The Green Line and Larnaca: Where Your Pet Stays When You Fly from the South

Many families in and around Kyrenia (Girne) fly from Larnaca or Paphos, particularly to the UK and the rest of Europe: direct flights, convenient times, force of habit. But if there's a cat or dog at home, one part of the plan works differently: pets can't cross the Green Line with you. Here's what that means in practice, and how to plan your trip so that it's easy on your pet as well as on you.

Pets and the Green Line

At the crossing points between the north and south of the island, people can cross with an ID card or passport, but pets are not allowed through. So you can't put your cat or dog in the car, drive to Larnaca Airport and fly together. The same applies on the way back. So if you're flying from the south, your pet's stay deserves the same careful planning as your own ticket.

Rules like these can change over time. Before you finalise your plans, check the current position with the relevant authorities; in the north, that's the KKTC Veterinary Department. If anything is unclear, you're very welcome to ask us too.

In practice, you have two options

• Your pet stays in the north: while you fly from Larnaca or Paphos, they stay somewhere you trust.
• You fly together from Ercan: flights to and from Ercan Airport route via Turkey, and this option needs paperwork and planning.

For short and medium-length trips, most families find the first option less stressful and more practical. Flights, connections and unfamiliar airports can be tiring for animals; a few weeks with a familiar routine is often the kinder choice.

While your pet stays in the north: a step-by-step plan

Choose the right place

For a separation of a few weeks, the biggest decision is where your pet will stay. When you compare options, look for answers to these questions:

• Does every animal have a private, cage-free room of its own?
• Are cats and dogs kept in separate areas?
• How is supervision handled, including at night?
• How quickly can a vet be involved if there's a health concern?
• How often will you hear from the team while you're away?

The day before you fly

Larnaca flights often mean leaving home very early in the morning. Dropping your pet off the day before takes the rush out of that last morning: the goodbye is calmer, and you can concentrate on the suitcases. Your pet also gets a head start on settling into their new room before you've even left.

While you're away

A good pet hotel doesn't leave you wondering. Daily photos and videos, a video call when you'd like one, and prompt contact about anything health-related all make it easier to enjoy your time away. Even if you're in a different time zone, the updates will be waiting whenever you have a moment to look.

When you come back

If your flight lands late, consider collecting your pet the following day. That way you're over the journey and can give them your full attention when you're reunited. A calm first day back home, with their usual routine, helps the transition too.

If you need to travel together: the Ercan option

If your pet needs to come with you, for a longer move for example, you'll need to fly via Ercan. That means checking your airline's pet policy, the requirements for the connection in Turkey and the entry rules at your destination, each one separately. Because a journey with a connection can be long, it's also worth talking to your vet about your pet's age, health and how well they cope with travel. For the return journey, you'll need the documents required to bring a pet into North Cyprus, prepared well in advance. Because sources differ on the requirements, always confirm the current rules with the KKTC Veterinary Department.

A short checklist

• Book your pet's stay as soon as your travel dates are fixed; holiday periods can fill up early.
• Make sure the vaccination record is up to date, and check the dates of vaccines and parasite treatments before drop-off.
• Pack their usual food, any medication and a blanket that smells of home.
• Leave your vet's details and those of someone we can reach while you're away.
• Share your flight times so we can plan drop-off and collection around them.

How PurrNest helps

At our pet hotel in Dikmen, every guest has a cage-free private room of their own. Our cat and dog wings are completely separate, so cats rest without hearing or smelling dogs. With our home pick-up and drop-off service around Kyrenia, we can collect your pet from your door before you set off for Larnaca and bring them home again when you're back. While you're away we send photos and videos every day and can arrange a video call whenever you'd like. Our in-house vet carries out regular check-ups throughout the stay. If you're looking for a cat hotel or dog boarding in Kyrenia that you can genuinely relax about, send us your travel dates and we'll put together a personalised quote.