Visa policy of Syria

The Syrian transitional government imposes entry visa fees (visa on arrival or e-visa) on its visitors based on a "principle of reciprocity"^[1] – as of March 2025 it is still unclear to whom it applies – meanwhile Israeli citizens are banned from entering or transiting through the country, Iranian citizens are required to obtain a prior authorization, and Lebanese citizens who do not hold a valid residence permit in another country or do not have at least one family member who is a Syrian citizen are required to obtain a prior visa (obtainable at any port of entry).^[2][3][1]

Syrian visa in 2010

Iranian visitors can obtain a visa from one of the Syrian diplomatic missions.^{[citation needed]}

History

Before the Syrian civil war, hostilities and conflicts and the start of the devastating Civil war in Syria in 2011, citizens of many Asian, European, African and American countries visited Syria without a visa or got 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, citizens of some states de facto entered Syria without a visa or received a visa on arrival. The visa policy of Syria was extremely unstable, and there was no exact data on the visa policy of the country and while entering Syria, the Syrian authorities sometimes asked tourists to obtain a Syrian visa in advance by contacting one of the country's diplomatic missions in the world.^[4][5][6][7]

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 the need to obtain a visa in advance, a visa on arrival was 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 were denied a visa on arrival “for security reasons” and asked citizens of these countries to obtain a Syrian visa in advance:^[8][9]

Since May 2018, after the recognition of partially recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia by Syrian Arab Republic, citizens of these countries entered Syria after obtaining a visa. In 2023, the Syrian Ministry of Finance imposed a new fee, which obligated foreign vehicles entering the country to pay a $100 fee for a temporary visit, valid for a period of two weeks. The amount doubled ($200) for vehicles that had been in the country for up to four months. Jordanian and Lebanese vehicle plates were excluded from the requirement.^[10]

In April 2024, the introduction of electronic visa was announced, starting 1 May.^[10][11]

In January 2025, and after the fall of the Assad regime, the Syrian transitional government announced a new visa policy, restricting entry to the country to Lebanese and Iranian citizens and banning Israeli citizens.^[2][3][1] While Iranians are required to obtain an authorized visa.^[1] All other nationalities are either required to obtain a prior e-visa or pay a visa on arrival fee while entering the country, based on a "principle of reciprocity".^[1]

Visa policy map

Visa policy of Syria

  Syria

  Visa on arrival/eVisa

  Conditional visa-free access (Lebanon)

  Authorised visa required (Iran)

  Admission refused (Israel)

As of right

Syria

Citizens of Syria do not require a visa to enter, reside, study, and work indefinitely in Syria, and are not subject to any immigration requirements. They may enter with the Syrian passport, national identity card, individual civil status record, driver's license, expired passport or civil extract issued by Syria. Accompanying passengers (mother, wife or children) can obtain a visa on arrival. The same rules also apply to Palestinian refugees with Syrian documents which were granted (with little exceptions) the same rights and duties as Syrian citizens by Law no 260 for 1956.

Syrian entry stamp in 2009

Syrian departure stamp from Damascus International Airport in 2010

Syrian entry stamp in 2010

Visa on arrival / e-Visa

Nationals of all countries of the world (except citizens of Iran and Israel) are able to obtain a visa on arrival or an e-visa to enter Syria.^[1]

Visa required in advance

Nationals of the following country must obtain a visa in advance:^[2][1]

Iran

Admission refused

Nationals of the State 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 an Egyptian or Jordanian border stamp issued by an office bordering Israel, or any information that a person has ever been to Israel, or an indication of any connection with the State of Israel.^[12][1]

Israel

Statistics

See also: Tourism in Syria

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[13]
1996	2,435,000[13]
1997	2,332,000[13]
1998	2,464,000[13]
1999	2,682,000[13]
2000	3,412,000[13]
2001	3,671,000[13]
2002	4,678,000[13]
2003	4,837,000[13]
2004	6,334,000[13]
2005	5,859,000[13]
2006	5,682,000[13]
2007	5,434,000[13]
2008	6,951,000[13]
2009	7,721,000[13]
2010	10,970,000[13]
2011	6,476,000[13]
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	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	1,291,000[13] (Just as it was said above)
2018	1,802,000[13] (Just as it was said above)
2019	2,424,000[13] (Just as it was said above)
2020	No data
2021	750,000[13] (Just as it was said above)
2022	1,850,000[13] (Just as it was said above)
2023	2,000,000[13][14] (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 2012 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	33,839[15]	32,215[15]	29,370[16]	31,614[17]	21,743[18]	25,436[18]	7,868[19]	1,784[15]	1,835[15]	4,012[15]	9,944[15]	15,256[15]

See also

• Visa requirements for Syrian citizens
• Tourism in Syria