Syrian passport


The Syrian passport is a travel document issued by the government of Syria to Syrian citizens for international travel. It can also be issued on behalf of the directorate at various Syrian diplomatic missions outside of Syria.

History

Biometric passport

In late 2016, Syria's Department of Immigration and Passports announced that it is planning to change to biometric passports.
In early 2019, Syria's Interior Minister announced that the country is getting ready to release its new passport.
In August 2023, Syria officially introduced the biometric passport, which notably dropped the usage of the French Language and kept Arabic and English.
On 3 July 2025, the Syrian transitional government unveiled a redesigned Syrian passport as part of the country's newly adopted visual identity following the fall of the Assad regime. The updated passport features a green cover and incorporates a newly introduced national emblem.

Issuance procedure

The processing time for Syrian passports varies depending on the type of service requested. Ordinary passports are typically issued within 14 working days, while expedited passports are processed within 1 to 3 days.
As of August 2025, the fee for ordinary processing is US$200, and the fee for urgent processing is US$400.

Facilitations during the civil war

In April 2015, Syria changed its passport requirements so that Syrians outside Syria, including refugees who have fled the Syrian Civil War, are eligible for passports without having to go through a review by the intelligence services. Passports will be issued to Syrians "even if they left in an illegal manner or they hold non-official passports or travel documents", likely referring to passports issued by Syrian opposition representatives in Qatar.
However, the government was also criticized for increasing fees and limiting the ease of obtaining passports for Syrians abroad throughout the war, with costs going from less than US$20 in Syria to hundreds or even a thousand dollars needed to renew a passport in Turkey between official fees and corruption. This was seen as a way to obtain foreign currency reserves and fund al-Assad's administration. Consular revenues increased from 0.4% of government income in 2010 to 5.4% in 2023. Some countries supplied Syrian refugees with a certificate of identity or a refugee travel document due to the issues with getting a new passport.

Types

Common feature

Syrian passports include the following data on the information page:
  • Photo of the passport holder
  • Type
  • Country Code
  • Passport number
  • Name and surname of the passport holder
  • Date of Birth
  • Sex
  • Place of birth
  • Father name and mother name
  • Holder's national ID number
  • Date of expiry
  • Place of Issue
  • Date of issue
The information page ends with the machine readable zone.
The items are identified by text in Arabic and English

Passport note

The passports contain inside the front cover a note that is addressed to the authorities of all countries and territories, identifying the bearer as a citizen of Syria and requesting that he or she be allowed to pass and be treated according to international norms:
In Arabic:
In English:

Ordinary passport

Ordinary passports are passports that are issued to Syrian citizens. They are green-colored, with the country's emblem emblazoned in the center of the front cover.
The words "الجمهورية العربية السورية" and their English translation "SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC" are centered on the top, whilst the words "جواز سفر" and their English translation "PASSPORT" are centered on the bottom, with the biometric passport symbol positioned below. Three transparent golden-colored stars are also seen at the very top.

Physical appearance

Ordinary biometric passport

An ordinary Syrian passport contains 48 pages, each two of them have a Syrian landmark.

Front Cover exterior

of the Syrian Arab Republic
  • Front Cover interior and page 1
  • Pages 2 and 3
Holder's Information
  • Pages 4 and 5
Citadel of Aleppo, Aleppo Governorate
  • Pages 6 and 7
Umayyad Mosque, Damascus Governorate
  • Pages 8 and 9
Jabar Citadel, Raqqa Governorate
  • Pages 10 and 11
Busra Amphitheatre, Daraa Governorate
  • Pages 12 and 13
Deir ez-Zor Suspension Bridge, Deir ez-Zor Governorate
  • Pages 14 and 15
Citadel of Salah ed-Din, Latakia Governorate
  • Pages 16 and 17
Hama Waterwheels, Hama Governorate
Palmyra Theatre, Homs Governorate
  • Pages 20 and 21
Al-Marqab Citadel, Tartus Governorate
  • Pages 22 and 23
Convent of Saint Thecla, Rif Dimashq Governorate
  • Pages 24 and 25
Ain Diwar Bridge, Al-Hasakah Governorate
  • Pages 26 and 27
Gothic Church of Qalb Lozeh, Idlib Governorate
  • Pages 28 and 29
Nimrod Fortress, Quneitra Governorate
  • Pages 30 and 31
Qanawat, As-Suwayda Governorate
  • Pages 32 and 33
October War Panorama, Rif Dimashq Governorate
  • Pages 34 and 35
Souq Al-Hamidiyah, Damascus Governorate
  • Pages 36 and 37
Euphrates Dam, Raqqa Governorate
  • Pages 38 and 39
Krak des Chevaliers, Homs Governorate
  • Pages 40 and 41
Afamia, Hama Governorate
  • Pages 42 and 43
Saint Simon Citadel, Aleppo Governorate
  • Pages 44 and 45
Martyrs' Monument, Rif Dimashq Governorate
  • Pages 46 and 47
Citadel of Damascus, Damascus Governorate
  • '''Page 48 and Back Cover interior'''

    Visa requirements

Visa requirements for Syrian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Syria. As of April 2025, Syrian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 27 countries and territories, ranking the Syrian passport 101st which is the second least powerful passport in the world in terms of travel freedom, only behind the Afghan passport, according to the Henley Passport Index.