Visa policy of Syria

Syrian visa in 2010

Visitors to Syria must obtain a visa from one of the Syrian diplomatic missions in advance, unless they are a national of a visa-exempt country or a country whose citizens are eligible to obtain visas on arrival.

History

Before the start of protests, hostilities and conflicts and the start of the devastating Civil war in Syria in 2011, citizens of many Asian, European, African and American countries could visit Syria without a visa or get a visa on arrival, gradually Syria began to cancel visa-free entry and visa on arrival for many countries, and in 2014 the Syrian authorities officially announced the introduction of a visa regime for all countries. However, until now, citizens of some states can de facto enter Syria without a visa or receive a visa on arrival. The visa policy of Syria is now extremely unstable, and there is no exact data on the visa policy of this country. This data is taken from open sources and may become outdated or irrelevant. When entering Syria, the Syrian authorities ask to obtain a Syrian visa in advance by contacting one of the country's diplomatic missions in the world.

Until 2014, citizens of the former Soviet republics of the USSR (excluding the Baltic republics), Iran, some Asian, African, European, American countries, and almost all countries of the Arab world did not need a visa to enter Syria. According to IATA, which provides information provided by national governments, despite the Syrian government's officially stated need to obtain a visa in advance, a visa on arrival is still de facto valid for citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, but after the intensification of the Civil war, some citizens of these countries are denied a visa on arrival “for security reasons” and ask citizens of these countries to obtain a Syrian visa in advance:

Visa policy map

Visa exemption

According to Timatic, nationals of the following 16 countries do not need a visa to enter Syria, for a stay up to the duration listed below:

Indefinite stay

3 months

ID — May enter Syria with an ID card in lieu of a passport.

Syrian stamp in 2016
Syrian stamp in 2009
Syrian stamp in 2010
Syrian stamp in 2010

Conditional visa exemption

Nationals of  Somalia aged over 35 who are not permanent residents of Somalia can also enter Syria without a visa. However, if they have never entered Syria before on a previous visit, they must obtain prior entry approval and present USD 2000 upon arrival in Syria to qualify for visa-free entry.

In addition, nationals of any country (except Libya and the United States) who were born in Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates or Yemen do not need a visa to enter Syria.

Visa on arrival

Nationals of the following 12 countries are specifically listed on Timatic as countries whose nationals may obtain a visa upon arrival in Syria, for a stay up to the duration listed below:

90 days

15 days

Syrian visa in 2001

Nationals of  Armenia and  Ukraine may also obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 15 days, provided that they have obtained prior approval from the Syrian Immigration Headquarters.

In addition, according to Timatic, nationals of any country without any Syrian representation may obtain a visa on arrival in Syria. However, Timatic specifically lists all nationals of India, Libya, Pakistan and the United States, as well as female nationals of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand, as being ineligible for a visa on arrival - they are instead required to obtain a visa in advance.

Entry restrictions

Prior approval required

Nationals of  Palestine are required to obtain prior approval from the Syrian Immigration Headquarters in order to enter Syria.

Female nationals of the following six countries are also required to obtain prior approval from the Syrian Immigration Headquarters in addition to a visa in order to enter Syria:

If prior approval is not sought, affected nationals of the aforementioned countries will not be allowed to enter Syria, though they may still transit.

Admission refused

Nationals of  Israel are banned from entering and transiting in Syria, even if not leaving the aircraft and proceeding by the same flight due to the non-recognition of this state, and accordingly, the passport of this state by Syria, which considers Israel an enemy state. Entry and transit into the Syria will be denied to holders of passports or other travel documents of all countries containing a visa, or an entry/exit stamp of Israel, or any information that a person has ever been to Israel, or an indication of any connection with the State of Israel.

Also, Syrian Arab Republic does not recognize the passports of citizens of the Kosovo, Northern Cyprus, Somaliland and Transnistria.

After the recognition of partially recognized Abkhazia Republic of Abkhazia and South Ossetia Republic of South Ossetia — the State of Alania by Syrian Arab Republic in May 2018, citizens of these countries can enter Syria by obtaining a visa.

Statistics

Before the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Syria was one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Middle East. Tourism and the entry of foreigners into Syria in general began to develop especially since the late 1990s. Foreigners entered Syria not only to visit relatives or friends, but also for tourism, medical treatment and pilgrimage to Islamic and Christian sites, as well as for trade, as Syria became an important trading hub for the surrounding countries. Syria was popular especially for citizens of Turkey, Iran, almost all countries of the Arab world, Europe and South Asia, as well as for almost all countries of the Post-Soviet space as a budget travel option and a shopping point for merchants.

Year Visitors
Until 1994 No data
1995 2,253,000
1996 Increase 2,435,000
1997 Decrease 2,332,000
1998 Increase 2,464,000
1999 Increase 2,682,000
2000 Increase 3,412,000
2001 Increase 3,671,000
2002 Increase 4,678,000
2003 Increase 4,837,000
2004 Increase 6,334,000
2005 Decrease 5,859,000
2006 Decrease 5,682,000
2007 Decrease 5,434,000
2008 Increase 6,951,000
2009 Increase 7,721,000
2010 Increase 10,970,000
2011 Decrease 6,476,000
2012—2015 During these years, during the height of the civil war,
the official government of the Syrian Arab Republic
did not control most of the borders of Syria,
especially the border with Turkey and Iraq,
which is why many foreigners entered the country at that time,
the number of which cannot be calculated accurately.
2016 Decrease 1,043,000 (Many more foreigners have entered the country
through the borders of Syria,
which are not controlled by the
official Government of the Syrian Arab Republic)
2017 Increase 1,291,000 (Just as it was said above)
2018 Increase 1,802,000 (Just as it was said above)
2019 Increase 2,424,000 (Just as it was said above)
2020 No data
2021 Decrease 750,000 (Just as it was said above)
2022 Increase 1,850,000 (Just as it was said above)
2023 Increase 2,000,000 (Just as it was said above)

By country

The list does not include Russian citizens who entered Syria through third countries, as well as through the uncontrolled borders of Syria by the official government of the Syrian Arab Republic. Especially between 2011 and 2016, the real number of Russian citizens who entered Syria was several times more.

Country 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010
 Russia Increase 33,839 Increase 32,215 Decrease 29,370 Increase 31,614 Decrease 21,743 Increase 25,436 Increase 7,868 Decrease 1,784 Decrease 1,835 Decrease 4,012 Decrease 9,944 15,256

See also


This page was last updated at 2024-02-01 12:29 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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