Documents you need to enter Syria
What you need, by how you enter and which passport you hold. Every line carries its source, and where there is no dependable source we say so instead of guessing.
Entering by air
Damascus airport · Aleppo airport · Deir ez-Zor airport · Latakia airport · Qamishli airport
Syrian
- A valid Syrian passport. If yours expired abroad the answer depends on the embassy — we have no verified answer, and won't guess.
Source: No dependable source yet
- If you live in Europe: travelling can affect asylum or residence status. We'll publish nothing until we can verify an official source per country — speak to an immigration lawyer.
Source: No dependable source yet
Visa on arrival
- A passport valid six months past your return, with two blank pages.
Source: Foreign government travel advisories
- The big one: even if your nationality qualifies for a visa on arrival, some airlines' systems aren't updated and staff may refuse to board you without prior approval. Sources contradict each other — call the embassy and ask in writing.
Source: Tour operators working in Syria
- The fee is US-dollar cash on arrival, roughly $25–$400 by nationality, under Decision 128 since 6 July 2025.
Source: Foreign government travel advisories
- An Israeli entry stamp may block the visa.
Source: Tour operators working in Syria
Pre-approval
- Prior approval is mandatory. Processing up to a month; valid for entry within three months.
Source: Tour operators working in Syria
- Published lists of restricted nationalities differ and we have no official one. We won't publish a list — check with your embassy.
Source: No dependable source yet
Entering by land
Jdeidet Yabous · Al-Arida · Joussieh · Jisr Qamar · Nasib · Bab al-Hawa · Bab al-Salama · Al-Rai · Jarablus · Tal Abyad · Kasab · Abu Kamal · Semalka · Al-Yarubiyah
Syrian
- Around 391,000 voluntary returns through the crossings in the first half of 2026, over 24,000 through Nasib.
Source: SANA
- If you live in Türkiye: since 1 January 2026, Syrians with a Turkish residence or work permit can enter and leave Syria through Kasab, Bab al-Hawa, al-Hamam, Bab al-Salama, Al-Rai and Jarablus. For anyone else, such as people under temporary protection, we have no current official source — check before you travel.
- If you fly or sail into Lebanon to cross overland to Syria, Lebanese General Security gives you a 24-hour transit permit on your passport (rules of 24 September 2026).
Source: Lebanese General Security
Visa on arrival
- The visa is issued at the crossing: a short form and a stamp, in and out.
Source: Tour operators working in Syria
- US-dollar cash. No cards, no ATM. Bring clean undamaged notes.
Source: Foreign government travel advisories
- Lebanese, Jordanian, Malaysian and Mauritanian citizens are exempt from the fee.
Source: Tour operators working in Syria
Pre-approval
- Prior approval is mandatory even by land.
Source: Tour operators working in Syria
This site is a starting point for checking, not a substitute for it. Things change fast, rules are applied differently by different officials, and a line that was right when we checked it may be wrong today. Confirm everything with the airline or the embassy, and don't buy a non-refundable ticket before your paperwork is settled.