The Turkish Cypriot authorities are to introduce an e-visa for citizens of Armenia, Nigeria, and Syria who wish to visit the north, ‘prime minister’ Unal Ustel has said, bringing to an end the current system, wherein citizens of those three countries must apply for a full visa in advance of visiting the island’s northern third.

According to the regulatory changes issued on Monday, the e-visas will typically be issued to applicants within 30 days of their application being submitted, though this period may be extended to a maximum of 60 days should there be “administrative requirements” necessitating this.

Should there be a system malfunction with the e-visa platform, staff at crossing points and the north’s Ercan (Tymbou) airport will be empowered to issue visas in person if a circular is issued by the ‘interior minister’ of the day.

While at the point of the system’s rollout, the e-visa system will be open to citizens of Armenia, Nigeria, and Syria, the north’s cabinet will be able to change this at any given point, while the ‘interior ministry’ will be empowered to change the criteria and conditions for applications.

E-visas will cost $40 (€34.30), though no specific timetable has yet been set for the e-visa system’s rollout.

Ustel said of the new system that “we are updating our legal framework, strengthening our technical infrastructure, addressing personnel shortages in our institutions, and integrating the opportunities offered by technology into our security system”.

He added that “our state must know who is coming to the TRNC, for what purpose, when, and under what status”, and that as such, “everyone who enters the country must be registered”.

“With the new system, entry controls will not only begin at the border. Necessary checks and security assessments can be carried out before a person arrives in the country,” he said.

Initially, he added, “citizens of Syria, Nigeria, and Armenia will be included in the e-visa system”.

At present, citizens of those countries who wish to travel to the north require a full visa, which can be obtained at any of the Turkish Cypriot representative offices abroad, except for those in Geneva and Strasbourg. Citizens of all other countries are able to enter the north as tourists without obtaining a visa.

“The current consular visa application process for these countries will be discontinued, and the e-visa system will be implemented,” he said.

He explained that “applications will undergo a preliminary review by the migration department”, and that “opinions will be sought from the police and the relevant institutions depending on the applicant’s purpose of visit”.

“As such, security and eligibility checks will begin even before the individual arrives in our country,” he said.

He went on to stress that his ruling coalition “advocates for our country to open up to the world in a controlled and safe manner, rather than closing itself off”.

“Our country’s doors will be open to the world, but our state will know who enters through these doors, why, and under what status,” he said.