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TheSyrian transitional government imposes entry visa fees (visa on arrival or e-visa) on its visitors based on a "principle of reciprocity"[1] – as of March 2025 it is still unclear to whom it applies – meanwhileIsraeli citizens are banned from entering or transiting through the country,Iranian citizens are required to obtain a prior authorization, andLebanese citizens who do not hold a valid residence permit in another country or do not have at least one family member who is a Syrian citizen are required to obtain a prior visa (obtainable at any port of entry).[2][3][1]
Iranian visitors can obtain a visa from one of theSyrian diplomatic missions.[citation needed]
Before theSyrian civil war, hostilities and conflicts and the start of the devastatingCivil war in Syria in 2011, citizens of manyAsian,European,African andAmerican countries visitedSyria without avisa or got 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, citizens of some states de facto entered Syria without a visa or received a visa on arrival. The visa policy of Syria was extremely unstable, and there was no exact data on the visa policy of the country and while entering Syria, the Syrian authorities sometimes asked tourists to obtain a Syrian visa in advance by contacting one of thecountry's diplomatic missions in the world.[4][5][6][7]
Until 2014, citizens of the former Soviet republics of theUSSR (excluding theBaltic republics),Iran, someAsian,African,European,American countries, and almost all countries of theArab world did not need a visa to enter Syria. According toIATA, which provides information provided by national governments, despite the Syrian government's officially stated the need to obtain a visa in advance, a visa on arrival was still de facto valid for citizens ofArmenia,Azerbaijan,Belarus,Egypt,Iran,Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan,Russia,Tajikistan,Turkmenistan andUzbekistan, but after the intensification of theCivil war, some citizens of these countries were denied a visa on arrival “for security reasons” and asked citizens of these countries to obtain a Syrian visa in advance:[8][9]
Since May 2018, after the recognition of partially recognizedAbkhazia andSouth Ossetia by Syrian Arab Republic, citizens of these countries entered Syria after obtaining a visa. In 2023, theSyrian Ministry of Finance imposed a new fee, which obligated foreign vehicles entering the country to pay a $100 fee for a temporary visit, valid for a period of two weeks. The amount doubled ($200) for vehicles that had been in the country for up to four months. Jordanian and Lebanese vehicle plates were excluded from the requirement.[10]
In April 2024, the introduction of electronic visa was announced, starting 1 May.[10][11]
In January 2025, and after thefall of the Assad regime, theSyrian transitional government announced a new visa policy, restricting entry to the country to Lebanese and Iranian citizens and banning Israeli citizens.[2][3][1] While Iranians are required to obtain an authorized visa.[1] All other nationalities are either required to obtain a prior e-visa or pay a visa on arrival fee while entering the country, based on a "principle of reciprocity".[1]
| Citizens of Syria do not require a visa to enter, reside, study, and work indefinitely in Syria, and are not subject to anyimmigration requirements. They may enter with theSyrian passport, national identity card, individual civil status record, driver's license, expired passport or civil extract issued by Syria. Accompanying passengers (mother, wife or children) can obtain a visa on arrival. The same rules also apply toPalestinian refugees with Syrian documents which were granted (with little exceptions) the same rights and duties as Syrian citizens by Law no 260 for 1956. |
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Nationals of all countries of the world (except citizens of Iran and Israel) are able to obtain a visa on arrival or an e-visa to enter Syria.[1]
Nationals of the following country must obtain a visa in advance:[2][1]
Nationals of theState 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 an Egyptian or Jordanian border stamp issued by an office bordering Israel, or any information that a person has ever been to Israel, or an indication of any connection with the State of Israel.[12][1]
Before the outbreak of theSyrian civil war in 2011, Syria was one of the most popular tourist destinations in theMiddle 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 ofTurkey,Iran, almost all countries of theArab world,Europe andSouth Asia, as well as for almost all countries of thePost-Soviet space as a budget travel option and a shopping point for merchants.
| Year | Visitors |
|---|---|
| Until 1994 | No data |
| 1995 | 2,253,000[13] |
| 1996 |  2,435,000[13] |
| 1997 |  2,332,000[13] |
| 1998 | 2,464,000[13] |
| 1999 | 2,682,000[13] |
| 2000 | 3,412,000[13] |
| 2001 | 3,671,000[13] |
| 2002 | 4,678,000[13] |
| 2003 | 4,837,000[13] |
| 2004 | 6,334,000[13] |
| 2005 | 5,859,000[13] |
| 2006 | 5,682,000[13] |
| 2007 | 5,434,000[13] |
| 2008 | 6,951,000[13] |
| 2009 | 7,721,000[13] |
| 2010 | 10,970,000[13] |
| 2011 | 6,476,000[13] |
| 2012—2015 | During these years, during the height of thecivil war, the official government of theSyrian Arab Republic did not control most of the borders of Syria, especially the border withTurkey andIraq, 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[13] (Just as it was said above) |
| 2018 | 1,802,000[13] (Just as it was said above) |
| 2019 | 2,424,000[13] (Just as it was said above) |
| 2020 | No data |
| 2021 | 750,000[13] (Just as it was said above) |
| 2022 | 1,850,000[13] (Just as it was said above) |
| 2023 | 2,000,000[13][14] (Just as it was said above) |
The list does not includeRussian citizens who entered Syria through third countries, as well as through the uncontrolled borders of Syria by the officialgovernment of the Syrian Arab Republic. Especially between 2012 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[15] | 32,215[15] | 29,370[16] | 31,614[17] | 21,743[18] | 25,436[18] | 7,868[19] | 1,784[15] | 1,835[15] | 4,012[15] | 9,944[15] | 15,256[15] |
