Syria Visa Guide: How to Choose Your Visa Type and Apply

(SYRIA) Syria has tightened and standardized entry fees, and as of January 2026 most visitors should expect to pay cash USD at every border under Decree No. 148/8, issued July 6, 2025. If you arrive by land from Lebanon or Jordan, a visa on arrival remains common for many nationalities, often issued in minutes. Air arrivals through Damascus or Aleppo usually need pre-approval before the airline lets you board.

Travelers feel these rules most at the checkpoint: cash-only payments, nationality-based fee tiers, and strict screening for anyone with Israeli nationality or evidence of travel to Israel. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the practical shift is that land crossings no longer work as a way to avoid airport fees.

The 2025 decree that put USD fees at every entry point

Decree No. 148/8 made one rule simple: visa fees apply at airports and all land borders, and they are collected in USD at the rate set by the Central Bank of Syria’s daily exchange rate. Before July 6, 2025, many land travelers reported fee exemptions that no longer apply.

Fees vary by nationality, visa type, and duration. Examples cited for 2026 include:

• Single-entry tourist visa (1 month): $75 for EU citizens; $150 for U.S./UK citizens
• Double-entry tourist visa (3 months): $110 for EU citizens; $225 for U.S./UK citizens
• Multiple-entry tourist visa (6 months): $150 for EU citizens; $300 for U.S./UK citizens
• Transit visa (15 days): $40 for EU citizens; $75 for U.S./UK citizens

“English-speaking” countries, including 🇺🇸 United States, the UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, face higher tiers in these examples.

Fee examples (2026)

Picking a visa type that matches your purpose and time in Syria

Syria still uses the core categories travelers commonly need. The visa label matters because it determines duration and entry rights.

• Tourist visa: Common for cultural visits. Available as single-entry (1 month), double-entry (3 months), or multiple-entry (6 months).
• Business visa: For meetings and conferences; usually requires a sponsor invitation and higher scrutiny.
• Transit visa: Short option (listed as 15 days) for passing through.
• Student visa: Tied to enrollment at a Syrian institution; often requires embassy processing and longer handling.

Nearly all nationalities need a visa. Guidance lists visa-free entry for Jordan, Malaysia, and Mauritania, and reports exemptions for GCC citizens and some Arab states.

Start by choosing the entry route that matches your paperwork

Your first decision is the route, not just the visa type.

Land entry (often simplest)

• Many travelers from Lebanon or Jordan report getting a visa on arrival without prior paperwork.
• Typical steps: complete a form at the border, pay USD cash, and receive the stamp—often in minutes.

Air entry (plan ahead)

• Airlines commonly expect prior approval for Damascus or Aleppo arrivals.
• That approval is often arranged through a licensed tour operator or via an embassy/consulate where available.
• Independent travelers should plan for a security clearance (background check) linked to the Ministry of Tourism. Agencies commonly obtain that clearance in 1–4 weeks.
• Start the process 4–6 weeks before travel.

Documents and checks officials expect to see

Prepare for a paper-and-cash process rather than a digital one. Syria does not offer a widely used e-visa system in this guidance, and embassies are limited.

Bring:

• A passport valid at least 6 months beyond entry
• 2–4 passport photos
• Proof of itinerary (hotel details and a return or onward ticket)
• For business travel: a sponsor invitation
• For study: an admission letter from a Syrian institution
• USD cash for fees at the airport or land border

Border officials apply a hard stop on Israeli nationality and on passports showing Israeli stamps or other Israel-linked evidence. Journalists can face extra hurdles—carry proof of occupation.

Important: If your passport displays Israel-related stamps, expect refusal. Renew your passport before travel if you have any such marks.

Pre-approval and tour support during the waiting period

If you need pre-approval, you usually send a passport scan and personal details to a licensed operator, who then seeks the clearance. The clearance timeline is 1–4 weeks. That wait is why plans often revolve around tours for many Western passport holders.

Operators and services cited by travelers:

• Syrian Guides tour services
• Rocky Road Travel approvals
• Private visa services such as VisaHQ’s Syria application support

U.S. citizens are described as eligible for entry but often need tour-group travel for clearance, with trips sometimes described as lasting up to four weeks. Even when a visa on arrival is available, joining a tour reduces the risk of being turned back.

Arrival day: procedures, payments, and processing times

At a land crossing the process is usually fast:

1. Line up and complete the entry form.
2. Hand over your passport and photos if requested.
3. Pay the USD fee in cash.
4. Receive a visa sticker or stamp in the passport.

At airports expect similar fee collection after arrival, but airlines may check for pre-approval before boarding. Treat pre-flight checks as strict.

• Cards and ATMs are not reliable—bring USD cash and, where convenient, exchange before the border (for example, in Lebanon).
• An exit fee of about 2,500 SYP (around $5 USD) is also cited.

Processing times:

• Visa on arrival at land borders: typically minutes
• Pre-approval for air arrivals: 1–4 weeks

After entry: registration, overstays, and staying within the rules

• If you stay more than 14 days, you must register at an Immigration Office. This is a real deadline—overstays risk fines or deportation.
• Expect frequent checks inside the country and stick to approved routes.
• Many governments warn that Syria’s security situation remains volatile. For U.S. travelers, consult the U.S. State Department’s Syria travel page for official advisories and notices.

Dual nationals and Syrians returning home can face different document expectations. Civil registry checks may allow entry without documents if a person is registered—this is an exception, not a plan.

Safety checks and official advisories to read first

Syrian authorities and airlines can question your route, contacts, and reason for travel—especially if traveling independently. Carry printed hotel details, a clear itinerary, and any tour confirmation.

• If your passport shows Israel-related stamps, expect refusal—renew your passport first if needed.
• Unapproved routes and low-security areas raise problems; crowded areas can change quickly.
• Check home-country travel warnings close to departure, not only weeks earlier.

Useful official sources often cited by travelers:

• Government of Canada travel advice for Syria
• Smartraveller’s Syria advice (Australia)

Because exemptions and fee tiers differ by nationality, confirm rules again within 48 hours of travel.

Key takeaway: Carry printed supporting documents, bring USD cash for fees, and expect nationality-based screening at the border.

A realistic planning timeline that reduces border stress

Use this timeline as a template:

1. Six weeks before travel: Decide land versus air and confirm whether you need pre-approval.
2. Four weeks before travel: If required, submit your passport scan and details for security clearance through a tour operator.
3. One week before travel: Gather photos, print itinerary details, and secure enough USD cash for fees and contingencies.
4. Travel day: Arrive early, expect questions, and keep all documents together for repeated checks.
5. Two weeks after entry: If you will remain longer than 14 days, complete immigration registration promptly.

Warning: Rules, fees, and clearance procedures can change quickly—plan with time buffers and keep recent confirmations on hand.