC-RoC customs conditions are more limiting than if you arrived in LCA.
And to complicate matters (or maybe not), I live in the RoC (have a residency permit) so I will have no stamps in my passport from the TRNC. TRNC does not stamp passports when crossing by land from the RoC to the TRNC.
I will be driving to the RoC the same day I arrive in EVN. Will TRNC to RoC customs conditions apply when I cross from the TRNC to the RoC? Or will RoC customs conditions apply as if I were just arriving into the RoC? The TRNC-RoC customs conditions are more limiting than if you arrived in LCA.
Aug 23, 2016, 5:22 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Accor
Posts: 7,295
ECN-IST is considered an international flight, so you do not need a Turkish visa if you stay in transit at IST.
I cannot advise on the details of TRNC / RoC border crossings.
I cannot advise on the details of TRNC / RoC border crossings.
Aug 23, 2016, 10:19 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite+, HIlton Diamond, Delta Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 201
ECN-IST is an international flight, so you will arrive in the international terminal. You will not need a visa if you are in transit.
TRNC will either stamp a sheet of paper (their visa) at their crossing point. You can use this at your exit at Ercan. Coming back, i would minimize anything you want to bring over as "duty-free" because the checkpoint at the crossing into RoC is not an international border, as the personnel manning the crossing will be more than happy to explain to you (I.e. don't try to bring excessive amounts of alcohol or tobacco back in; they once gave a colleague a bunch of grief over one carton of cigarettes)
The general rule of thumb for Cyprus, and you seem aware of this, is to always enter and exit from the same point
TRNC will either stamp a sheet of paper (their visa) at their crossing point. You can use this at your exit at Ercan. Coming back, i would minimize anything you want to bring over as "duty-free" because the checkpoint at the crossing into RoC is not an international border, as the personnel manning the crossing will be more than happy to explain to you (I.e. don't try to bring excessive amounts of alcohol or tobacco back in; they once gave a colleague a bunch of grief over one carton of cigarettes)
The general rule of thumb for Cyprus, and you seem aware of this, is to always enter and exit from the same point
Aug 24, 2016, 8:04 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 15,347
I think the most important question is "when?" In recent weeks they have been speaking about moving the Ercan flights to the domestic terminal, even though they would still politically be considered "international" flights. However I do not know 100% if they are going to do this and if so, when it will start.
Aug 24, 2016, 6:37 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Happily living in Frenaros Cyprus having escaped the near-death experience called Sofia Bulgaria
Programs: Etihad Guest Gold, DL FO and 1MM, and a bunch of others at a low level
Posts: 2,052
ECN-IST is an international flight, so you will arrive in the international terminal. You will not need a visa if you are in transit.
TRNC will either stamp a sheet of paper (their visa) at their crossing point. You can use this at your exit at Ercan. Coming back, i would minimize anything you want to bring over as "duty-free" because the checkpoint at the crossing into RoC is not an international border, as the personnel manning the crossing will be more than happy to explain to you (I.e. don't try to bring excessive amounts of alcohol or tobacco back in; they once gave a colleague a bunch of grief over one carton of cigarettes)
The general rule of thumb for Cyprus, and you seem aware of this, is to always enter and exit from the same point
TRNC will either stamp a sheet of paper (their visa) at their crossing point. You can use this at your exit at Ercan. Coming back, i would minimize anything you want to bring over as "duty-free" because the checkpoint at the crossing into RoC is not an international border, as the personnel manning the crossing will be more than happy to explain to you (I.e. don't try to bring excessive amounts of alcohol or tobacco back in; they once gave a colleague a bunch of grief over one carton of cigarettes)
The general rule of thumb for Cyprus, and you seem aware of this, is to always enter and exit from the same point
I will not be bringing any alcohol or tobacco, but I will have 2 32kg pieces of luggage plus a carry-on bringing back new clothes and household items from the US. When crossing the checkpoint, the Cypriot immigration/officials almost always want to look in the trunk of may car (I only buy groceries or fabric when I go over there). I don't know how they feel about 2 large pieces of luggage. I don't cross the checkpoint frequently enough that they recognize me (maybe once every 2 months).
I can always ask the officials at the checkpoint about this the next time I come across, but it's hard to tell if the official is a person who has serious issues about the fact that the country is divided. I don't want to get a lecture about how ECN is an illegal airport and yada yada yada.......
This trip would be in November/December this year.
Aug 26, 2016, 10:46 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: AC*E50K, CX Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 295
Ercan to Istanbul
Hi,
I'm just wondering whether a Ercan to Istanbul flight is considered a domestic or international flight? I'll be flying from Ercan to Istanbul and then continue on a separate ticket to Canada and I want to see if I can check my luggage from Ercan all the way to Canada. Thanks!
I'm just wondering whether a Ercan to Istanbul flight is considered a domestic or international flight? I'll be flying from Ercan to Istanbul and then continue on a separate ticket to Canada and I want to see if I can check my luggage from Ercan all the way to Canada. Thanks!
Aug 26, 2016, 10:57 am
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: DCA or IAD (originally DUB)
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Read this from the other day http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/turki...-required.html