| Syrian Passport | |
|---|---|
 The front cover of a contemporary Syrianbiometric passport  | |
| Type | Passport |
| Issued by | Syria Ministry of Interior,Immigration and Passport Directorate |
| First issued | 1929 (first version) 21 August 2023 (biometric)[1] |
| Purpose | Identification, proof of citizenship |
| Eligibility | Syrian citizenship |
| Expiration | 6 years[2] |
TheSyrian passport[a] is atravel document issued by thegovernment of Syria toSyrian citizens for international travel.[1] It can also be issued on behalf of the directorate at variousSyrian diplomatic missions outside of Syria.
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding to it.(November 2024) |
In late 2016, Syria's Department of Immigration and Passports announced that it is planning to change tobiometric passports.[3]
In early 2019, Syria's Interior Minister announced that the country is getting ready to release its new passport.[4]In August 2023, Syria officially introduced the biometric passport, which notably dropped the usage of the French Language and kept Arabic and English.
On 3 July 2025, theSyrian transitional government unveiled a redesigned Syrian passport as part of the country's newly adopted visual identity following thefall of the Assad regime. The updated passport features a green cover and incorporates a newly introducednational emblem.[5]
The processing time for Syrian passports varies depending on the type of service requested. Ordinary passports are typically issued within 14 working days, whileexpedited passports are processed within 1 to 3 days.As of August 2025, the fee for ordinary processing is US$200, and the fee for urgent (expedited) processing is US$400.[6]
In April 2015, Syria changed its passport requirements so that Syrians outside Syria, includingrefugees who have fled theSyrian Civil War, are eligible for passports without having to go through a review by the intelligence services. Passports will be issued to Syrians "even if they left in an illegal manner or they hold non-official passports or travel documents", likely referring to passports issued by Syrian opposition representatives inQatar.[7]
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However, the government was also criticized for increasing fees and limiting the ease of obtaining passports for Syrians abroad throughout the war, with costs going from less than US$20 in Syria to hundreds or even a thousand dollars needed to renew a passport in Turkey between official fees and corruption. This was seen as a way to obtain foreign currency reserves and fund al-Assad's administration.[8][9] Consular revenues increased from 0.4% of government income in 2010 to 5.4% in 2023. Some countries supplied Syrian refugees with acertificate of identity or arefugee travel document due to the issues with getting a new passport.[10]
Syrian passports include the following data on the information page:
The information page ends with themachine readable zone.
The items are identified by text in Arabic and English (e.g., "تاريخ الولادة / Date of birth")
The passports contain inside the front cover a note that is addressed to the authorities of all countries and territories, identifying the bearer as a citizen ofSyria and requesting that he or she be allowed to pass and be treated according to international norms:
In Arabic:
In English:
Ordinary passports are passports that are issued to Syrian citizens. They are green-colored, with the country's emblem emblazoned in the center of the front cover.
The words "الجمهورية العربية السورية" and their English translation "SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC" are centered on the top, whilst the words "جواز سفر" and their English translation "PASSPORT" are centered on the bottom, with the biometric passport symbol positioned below. Three transparent golden-colored stars are also seen at the very top.
An ordinary Syrian passport contains 48 pages, each two of them (excluding the first three and the last one, which include governmental notations and the holder's information) have a Syrian landmark.
Emblem of the Syrian Arab Republic
Holder's Information
Citadel of Aleppo,Aleppo Governorate
Umayyad Mosque,Damascus Governorate
Jabar Citadel,Raqqa Governorate
Busra Amphitheatre,Daraa Governorate
Deir ez-Zor Suspension Bridge,Deir ez-Zor Governorate
Citadel of Salah ed-Din,Latakia Governorate
Hama Waterwheels,Hama Governorate
Palmyra Theatre,Homs Governorate
Al-Marqab Citadel,Tartus Governorate
Convent of Saint Thecla,Rif Dimashq Governorate
Ain Diwar Bridge,Al-Hasakah Governorate
Gothic Church of Qalb Lozeh,Idlib Governorate
Nimrod Fortress,Quneitra Governorate[b]
Qanawat,As-Suwayda Governorate
October War Panorama, Rif Dimashq Governorate
Souq Al-Hamidiyah, Damascus Governorate
Euphrates Dam, Raqqa Governorate
Krak des Chevaliers, Homs Governorate
Afamia, Hama Governorate
Saint Simon Citadel, Aleppo Governorate
Martyrs' Monument, Rif Dimashq Governorate
Citadel of Damascus, Damascus Governorate
Visa requirements forSyrian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens ofSyria. As of April 2025, Syrian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 27 countries and territories, ranking the Syrian passport 101st which is the second least powerful passport in the world in terms of travel freedom, only behind theAfghan passport, according to theHenley Passport Index.[11]
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