Visa policy of Syria

According to IATA, 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 of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, but after the intensification of the Civil 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 recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia by Syrian Arab Republic, citizens of these countries entered Syria after obtaining a 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] Member State of the Arab League 1 - Nationals of Lebanon are able to enter Syria visa-free provided they have a valid residency permit or visa issued by a Syrian diplomatic mission, or hold a residency permit in any other visa-free country, or have a family member holding Syrian Citizenship.

Nationals of all countries of the world (except Lebanese, Iranians and Israeli) are able to obtain a visa on arrival or an e-visa to enter Syria.

[13][1] Before the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Syria was one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Middle East.

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.

2 Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Russia and the partially recognised republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia each span the conventional boundary between Europe and Asia.