The Syrian passport is a travel document issued by Syria's Directorate of Immigration and Passports to Syrian citizens for international travel. It can also be issued on behalf of the directorate at various Syrian diplomatic missions outside of Syria. Syrian passports are normally valid for six years; however, for eligible men who are yet to conclude their mandatory military service, they are valid for two years, and are issued after getting a permission from the conscription department for each renewal. Similar restrictions can apply for current employees of the government.

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.

Issuance procedure

Fees

Passport Application Fees differ for those living inside and outside the country:

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.

Types

Common feature

Syrian passports include the following data on the information page: The information page ends with the machine readable zone. The items are identified by text in Arabic and English (e.g., "تاريخ الولادة / Date of birth")

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 issued to Syrian citizens. They are navy blue, with the Syrian Coat of arms emblazoned in the centre of the front cover. The words "الجمهورية العربية السورية" and "SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC" are centred on the top, and the words "جواز سفر" and "PASSPORT" are centred on the bottom, with the biometric passport symbol positioned below them.

Diplomatic passport

Diplomatic passports are burgundy, with the Syrian Coat of arms emblazoned in the centre of the front cover. The words "الجمهورية العربية السورية" and "SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC" are centred on the top, and the words "جواز سفر دبلوماسي" and "DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT" are centred on the bottom, with the biometric passport symbol positioned below them. They are issued to the following categories and granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates (Protocols Department): A - Prime Minister and other ministers B - Speaker of the People's Assembly and his deputy C - Members of the diplomatic and consular corps and members of missions of Syria to international organizations. D -Technical attaches of various ranks to diplomatic missions abroad E - Diplomatic baggage holders F - Members delegated from the Syrian Arab Republic to the main organs of the United Nations and the International Court of Justice during the performance of their mission G- Former foreign ministers H- Wives, minor children, and unmarried daughters of members of the categories mentioned. Diplomatic lose their value when the holder arrives in Syrian territory, since the diplomatic passport loses its immunity when its holder arrives in the country that granted him the diplomatic passport.

Special passport

Special passports are brown, with the Syrian Coat of arms emblazoned in the centre of the front cover. The words "الجمهورية العربية السورية" and "SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC" are centred on the top, and the words "جواز سفر خاص" and "SPECIAL PASSPORT" are centred on the bottom, with the biometric passport symbol positioned below them. They are issued to the following categories and granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates (Protocols Department): A - Governors of the Syrian governorates. B - Employees working at the level of Undersecretary and above and their equivalents. C - Members of the People's Assembly. D - Former ambassadors and ministers. E - Syrian employees in the League of Arab States who are considered members of diplomatic missions during their official movements. F - Administrative and clerical employees attached to diplomatic missions and missions of Syrian to international organizations G- Wives of Category (A) individuals and their minor children H- Wives of members of other categories and their minor children traveling with them. Special passports lose their value when the holder arrives in Syrian territory, since the special passport loses its immunity when its holder arrives in the country that granted him the special passport.

Service passport

Service passports, also called Mission passports, are green, with the Syrian Coat of arms emblazoned in the centre of the front cover. The words "الجمهورية العربية السورية" and "SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC" are centred on the top, and the words "جواز سفر مهمة" and "SERVICE PASSPORT" are centred on the bottom, with the biometric passport symbol positioned below them. They are issued to the following categories and granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates (Protocols Department): State employees dispatched on an official mission abroad, such as conferences, meetings, exhibitions, and international bodies other than those mentioned above, based on a request from the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The passport for a mission ends as soon as the mission is completed, and its holder arrives in Syrian territory.

Hajj passport

A Hajj passport is issued to citizens wishing to perform Hajj. It is valid for travel once and expires after arriving back in Syrian territory. It is granted by the Ministry of Interior (Immigration and Passports Directorate) in coordination with the Ministry of Endowments (Directorate of Hajj and Umrah).

Maritime passport

Maritime passports are issued to ship sailors by the Ministry of Transport (Maritime Inspection Department).

Air passport

Air passports are issued to the aircraft command authority by the Ministry of Transport (General Corporation of Civil Aviation).

Other passports

The Syrian government also issues two types of travel documents:

Physical appearance

Ordinary biometric passport

An ordinary Syrian passport contains 48 pages, each two of them (excluding the first three and the last one, which include governmental notations and the holder's information) have a Syrian landmark. Coat of arms of the Syrian Arab Republic Holder's Information Citadel of Aleppo, Aleppo Governorate Umayyad Mosque, Damascus Governorate Jabar Citadel, Raqqa Governorate Busra Amphitheatre, Daraa Governorate Deir ez-Zor Suspension Bridge, Deir ez-Zor Governorate Citadel of Salah ed-Din, Latakia Governorate Hama Waterwheels, Hama Governorate Palmyra Theatre, Homs Governorate Al-Marqab Citadel, Tartus Governorate Convent of Saint Thecla, Rif Dimashq Governorate Ain Diwar Bridge, Al-Hasakah Governorate Gothic Church of Qalb Lozeh, Idlib Governorate Nimrod Fortress, Quneitra Governorate Qanawat, As-Suwayda Governorate October War Panorama, Rif Dimashq Governorate Souq Al-Hamidiyah, Damascus Governorate Euphrates Dam, Raqqa Governorate Krak des Chevaliers, Homs Governorate Afamia, Hama Governorate Saint Simon Citadel, Aleppo Governorate Martyrs' Monument, Rif Dimashq Governorate Citadel of Damascus, Damascus Governorate

Visa requirements

As of 2024, Syrian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 29 countries and territories, ranking the Syrian passport 105th in the world which is the second least powerful passport in the world, only behind Afghanistan, according to the Henley Passport Index.

Gallery of historic images