Unoffical Border Crossings

[harveywinning]

I have probably been watching too many movies, war or otherwise where people get to another country via unofficial crossings. They seem to go via farm tracks, mountain passes, etc. Just wondering if this happens between North & South Cyprus? Is it possible to get over the green line?

[josef k]

Yes, people do. It's not particularly difficult at nighttime if you know where to attempt it, even in central Nicosia where the green line is very narrow. Of course, if you get caught you will be in big trouble, so I don't recommend anybody trying.

[Dominic]

There is a chance you might get shot, too.

[galexinda]

There is also the situation where some people get stuck in the middle. Article dated June 2024:

Twenty-seven migrants, reportedly from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Sudan and Iran, have been stuck in the neutral area between north and south – known as the buffer zone – for over a week. About half are reportedly women and children.
https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/57 ... uffer-zone

[WHL]

When we first came over , we did a lot of exploring, and once in Old Nicosia we took a wrong turn into a dead end which took us to a strip of land covered with sand bags and very nervous young army guys pointing rifles at us, we quickly learned that the dividing line isn't a tourist location

[J B]

Many moons ago we were in Nicosia 'shopping' so I went for a wander to one of the official crossings.
I ambled through to the TNRC side where they asked me for my passport. I didn't have it with me so I smiled and said I was only looking and turned back to the RoC side only to be asked for my passport!!!
Luckily, they believed my story and I returned to the safety of shopping!!!

[WHL]

There is also the situation where some people get stuck in the middle. Article dated June 2024:

Twenty-seven migrants, reportedly from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Sudan and Iran, have been stuck in the neutral area between north and south – known as the buffer zone – for over a week. About half are reportedly women and children.
https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/57 ... uffer-zone

Turkey has been giving visas to african nationals to go to the north and then cross over to the south,
Turkey is doing this to create problems for the Republic no more no less,
the Cyprus government is correct in not allowing them over, if they were genuing refugees , they would of applied for asylum in Turkey which is a safe country.