Since the fall of the Assad regime, Syria has moved to a visa-on-arrival system open to almost every nationality — a huge shift from the old pre-clearance-only process, and no more waiting weeks for an approval that might never come. Iran and Israel are the only nationalities still excluded. Visa fees are tiered: Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia and Mauritania pay nothing, and most other nationalities fall between roughly $25 and $200 for a standard single-entry tourist visa — UK and Australian passport holders pay $150, and US passport holders pay $200. Since mid-2025, these fees apply equally whether you enter by land or by air, so there's no cost advantage to crossing overland anymore.
To travel to Syria with us, here's what the process looks like:
1. Book a tour: our tours still run as government-approved group programmes, and we handle the visa arrangements for the whole group together rather than individually.
2. Send us your documents: a scan of your passport and a passport photo, along with a form we'll send you to fill in, so we can submit your documents in advance for security clearance.
3. Wait: processing is far faster than it used to be, but US passport holders in particular should apply at least a month before departure given the extra scrutiny they're subject to.
4. Travel to Syria! Our tours begin and end in Beirut, crossing the land border into Syria as a group. Visa fees now apply at land borders just as they do at airports, so budget for that fee regardless of entry point. If you'd rather not backtrack to Beirut at the end of your trip, flying onward directly from Damascus is now an option too, with Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Royal Jordanian all having resumed routes.
Americans
The visa-on-arrival system now extends to US citizens, with fees around $200 for the standard single-entry tourist visa. Approval is faster and more reliable than under the old system, but Americans still go through an extra level of security scrutiny, which is why we recommend applying at least a month ahead of your trip.
Israelis and anyone who has proof of travel to Israel
This restriction hasn't changed. Israeli passport holders are not permitted to travel to Syria, nor is anyone with proof of travel to Israel in their passport — including entry or exit stamps from Jordan or Egypt showing you've crossed the land border into or out of Israel. Security stickers or anything else applied to the passport by Israeli immigration will also be recognized.
