Passport and visa regulations
Nationalities
| Passport required | visa required | Return ticket required | |
| Austria | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Switzerland | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Other EU countries | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Turkey | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Germany | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Passport information
Generally required, must still be valid for at least 6 months upon entry.
Visa information
Generally required.
- Thembaprograms: Offers ultimate guide to duty-free shopping in Syria. Also includes import and export regulations, as well as embassy and telecommunication information about this country.
Costs
Germany The following fees apply to German citizens only (other fees apply to foreigners with a residence permit for Germany that has been valid for at least 6 months). Entry visa: €60 (single entry, valid for 3 months); Fees vary according to the nationality of the applicants; Information from the competent consular representations.
Visa types and costs
Tourist, Business and Transit Visa.
Validity
The period of validity begins on the day of issue. Entry visa: single entry: 3 months; multiple entries: 6 months. Transit visa: single transit: 3 months; multiple transit: 6 months.
Transit
Travelers who otherwise require a visa and who fly on within 24 hours, have valid documents for the onward journey and do not leave the transit area do not require a transit visa. By post to the consulate or consular department of the embassy (see contact addresses) no later than 3 weeks before the planned trip. In Berlin, visas are only issued in exceptional cases.
Application required
(a) 2 application forms (can be downloaded from the website of the relevant diplomatic mission). (b) 2 color passport photographs. (c) Passport that is still valid for at least 6 months upon entry (application in Berlin: copy of all relevant pages). (d) If applicable, residence permit for Germany, Austria or Switzerland, which is still valid for at least six months. (e) Fee (cash deposit into account or bank transfer with original proof of payment). (f) Recommended: Proof of return or onward travel ticket. (g) Minors under the age of 15: Written consent of legal guardians / parents. (i) confirmed hotel reservation or letter of invitation. (j) Proof of employment, matriculation, proof of pension, etc. Business visa additionally: (k) Letter of secondment with information on the purpose and duration of the trip and confirmation of the assumption of costs. A stamped, registered return envelope must be enclosed with the application.
Temporary Residence
Applications to the immigration office in Damascus.
Processing time
7-10 business days. Faster processing of the application is only possible if the urgency can be proven (even then, processing currently takes at least 1 week). The application should reach the embassy at least 3 weeks before the start of the trip. Postal application: 20 working days. Note: Applications from non-German citizens take longer to process as approval from Syria is required.
Proof of sufficient funds
Foreigners must have sufficient funds during their stay.
Legally Required Registration
For stays longer than 14 days, foreign nationals in Syria are obliged to report to the Syrian passport and immigration authorities and have their stay extended. Stays of up to 3 months are usually possible, after which the exact reason for your stay (e.g. language course, study) must be proven. Journalists must report to the Ministry of Information in Damascus within 24 hours.
Documents required upon entry
(a) Return or onward travel tickets and documents. (b) Sufficient Funds.
Entry with children
German: Machine-readable children’s passport or your own passport. Austrians: Own passport. Swiss: Own passport. Turks: Own passport. Note: The same visa requirements apply to children as to their parents. Attention: Children traveling alone need the written consent of their parents or legal guardian. Since June 27, 2012, children need their own travel document (passport / children’s passport) for trips abroad (also within the EU). Entries of children in the parental passport are no longer possible.
Entry restrictions
Entry and transit of Israeli citizens is not permitted. If a passport contains Israeli entry stamps or entry stamps from border crossings that border Israel (Allenby/King Hussein Bridge border crossing with Jordan or Taba (Sinai) border crossing with Egypt), entry will be refused – even if the Syrian Embassy has issued a visa.
Entry with pets
A health certificate from the official veterinarian in the country of origin is required for dogs and cats. Quarantine is mandatory if illness is suspected. Bringing birds to Syria is prohibited.
