By Trevor Hughes……
Revised
By Chris Elliott…….
Further to Trevor Hughes Tips for January 2017 which contained an excellent source of news of the authorities’ requirement that all foreign mobile phones used in the TRNC are registered, this article is replicated below together with a letter from Stephen Collard which gives some more useful information and also confirmation of a number of changes made by the authorities.
“Hi Chris,
I went with a friend to try and get his phone registered as it was purchased outside the TRNC.
The directions in your article were OK but if you are going by car the Domino pizza bar this is on the right and the Hangover café on the left. This is if you are coming from the UK High Commission end of the street.
The phone registration office BTHK, is behind the Hangover café and on the second floor and there is no lift and once in the office there is a form to fill in which is also in English. When this is completed you join the queue and at the desk they want 13.2TL from you for registration which has to be paid by Credit Card as this office does not take cash and the stamps mentioned in your article are not required.
It is advisable to take a photocopy of your passport but they will scan your passport.
You then get a copy of the form and have to go to the Customs office which is situated behind the registration office. There was a large queue there to pay the tax/duty. However we were advised to go to the customs office in the new harbour “Yeni Liman”, Girne which is on the road leading down from the Pia Bella roundabout to the docks.
This office is on the first floor of the building to the left and opposite the ferry passenger terminal building and the office will charge you an amount depending on the value of the phone and this office will take both cash and credit card.
Once you have the receipt you go to your service provider with all the paperwork and they set up the new IMEI number on their system and then your phone is registered for use in the TRNC.
Best wishes,
Stephen Collard.”
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Foreign Mobile Phone Registration (Revised)
The Information Technology and Communications Council (ITCN) have made it compulsory to register your hand set and sim cards if they have not been purchased in the TRNC. This is an issue related to embargoes.
There is a tax to pay on non-registered phones and it is levied on the value of your phone which can be considerable, for example a iPhone 7 will be as much as 2,400 TL!
The process for registering your phone is as follows:
- Register the phone at the office which is located in Lefkosa.
- Directions: The office you need to go to is called BTHK (Biligi Tekndojileri Ve Haberiesme Kuruma) located in Lefkosa
If you are taking the road over the mountains to the Gonyeli roundabout, go past the State Hospital on your left, over the small island and keep going through the first set of traffic lights, and up to the second set of traffic lights (you turn left if you are applying for a Temporary Residence).
Turn right taking the road towards the British High Commission. Through the next set of traffic lights to the next traffic island. Turn left and follow the road until you see a “Domino” pizza parlour on your right. You will see a sign for BTHK offices and then go around to the rear of Hangover café
Office opening hours are 0830 – 1400 hours Monday to Friday. You will need to take a 13TL stamp with you. When in their office, you will need to complete the form for registration and hand it over for phone registration. You can of course get one of their forms from Dağlı Sigorta office in Karaoğlanoğlu prior to your registration, so saving time.
Once you have registered your phone, take the receipt to your provider to activate your phone, which will be activated at 1700 hrs that very day.
Editors Note:
Mobile phones brought into the TRNC before April 2016 will have been automatically registered for use in the TRNC and mobile users can check their mobile device status by clicking here and then click on IMEI Sorgulama (translation : IMEI Inspection) then click on Sorgulama Icin Tiklayiniz (translation : Click to Enquire)
A window will appear IMEI Query into which you should enter your device IMEI number and telephone number and click question and your device details will be shown including confirmation of whether your device can be used on all systems.
To establish the registration status of your mobile device press the * # 06 # keys on the device and the IMEI number will be shown.
For more answers to questions regarding the use of foreign mobile devices in the TRNC click here and then translate the page.
Here We Go Again!!! TRNC Driving Licence
Yet again, the police were called to a road traffic accident a few days ago..
The accident happened when an English driver was driving a hire car which had not been registered to him. Unfortunately, he hit a pedestrian walking along the road and suffered seri
ous leg wounds which needed hospital treatment. The driver was arrested and charged with reckless driving, taking and driving the car without the owner’s permission, drink driving and finally, not having a TRNC driving licence. The convicted driver had been over here for two and a half years and did not apply for a TRNC licence, thinking his UK licence was sufficient, which it is not.
If you are here for more than 90 days in any one year you must have a TRNC driving licence if you are intending driving here.
A Recommendation from One of Our Readers
“We write to let you know that we have changed all our double-glazed windows and the back door on the villa. This was done by Firatpen (Kibris) Limited. The windows have three locking points on both sides as does the back door – much safer and no draughts – much needed with the cold weather we now have.
We have nothing but praise for Firatpen as a company and the boss, Salih Erdogmus, and all his workmen. Salih himself speaks excellent English and is very knowledgeable and helpful; his workmen (Mohammed, Mamoud and Selim) are polite, clean and tidy and very, very efficient. The price, always a factor in these things, was extremely competitive, and the whole job from measuring to fitting took less than one week. We would thoroughly recommend this firm to anyone looking to change their windows and doors and have, in fact recommended them already to friends and neighbours. They are located in Lefkosa,
Tony has asked me to add to the letter sent on the Double Glazing we have had done. As Tony points out the price was much cheaper than any other quotation we had been given and covered 10 windows, three patio doors and the back door.
As you sometimes recommend people in your News Round we can recommend this firm and would be happy for anyone to come and see the end result on making prior arrangements.”
If anyone would care to tell us about good work and service experienced, why not let me know that I can share them with you all, but remember, this is not a recommendation from me, but from one of our readers.
TRNC MOT Dates for 2017
Very sound advice on the driving licences.
In the Famagusta and Iskele areas the Traffic Police have recently been running roadside checks, and pulling over up to half the passing cars to check documentation.
When you apply for your TRNC licence they give you a receipt slip as it takes 2-3 weeks for the plastic licence to come through. If you are stopped and can produce this then the Police will know you have applied.
Thank you Stephen for this information.
Some months ago I had applied for a new TRNC driving licence and was driving to the Karpaz when I was stopped by the Men in Blue and with a big smile I apologised as I gave them them all of the necessary paperwork but not the receipt for the new driving licence which I had left at home.
I received a big smile back plus a wagging finger and was told, “next time you will be in trouble if you do not have a driving licence or receipt for a new licence.”
Pheew!