! As of March 2023, US citizens are allowed to apply for a tourist visa. Getting a Syrian visa is pretty easy today, but it's something you can't do on your own, as the Ministry of Tourism emphasizes that all travelers who want to get a Syrian tourist visa must book a tour with an operator.

—

If you decide to travel to Syria, you will need to obtain a visa and security clearance through a travel agency before you travel. All tourists must take out an insurance policy for the entire duration of their stay in the country. The minimum coverage should be 30 thousand euros.

—

Israelis and anyone with evidence of travel to Israel:

Israeli passport holders are not allowed to travel to Syria. If you have proof of travel to Israel in your passport, you will also be denied entry. This includes entry and exit stamps from Egypt or Jordan that indicate that you have crossed the land border into or out of Israel.

—

Currently, citizens of most countries need a visa to enter Syria unless you have a passport from one of the following countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Citizens who can enter the country without a prior visa must provide a passport with at least two blank pages.

—

You cannot apply for a visa to Syria and travel on your own, the trip must be planned through a travel organization with the permission of the government.

However, in order to obtain a visa, you currently need a special security clearance - a check of your personal data - which you need to obtain through a travel agency.

If you decide to book a tour through a travel agency, they will apply for a security clearance in Syria for you. All you have to do is email them copies of your passports, personal details and indicate your profession;

Your travel agency will notify you as soon as security clearance is received.

If you don't have a security clearance, you won't be able to get a visa.

—

How much does a security check cost?

It is always included in the total cost of the tour, so it all depends on which tour you book.

—

How long does it take to get an entry permit?

Maximum 2-3 weeks.

—

How long is it valid for?

The entry permit is valid for 90 days, starting from the day you received it.

—

A Syrian visa is a stamp in a passport. There are two types of entry visas:

1. Single entry three-month visa;
2. Visa for 6 months: for single and multiple entries.

A foreigner who wants to stay in Syria for more than fifteen days after the date of entry must notify the immigration service or its offices in the provinces in order to apply for a residence permit or visa extension.

The residence permit is granted directly to Arabs, as well as to foreigners born in Syria or spouses of Syrian citizens.

❗️ Important!

The Syrian government has introduced electronic visas. Read more about it below.

—

A Syrian visa can be obtained at the nearest embassy or consulate or at the border. The cost of a visa depends on the country of residence and ranges from $70 to $150.

Please note that prices tend to fluctuate depending on the exchange rate, but on average:

EU passport holders: 60 €

Canada:90 USD

United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand: 140 USD

USA: 150 USD 

Other passports: 60 €

Try to have the exact amount of money for your visa with you. Otherwise, you will be given change in Syrian pounds at the official bank rate.

—

What you need to get a Syrian visa:

• Permit from the Ministry of Tourism (security clearance);
• A copy of the passport;
• A completed visa application form if you are applying from an embassy;
• Health insurance policy;
• Documents confirming the purpose of the trip;
• The visa fee is paid.

—

For most nationalities, it will take less than a week to get a visa approval, but it is very individual. US citizens, for example, need 4 months, while Brazilian citizens need a few days.

—

More information on obtaining a visa to Syria is available on the website of the Ministry of Tourism of Syria.

The new Syrian e-visa

On May 1, 2024, the Syrian Ministry of Tourism announced that Syrian citizens, as well as Arab and foreign nationals, can now apply for an electronic visa to enter the country without having to visit Syrian embassies/consulates abroad.

From now on, you can apply for a visa to Syria on the official platform https://evisa.sy/. 

• Syrian nationals can apply for an e-Visa on behalf of their friends and relatives from Arab and foreign countries through offices affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Tourism or through the Anjez Syria platform.
• Arab and foreign nationals abroad can directly access the E-Visa website to register for an e-Visa.

How to apply for an e-Visa for Syria: a quick guide

1. Go to the platform https://evisa.sy/ and click on the "Login" button at the top of the page.

- Enter your registered email address and password.

- If you do not have an account, click on the Create button.

2. Activate your account: an activation code will be sent to the email address you provided when registering your account.

3. Click the Apply Now button at the top of the page.

- Fill in your personal information

- Upload a photo of the first page of your passport

- You must upload all supporting documents according to the instructions on the page

4. Once all the required information is submitted, submit your visa application by clicking the "Confirm" button.

5. You should receive a response to your e-visa application within 72 hours.

You can track the progress of your application, as well as cancel your application or make any necessary changes before submitting it.

Payment of the e-visa fee

The system offers two payment options: 

1. By electronic payment, if available

2. By deferring the payment of fees until the person (visa applicant) reaches the border points where the fees are charged in full, including the visa fee and service fee.