Damascus, Syria – Starting Sunday, Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs will enforce a new fee structure for entry and transit visas for Arab and foreign nationals.
Under the decision, fees must be paid in US dollars or the equivalent in Syrian pounds at official exchange rates set by the Central Bank of Syria. Payments are collected at border crossings and airports.
The ministry divided countries into 11 groups, with fees varying based on nationality and visa type. Citizens of Lebanon, Jordan, Malaysia, and Mauritania are exempt from visa fees, while Serbian citizens will also receive free entry visas.
For other countries, visa fees depend on whether the traveler seeks a regular entry or transit visa, the duration of stay (one, three, or six months), and whether the visa is single or multiple entry.
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Fees start at $25 for a one-month, single-entry visa for countries in the lower tiers and increase by roughly $25 with each group. According to the decision, the highest fee applies to Iranian citizens, who must pay $400 for a one-month, single-entry visa. Entry for most EU citizens will cost $75, while US citizens will pay $200.
For nationalities not listed in the 11 groups, a flat fee of $50 will apply for a one-month, single-entry visa.
The move comes days after Syria’s Ministry of Interior announced a reduction in passport issuance fees for Syrian citizens. On June 26, Interior Minister Anas Khattab signed an order lowering fees for issuing or renewing passports for Syrians abroad and their legal representatives.
Under the new rules, an expedited passport now costs $400 for Syrians overseas, down from $800, while standard passports dropped from $300 to $200. For citizens inside Syria, an expedited passport now costs 1.6 million Syrian pounds, down from two million.
The Interior Ministry emphasized that the updated passport fees are final and not subject to additional local administrative surcharges. The ministry said these changes aim to ease financial burdens on Syrians both inside and outside the country amid continuing economic challenges.
