Syria Travel Guide

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Passports and Visas

Visitors should be aware that if their passport (or airline ticket) contains an Israeli stamp, or any evidence of an intended visit to Israel, entry to Syria will be refused even if in possession of a valid visa. Visas can only be issued on arrival to those traveling as part of an organized group or if there is no Syrian representation in their home country. Visas are not required for any traveler whose passport states that he or she was born in: Algeria, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates or Yemen. All travelers must hold return or onward tickets, all documents required for the next destination and sufficient funds to cover their stay. It is highly recommended that passports have at least six months validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.

Americans

US nationals require a passport and a visa for travel to Syria. Visitors must hold return/onward tickets, all documents required for their next destination and sufficient funds to cover their stay. Passports with visas for Israel, and airline tickets with Israel as a destination, will be refused entry.

UK Nationals

UK nationals require a passport and a visa for travel to Syria. Visitors must hold return/onward tickets, all documents required for their next destination and sufficient funds to cover their stay. Passports with visas for Israel, and airline tickets with Israel as a destination, will be refused entry.

Canadians

Canadians require a passport and a visa for travel to Syria. Visitors must hold return/onward tickets, all documents required for their next destination and sufficient funds to cover their stay. Passports with visas for Israel or airline tickets showing Israel as a destination will be refused entry.

Australians

Australians require a passport and a visa for travel to Syria. Visitors must hold return/onward tickets, all documents required for their next destination and sufficient funds to cover their stay. Passports with visas for Israel or airline tickets showing Israel as a destination will be refused entry.

South Africans

South Africans require a passport and a visa for travel to Syria. Visitors must hold return/onward tickets, all documents required for their next destination and sufficient funds to cover their stay. Passports with visas for Israel or airline tickets showing Israel as a destination will be refused entry.

Irish Nationals

Irish nationals require a passport and a visa for travel to Syria. Visitors must hold return/onward tickets, all documents required for their next destination and sufficient funds to cover their stay. Passports with visas for Israel or airline tickets showing Israel as a destination will be refused entry.

New Zealanders

New Zealand nationals require a passport and a visa for travel to Syria. Visitors must hold return/onward tickets, all documents required for their next destination and sufficient funds to cover their stay. Passports with visas for Israel or airline tickets showing Israel as a destination will be refused entry.

Healthcare

Malaria is not a health risk in the urban areas of Syria but travelers to El Hassaka, in northern Syria, are recommended to take chloroquine between May and October. A yellow fever certificate is required by travelers arriving from an infected country in Africa or the Americas. It is recommended that travelers are vaccinated against polio. Although medical treatment is inexpensive, standards are variable. Doctors are generally well qualified and most medical personnel speak English or French. Basic medical care is available in major cities, but medical insurance is strongly advised.

Safety

Most visits to Syria are trouble-free, and crime levels are low. Terrorism is a risk, and although not usually directed at tourists, there is the risk of becoming an unintentional victim, especially at places like the US Embassy.