- Turkey exempted Syrian diplomatic passport holders from visa rules effective August 28, 2026.
- The waiver covers official duties, tourism stays of up to 90 days, and transit through Turkey.
- The decision appeared in the Official Gazette after Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signed decree 11671.
Turkey exempted Syrian diplomatic passport holders from visa rules on August 28, 2026, and the decision took effect immediately. The waiver opens one narrow lane. It covers official work, tourism and transit.
Only diplomatic passports qualify. The measure does not extend to the broader Syrian public. Each covered trip has its own rule, from duty travel to short tourism and passage through the country. One passport class, three travel purposes.
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Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Media and Communications Department said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued the decision and described it as part of “Syrian diplomatic efforts and cooperation with Türkiye.” The ministry also said the exemption applies to Syrians traveling to Türkiye “to take up official duties or posts,” along with tourism and transit. That was the ministry’s framing. Nothing wider was attached to it.
The order appeared in the Official Gazette on August 28, 2026. Erdoğan signed it on August 27 under Article 18 of Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection. Turkish coverage identified the measure as decree 11671 and cited the Gazette issue as no. 33354. The dates line up.
Turkish coverage said diplomatic passport holders will “no longer require entry permits” for covered short stays and may “pass through Türkiye without obtaining transit visas.” Those words match the published exemption. Entry, stay and transit are now separated in the text of the decree. The routes are distinct.
| Covered travel | Rule |
|---|---|
| Official assignments | Visa exemption for holders of Syrian diplomatic passports appointed to duties in Turkey |
| Tourism | Stay of up to 90 days within any 180-day period |
| Transit | Visa-free passage through Turkish territory |
Official assignments in Turkey stay tied to diplomatic passports
Official assignments in Turkey are tied to being appointed to duties there. Tourism stays run up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Transit through Turkish territory carries no visa requirement at all. The decree names each lane separately. Nothing is bundled.
Ankara and Damascus keep easing crossings
Regional coverage described the step as another sign of normalization between Ankara and Damascus after years of rupture during the Syrian conflict. That backdrop is long. The decree is new.
Earlier 2026 easing added another route
Coverage also noted that Turkey had already eased some travel procedures for Syrians earlier in 2026, including allowing broader land-border use in addition to airport entry for certain categories of travelers. That earlier adjustment added another route through the border system. It came first.
