Visa & entry guide.

Since the July 2025 entry-fee reform, most nationalities can obtain a short-stay tourist visa on arrival at Damascus and Aleppo international airports and at the main land crossings, without a pre-arranged letter of invitation. Tourist stays are typically issued for 15 days, sometimes 30, at the discretion of the officer.

A minority of nationalities and professions still require prior approval — journalists, researchers on media assignment, and passports in politically sensitive categories should secure written authorisation through an embassy or a licensed Syrian operator before booking non-refundable tickets. Israeli citizens are barred from entry.

Independent travel is again possible for most visitors; a registered guide is no longer required for ordinary tourism, though it remains advisable in the desert and near former front lines.

Last reviewed: 2026. Sources: Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Expatriates and licensed operators — verify directly before travel.

Entry fees apply at both airports and land borders and must be paid in cash US dollars (euros accepted at some desks). Bring clean, small bills — cards are not accepted at passport control. Bands below are a 2026 snapshot and change by decree.

Nationalities not listed are usually charged the mid band (~USD 50). Always ask before paying; keep the receipt with your entry stamp.

• Passport valid for at least six months beyond date of entry, with two blank pages.
• Cash US dollars for the visa fee plus a buffer — no card payment at the border.
• Confirmed accommodation booking and onward or return travel reservation.
• Two passport-size photographs (still requested at some land desks and for embassy applications).
• Airline confirmation that you may board without a pre-issued visa — some carriers still ask for one despite visa-on-arrival eligibility.
• Proof of sufficient funds for the duration of stay.
• Medical insurance covering Syria is strongly recommended.

Border status and opening hours change frequently. The crossings below were operating for foreign visitors in 2026 — confirm within 72 hours of travel.

• The Syrian Pound (SYP) is the official currency, redenominated in 2025. US dollars and euros in cash are exchanged widely; most foreign cards still do not work at ATMs.
• Bring sufficient cash for the entire trip — calculate generously and split it between bags.
• Israeli stamps or visas in your passport will result in refusal of entry.
• Photography of military, security and government sites remains prohibited.
• Antiquities may not be exported without ministerial authorisation.
• Local SIM cards are sold on presentation of a passport; coverage is good in cities and patchy in the badia.

Some areas still require permits or remain closed: the disengagement zone near the Golan Heights, parts of the north-east and the Euphrates valley, and any active military area. Unexploded ordnance persists around former front lines and in parts of the eastern desert — stay on cleared paths and use a local guide for remote archaeological sites.