An Indian passport holder with a valid Schengen visa and UK permanent residency has claimed that he was denied entry at the Northern Cyprus border without any clear explanation, sparking a debate online.
The traveller, who shared his ordeal in a lengthy Reddit post, described his frustrating experience at the Deryneia border crossing while attempting to visit Famagusta in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
According to the post, the traveller—who goes by the username Brugiamalayi—stated that upon reaching the border, the officer took one look at his Indian passport and immediately denied him entry. “Just like that. No reason, no further questions,” he wrote, adding that the incident left him confused, as he had successfully entered TRNC just two days earlier via the Nicosia border crossing.
Further compounding the confusion, the traveller noted that two European nationals accompanying him were allowed to pass through “without a hitch.” When he questioned the decision, the border officer allegedly responded with, “I don’t care. This is a new rule; the rules have changed now.”
Seeking clarity, the traveller contacted the TRNC embassy regarding entry requirements for Indian passport holders. The official response only added to his frustration, stating, “Please be advised that except for Syrian, Nigerian, or Armenian passport holders, there is no requirement to obtain a visa prior to travel to TRNC.”
The incident has ignited a discussion on social media, with several users sharing similar experiences of discrimination faced by Indian passport holders at various international borders. Some users suggested formally raising the issue with the High Commission of India, while others expressed frustration over what they perceived as unequal treatment of Indian travellers compared to Western passport holders.
The TRNC border policies remain a subject of contention, with mixed reports on their application. While some Indian travellers have entered without issues, others report being arbitrarily turned away, raising concerns about inconsistency and potential bias in the enforcement of entry rules.