Syria visa and entry requirements

The UK, Canadian and German governments say their citizens need a visa for Syria, Australia says its citizens who don't have Syrian identity documents need one, and Canada says non-Arab nationals can't obtain one at border points of entry. Türkiye's foreign ministry says Turkish citizens are exempt; for Arab passports no official source we could read states the rule. Syria's embassy in Paris says entry-visa applications must be made online at evisa.sy and that it will stop receiving visa applications, and the UK and Australian governments also point to the online application. Italy's foreign ministry says that until the online platform is restored the entry visa can be requested at the border.

Every fact on this page verified on or after: Aug 26, 2026· How this site works

Check requirements for your passport

Requirements differ by nationality. Select your passport above, or scan the full table below.

Visas & entry authorisations

Entry requirements

Passport validity

The UK government says that to enter Syria your passport must have an expiry date at least 3 months after the date you arrive. Germany's Federal Foreign Office tells its citizens all travel documents must still be valid for at least six months on entry.

Verified Oct 3, 2026 · gov.uk · auswaertiges-amt.de says travel documents must be valid for at least six months on entryCompare every country

Vaccinations

Not officially stated

No official source we read lists a vaccination certificate required for entry.

Travel insurance

Not officially stated

No official source we could read states whether travel insurance is required to enter Syria. The UK Foreign Office warns that travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against its advice.

Verified Oct 4, 2026 · gov.uk

Onward or return ticket

Not officially stated

No official source we could read states whether Syria requires a return or onward ticket.

Verified Oct 7, 2026 · gov.uk

Proof of funds

Not officially stated

No official source we could read states a funds requirement or amount for visitors to Syria. The UK Foreign Office says there are restrictions on financial transactions in Syria and limits on cash withdrawals in the country.

Verified Oct 4, 2026 · gov.uk

Customs & currency

No official source we could read states Syria's threshold for declaring cash. The UK Foreign Office says only that you must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

  • The UK FCDO says security forces may confiscate phones, cameras and other recording equipment, and that foreign journalists entering Syria should check with the Syrian authorities to ensure they follow the relevant regulations and requirements.
  • The UK FCDO says holders of Israeli or Iranian citizenship cannot enter Syria, and that you may be refused entry if your passport shows previous travel to Israel.
Verified Oct 4, 2026 · gov.uk

Country in a nutshell

Currency
Syrian pound (SYP, £S)
Cards & payments
Canada's travel advice says Syria's economy is primarily cash-based and credit cards are not widely accepted: carry enough US dollars or euros. It says ATMs in major cities such as Damascus and Aleppo are not always reliable, that because of international sanctions Canadians may not be able to use their credit and debit cards, and that exchanging currency on the street is illegal. The UK FCDO says there is minimal or no use of electronic payment systems to purchase goods.
Safety — High risk
The UK government advises against all travel to Syria due to unpredictable security conditions and the threat of terrorist attacks, and says consular support is not available from the British government from within Syria. It says there is a very high threat of kidnapping from terrorists throughout Syria, and that landmines and other unexploded weapons remain, with a risk in less populated and rural areas.Verified Oct 3, 2026 · gov.uk · archived copy
Power plugs
C, E, L · 220V 50Hz
Emergency numbers
Police: 112 · Ambulance: 110 · Fire: 113
Time zone
UTC+3
International Driving Permit

Syria is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (UN Treaty Collection). Canada's travel advice says you must carry an International Driving Permit.

Verified Oct 3, 2026 · treaties.un.org · Convention on Road Traffic Compare every country
Tap water
not for drinking. Use bottled

Tips & warnings

The UK FCDO advises against all travel to Syria due to unpredictable security conditions and the threat of terrorist attacks. It says landmines and other unexploded weapons remain from the conflict and that, while highly populated areas and major routes are largely clear, a risk remains in less populated and rural areas: do not step off roads and paved areas without an experienced guide.

The UK FCDO says you may be refused entry if your passport shows previous travel to Israel, and that holders of Israeli citizenship cannot enter Syria.

Canada says credit cards are not widely accepted and to carry enough US dollars or euros, that ATMs are not always reliable, and that because of international sanctions Canadians may not be able to use their credit and debit cards. It says exchanging currency on the street is illegal: exchange money only in banks or at official exchange counters.

Canada says roadblocks and checkpoints are common, including on major roads and highways in and around major cities and along the highways connecting Damascus to Aleppo, Jordan and Beirut. The UK FCDO says you must carry copies of your passport photo page and visa for identification, and Canada says it is prohibited to photograph official buildings such as military or government installations.

Visa requirements by nationality

PassportsVisas & entry authorisationsMax stay
AustraliaVisa required—
BarbadosVisa required—
BelgiumVisa required—
Bosnia and HerzegovinaVisa required—
BulgariaVisa required—
CanadaVisa required—
ColombiaVisa required—
EcuadorVisa required—
FinlandVisa required—
FranceVisa required—
GermanyVisa required—
IrelandVisa required—
ItalyVisa required—
JamaicaVisa required—
JapanVisa required—
KazakhstanVisa required—
MoldovaVisa required—
MontenegroVisa required—
NetherlandsVisa required—
North MacedoniaVisa required—
PolandVisa required—
PortugalVisa required—
RussiaVisa required—
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesVisa required—
SeychellesVisa required—
SloveniaVisa required—
SpainVisa required—
SyriaFree movement—
TajikistanVisa required—
TurkeyVisa-free—
UkraineVisa required—
United KingdomVisa required—

Stay lengths are for ordinary tourist visits. Click a nationality for its full guide.

No official page we read states the rule for 167 nationalities, so the table leaves them out: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of the Congo, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Turkey97 of 199 passports visa-free · 28 eVisa/ETAIraq1 of 199 passports visa-free · 46 eVisa/ETAJordan1 of 199 passports visa-free · 53 eVisa/ETAIsrael1 of 199 passports visa-free · 104 eVisa/ETALebanon8 of 199 passports visa-free

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Syria?

The UK, Canadian, German and Australian governments all say their citizens need a visa, and Canada says non-Arab nationals can't obtain one at border points of entry. Türkiye's foreign ministry says Turkish citizens are exempt. For Arab passports no official source we could read states the rule. Syria's embassy in Paris says entry-visa applications must be made online at evisa.sy and that it will stop receiving visa applications; the UK and Australian governments also point to the online application. Italy's foreign ministry says that until the online platform is restored the entry visa can be requested at the border.

Can I get a Syrian visa on arrival?

Canada says non-Arab nationals can't obtain a visa at border points of entry and must obtain it from the nearest Syrian embassy or consulate before departure. Germany's Federal Foreign Office says Syrian visas cannot always be issued at Syria's border crossings with neighbouring countries. Italy's foreign ministry says that until the online platform is restored the visa can be requested at the border, at the land crossings from Jordan and Lebanon and at Damascus and Aleppo airports.

Is Syria safe to visit?

The UK FCDO advises against all travel to Syria due to unpredictable security conditions and the threat of terrorist attacks, and says terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks. It says landmines and other unexploded weapons remain, with a risk in less populated and rural areas, and that journalists and other foreign nationals may be at increased risk of detention, mistreatment or harassment by armed groups and security forces.

What money should I use in Syria?

Canada's travel advice says the economy is primarily cash-based, credit cards are not widely accepted and you should carry enough US dollars or euros to cover your expenses; ATMs in major cities such as Damascus and Aleppo are not always reliable. It says exchanging currency on the street is illegal: you must exchange foreign currency in banks or at official exchange counters.

Can I visit Syria if I have been to Israel?

The UK government says holders of Israeli citizenship cannot enter Syria, and that if your passport shows previous travel to Israel you may be refused entry.

Sources & verification

Every fact on this page is compiled from and periodically re-checked against these official sources:

Something wrong or out of date? Tell us, with the official source