Visitors to Syria must obtain a visa from one of the Syrian diplomatic missions unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries, or citizens who may obtain a visa on arrival.

Syrian visa in 2010

Syrian stamp in 2016

Syrian stamp in 2009

Syrian stamp in 2010

Syrian stamp in 2010

Visa policy map

History

Before the start of protests, hostilities and conflicts and the start of the devastating Civil war in Syria in 2011, citizens of many Asian, European, African and American countries could visit Syria without a visa or get 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, until now, citizens of some states can de facto enter Syria without a visa or receive a visa on arrival. The visa policy of Syria is now extremely unstable, and there is no exact data on the visa policy of this country. This data is taken from open sources and may become outdated or irrelevant. When entering Syria, the Syrian authorities ask to obtain a Syrian visa in advance by contacting one of the country's diplomatic missions in the world.^[1][2][3][4]

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 need to obtain a visa in advance, a visa on arrival is 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 are denied a visa on arrival “for security reasons” and ask citizens of these countries to obtain a Syrian visa in advance:^[5][6]

Visa exemption

According to Timatic, citizens of the following countries may enter Syria without a visa for the following period:^[7]

_{ID — May enter Syria with an ID card in lieu of a passport.}

Visa on arrival

Citizens of the following countries are specifically listed on Timatic as countries whose citizens may obtain a visa on arrival for the following period:^[7]

Syrian visa in 2001

Citizens of  Armenia and  Ukraine^[15] may also obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 15 days, provided that they have obtained prior approval from the Syrian Immigration Headquarters.^[7]

In addition, according to Timatic, citizens of any country without any Syrian representation may obtain a visa on arrival in Syria.^[7] However, Timatic specifically lists all citizens of India, Libya, Pakistan and the United States, as well as female citizens of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand, as being ineligible for a visa on arrival^[7] - they are instead required to obtain a visa in advance.

Entry restrictions

Admission restrictions

Citizens 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 any information that a person has ever been to Israel, or an indication of any connection with the State of Israel.^[7]

Also, the following passports are not recognized by the Syrian Arab Republic:^[16][7]

After the recognition of partially recognized  Abkhazia and  South Ossetia by Syrian Arab Republic in May 2018, citizens of these countries may enter Syria by obtaining a visa.

Visitor statistics

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[17]
1996	2,435,000[17]
1997	2,332,000[17]
1998	2,464,000[17]
1999	2,682,000[17]
2000	3,412,000[17]
2001	3,671,000[17]
2002	4,678,000[17]
2003	4,837,000[17]
2004	6,334,000[17]
2005	5,859,000[17]
2006	5,682,000[17]
2007	5,434,000[17]
2008	6,951,000[17]
2009	7,721,000[17]
2010	10,970,000[17]
2011	6,476,000[17]
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[17] (Just as it was said above)
2018	1,802,000[17] (Just as it was said above)
2019	2,424,000[17] (Just as it was said above)
2020	No data
2021	750,000[17] (Just as it was said above)
2022	1,850,000[17] (Just as it was said above)
2023	2,000,000[17][18] (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 2011 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[19]	32,215[19]	29,370[20]	31,614[21]	21,743[22]	25,436[22]	7,868[23]	1,784[19]	1,835[19]	4,012[19]	9,944[19]	15,256[19]

See also

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Syria.

• Visa requirements for Syrian citizens

References