Crossings
After a nearly 30-year ban on crossings, the Turkish Cypriot administration significantly eased travel restrictions across the dividing line in April 2003, allowing Greek Cypriots to cross at the Ledra Palace Crossing just outside the walls of old Nicosia. This was made only possible after the decision of the ECHR (Djavit An vs Turkey, Application No.20652/92).
These are the crossings now available:
| Republic of Cyprus entrance | Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus entrance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Astromeritis Αστρομερίτης (Greek) |
Zodeia Ζώδεια (Greek) Bostancı (Turkish) |
By car only |
| Ayios Dhometios Άγιος Δομέτιος (Greek) |
Metehan | |
| Ledra Palace | Ledra Palace | |
| Ledra Street οδός Λήδρας (Greek) Lokmacı Caddesi (Turkish) |
Ledra Street οδός Λήδρας (Greek) Lokmacı Caddesi (Turkish) |
On foot only |
| Pyla Πύλα (Greek) Pile (Turkish) |
Pergamos Πέργαμoς (Greek) Beyarmudu (Turkish) |
|
| Agios Nikolaos Άγιος Νικόλαος (Greek) |
Strovilia Akyar (Turkish) |
|
| Limnitis Λιμνίτης (Greek) Yeşilırmak (Turkish) |
Limnitis Λιμνίτης (Greek) Yeşilırmak (Turkish) |
Before Cypriot accession to the European Union, there were restrictions on Green Line crossings by foreigners imposed by the Republic of Cyprus, but these were abolished for EU citizens by EU-regulation 866/2004. Generally, citizens of any country are permitted to cross the line, including Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Passports are required for entry into Northern Cyprus, but they are not generally stamped. A 2005 EU report stated that "a systematic illegal route through the northern part to the government-controlled areas exists" allowing an influx of asylum seekers.
Read more about this topic: United Nations Buffer Zone In Cyprus