Flying to Syria without Visa

Can an American fly to Syria without a visa?

Official policy states that an American citizen must receive a Syrian visa in their home country prior to traveling to Syria.

Though this is just official policy, and is not always enacted in practice. In actuality, as of the spring of 2009, Americans were able to receive two week Syrian tourist visas at land borders with Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan. Though these visas were granted only at the end of 6 to 8 hour waits.

I am not sure if an American can be granted a Syrian tourist visa upon arrival at the airport, but I do know that there is a very, very good chance that you would NOT be permitted to board the flight without showing proof of having the appropriate visa.

Airlines often check passengers to ensure that they have the necessary visas to enter the countries that they are traveling to, because it is the airline’s responsibility to return passengers that are denied entry. It is my impression that a person with a US passport traveling to Syria would definitely be inspected for a visa prior to being checked into a flight from any country. And if the airline does not find a visa, they probably will not grant you a boarding pass or a refund on the ticket.

In this case, it is somewhat impertinent whether or not Syria will provide you with a tourist visa upon arrival by air, as there is a very good chance that the airline will not allow you to board the flight to begin with without a proper visa in your passport.

My recommendation is to either fork out the money and get a visa at the Syrian visa in Washington DC or fly into Turkey, Lebanon, or Jordan and travel into Syria by land.

If your travel plans involve Syria and Syria alone, then it is my impression that it would be a pretty good idea to get the visa in advance, as there is no guarantee that you will be granted a visa at the border. If you are planning on a larger Middle East trip, and you would not be too heart broken if Syria did not permit you entry, then chance it at the border and save yourself $100.

I hope this helps.

More information on traveling to Syria

• How to get a Syrian visa at the border

• How to get travel visas

• Border crossing Turkey to Syria

• Arrival in Syria from Turkey

• Syrians Friendly to American Travelers

Wiki Travel Syria

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Walk Slow,

Wade

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Can an American fly to Syria without a visa?

I was reading your post about travel to Syria.

Does this mean that me, with only a passport, could fly to Syria, and upon arrival get a visa? Instead of sending an application to the embassy here in the USA?

And, do you know anything about obtaining a workers visa for Syria?