To visit Syria, travelers must have a valid passport and a Syria visa. Visas must be obtained in advance.
Note: Entry to Syria is heavily restricted and extremely dangerous. The Embassy of Syria in Washington, D.C. suspended all operations, including consular services in 2014.
Passport & Visa Requirements
- Passport validity: Your U.S. passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry.
- Blank pages: At least two blank passport pages are required for visas and entry/exit stamps.
- Visa requirement: U.S. citizens must obtain a visa in advance to enter Syria.
- Visa issuance: Visas must be obtained from a Syrian embassy or consulate prior to travel. Visa on arrival is not available, and approval can be lengthy or denied, especially for U.S. citizens.
Entry Procedures
- Arrival points: Entry is generally via land borders with Lebanon or Jordan (when open) or through Damascus International Airport if operational. Border closures are frequent.
- Security screening: Travelers are often subject to extensive questioning and may be denied entry without explanation.
- Evidence of travel to Israel: Entry is denied to travelers with evidence of prior travel to Israel in their passport.
- Registration: Visitors must register their place of stay with local authorities within 15 days of arrival.
Health & Vaccinations
- Yellow fever: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if arriving from or transiting through a country with yellow fever risk.
- Routine vaccinations: No other vaccines are required, but travelers should be up to date on MMR, polio, tetanus, hepatitis A/B, and typhoid.
- Medical care: Medical facilities are extremely limited and many hospitals are damaged. Travelers should carry all necessary medications and have medical evacuation insurance.
Traveling with Minors
- Parental authorization: No special published entry requirements exist, but a notarized parental consent letter is strongly recommended if a child is traveling alone or with only one parent.
Additional Restrictions & Considerations
- Security advisory: The U.S. Department of State currently has a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Syria.
- Currency declaration: Travelers must declare if carrying over US$5,000 or equivalent when entering or leaving Syria.
- Sanctions: U.S. citizens are subject to U.S. economic sanctions on Syria; violations can result in severe civil or criminal penalties.
- Consular services: The U.S. Embassy in Damascus is closed, and the U.S. government cannot provide emergency or routine consular services to U.S. citizens in Syria.
- Overstays: Overstaying a visa can result in fines, detention, and difficulties departing Syria.
In a hurry? Apply online to get your visa, e-visa, ETA or eVOA fast.
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