U.S. Passport Holders: Visa Approval Required Before Entering Syria

Urgent entry update · 11 November 2026

Following an immigration-department update received by Syrian Guides, U.S. passport holders now need visa approval in advance before travelling to Syria. This requirement applies to entry by air and by land from Lebanon or Jordan.

Do not arrive without visa approval. According to the update received by Syrian Guides, U.S. passport holders without prior approval will be refused entry at Syrian airports or land borders.

Which entry routes are affected?

Airports: obtain approval before flying to Syria, including Damascus and Aleppo.
From Lebanon: obtain approval before travelling to the Syrian land border.
From Jordan: obtain approval before travelling to the Syrian land border.

Travelling overland does not remove the pre-approval requirement. Do not rely on earlier visa-on-arrival information or another traveller’s past experience.

What travellers should do now

Arrange and receive approval before departure. An application that is still pending is not approval.
Carry the approval document and check that it matches your passport and intended journey.
Check your individual case before making travel arrangements. Tell us about your passport, any other citizenship or Syrian-origin documentation, travel dates and full route.
Confirm airline and transit requirements separately. Being allowed to board a flight does not guarantee entry to Syria.

If you are travelling with Syrian Guides, contact our team before departure to check your approval arrangements. Our visa-assistance service is available to travellers joining our tours. No fixed processing time or approval outcome is guaranteed.

Pre-approval and the visa fee are separate matters. This notice does not announce a change in visa fees. See our visa requirements guide and U.S. travellers’ entry guide.

Source and scope of this update

This notice is based on the immigration-department update reported by Syrian Guides on 11 November 2026. A publicly accessible official circular confirming this new requirement was not available for us to link at publication. Earlier public guidance may differ. Confirm the requirements for your passport and route before travel; final admission remains with the Syrian authorities.

This update replaces our 10 November airport-only notice and explicitly includes the land borders from Lebanon and Jordan.

Travel warning: The U.S. Department of State maintains a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Syria. Entry approval is not a statement that travel is safe.