Effective 10 July 2002 holders of European, American, Japanese, Canadian, Latin American, Australian, New Zealand, Malaysian passports, individual and/or groups can get their visas now " upon arrival " to Syria. And moreover it is " free of charge " provided they book their travel arrangements through a tour operator in their countries against an official voucher duly dated and stamped and received by any handling agent in Syria who is officially licensed by the ministry of Tourism. Passport details is needed…

For INDIVIDUALS (less than 8 persons) : All individuals must have their VISA ready before arrival at any Syrian Airport and/or Syrian Border.
VISAs for Americans can be processed through the Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic, 2215 Wyoming Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone [202] 232-6313.
In case the traveler is NOT American and there is no Syrian Embassy in the country of the traveler, the following exceptions must be noted:  
1.      Citizens of Holland, Norway and Finland can get an entry visa on spot upon arrival at Syrian airports and/or Syrian borders. The cost per person: approx $10.
2.      Citizens of Australia, New Zealand, French Guyana, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Philippine and Singapore do not have Syrian embassies in their countries, they can therefore arrange their visa through a related company in Syria.

"Always check with us for up-to-date visa regulations as these regulations may change without prior notice.

For GROUPS (minimum 8 persons) : For such groups visas are given free of charge upon arrival but have to be pre-arranged from within Syria.
 

DEPARTURE TAX: Is applicable for individuals and groups ONLY if Departure is through Syrian Airports, cost per person is approx $5.
There is no Departure tax for any traveler leaving through Syrian land borders.

SYRIAN VISA RULES AND REGULATIONS

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: A passport and a visa are required. Visas must be obtained prior to arrival in Syria. The government of Syria does not allow persons with passports bearing an Israeli visa or entry/exit stamps to enter the country. Entry into Syria via the land border with Israel is not possible. Foreigners who wish to stay 15 days or more in Syria must register with Syrian immigration authorities by their 15th day in Syria.

American men between the ages of 18 and 45 who are of Syrian birth or recent descent are subject to the Syrian compulsory military service requirement unless they receive a temporary or permanent exemption from the Syrian Embassy in the United States prior to their entry into Syria. (Please see the section on "Compulsory Military Service" below.) An AIDS test is not required for foreigners prior to arrival in Syria; however, tests are mandatory for foreigners age 15 to 60 who wish to reside in Syria. The AIDS test must be conducted in Syria at a facility approved by the Syrian Ministry of Health. A residence permit will not be issued until the absence of the HIV virus has been determined. Foreigners wishing to marry Syrian nationals in Syria must also be tested for HIV. For further entry information, travellers may contact the Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic,2215 Wyoming Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone [202] 232-6313 or check the Syrian Embassy's home page on the Internet at http://www.syrianembassy.org.

DUAL NATIONALITY: In addition to being subject to all Syrian laws affecting U.S. citizens, dual nationals may also be subject to other laws that impose special obligations on Syrian citizens. Under Syrian law, children of Syrian fathers, even those who have never been to Syria and do not speak Arabic, are Syrian. Please see below for information on compulsory military service.

COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE: Syrian-American and Palestinian-American men who have never served in the Syrian military and who are planning to visit Syria are strongly urged to check with the Syrian Embassy in Washington, D.C. prior to travelling, concerning their requirement for compulsory military service.
American men over the age of 18 who have never resided in or visited Syria, but whose fathers are/were Syrian, are required to complete military service or pay to be exempted. Possession of a U.S. passport does not absolve the bearer of this obligation.
A legislative decree issued by the Syrian president on July 30, 2000, allows Syrian and Palestinian male citizens who live abroad to pay $5000 to be exempted from military service. Please contact the Syrian Embassy in Washington, D.C. for more information.

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