Practical Guide · Updated 2026
Getting Into Syria
The three ways in, what the visa really costs, and how we arrange the approvals that let you board.
Syria has quietly reopened — but how do you actually get in?
Since the change of government in late 2024, Syria has moved from all-but-closed to genuinely reachable. Airlines have returned to Damascus, the land borders with Lebanon and Jordan are open to tourists, and a small, steady stream of foreign travellers is once again walking the Old City, standing under Palmyra's colonnade, and climbing the ramparts of Krak des Chevaliers.
The rules, though, are new and still settling — which is exactly why we're asked about this more than anything else. This page lays out the three ways in, what a visa costs for your passport, and what arrival actually looks like. The short version: on a Waypoint expedition you never navigate any of it alone. We arrange the entry approval that lets you board, and you are met the moment you land or cross the border.
The one thing to know first: whether you fly or cross by land, you cannot board a flight to Damascus — or, in practice, count on a smooth border crossing — without an entry approval arranged in advance. That security clearance and permit is the single piece that trips up independent travellers, and it is the first thing we take care of for every guest.
Three Ways to Reach Damascus
Fly straight in, or come overland from Beirut or Amman and fold a second country into the trip. We meet you at whichever you choose — and see you off the same way at the end.
Commercial flights are back. Around a dozen carriers now serve Damascus International, almost all via a regional hub — Istanbul, Doha, Dubai, Amman, Kuwait or the Gulf.
- ~20–30 minutes from the airport to the Old City
- Best if your time is short or you're coming from Asia or the Gulf
- Entry approval required to board — we arrange it
A three-to-four-hour drive over the Anti-Lebanon mountains through the Masnaa–Jdeideh crossing. The classic approach, and an easy way to add a few days in Beirut and Baalbek.
- ~3–4 hours, Beirut to Damascus
- No Syrian visa fee currently charged at this crossing
- Our staff handle the border in both directions
A similar drive north from Jordan through the Nassib–Jaber crossing. Ideal if you want to combine Syria with Petra, Wadi Rum and the Jordanian classics.
- Comparable drive time to the Beirut route
- Crossing open into the evening — more daily flexibility
- Met on both sides, with border assistance throughout
Flights Into Damascus
After years of near-isolation, Damascus International reopened to international carriers through 2025, and by May 2026 roughly a dozen airlines were operating. Nearly all route through a regional hub rather than flying direct from Europe or North America.
Routes and frequencies are still expanding month to month. Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways offer the widest one-ticket connections from Europe and North America into Damascus. Because carriers will not board a passenger bound for Damascus without a valid entry approval on file, we confirm your routing and make sure your paperwork is in order before you buy.
Arriving at Damascus Airport
Security is thorough and the process is more manual than you may be used to. None of it is difficult — and with us, you're met and moving quickly. Here's the sequence, so nothing is a surprise.
Checkpoints on approach
Vehicles are searched at one or more checkpoints on the road in. Expect a relaxed but real security presence around the airport perimeter.
Screening on entry
Bags go through X-ray and may be hand-searched at the terminal doors. Women are searched in a separate, screened area. Dress modestly — it matters here.
Passport, approval & visa
Officers check your passport, your flight details and your entry approval, then issue the visa on arrival. The fee is paid here, in US dollars cash. Carry a printed copy of your itinerary and approval — we provide both.
Through to arrivals
A final bag check and you're into the arrivals hall — calm, helpful staff, somewhere to get a coffee, and a handful of shops for souvenirs. Your Waypoint driver and guide are waiting just beyond.
Into the city
Damascus is only 20–30 minutes away. Your transfer is private and included, so there's no queuing for a cab. Good to know regardless: an official airport taxi runs up to about 150,000 Syrian pounds, and the Yalla Go app is the reliable way to book one.
The Overland Crossings
Both main tourist crossings are straightforward with the right paperwork and a guide who knows the officers and the rhythm of the day. We handle the formalities on both sides, coming and going.
Masnaa – Jdeideh
The busiest and most scenic route, climbing over the mountains and dropping toward the Damascus plain. A popular way to combine Syria with Beirut and Baalbek.
Nassib – Jaber
The southern gateway, and the natural pairing if you're arriving via Petra and Wadi Rum. Longer opening hours give more flexibility in planning the day.
What the Visa Actually Costs
Syria's visa system was rebuilt from scratch under the new government, and it's still finding its feet. Here is how it works today — and how we keep it simple for you.
The visa is issued on arrival — at Damascus Airport or the land border — and paid in US dollars cash. An official e-visa has been announced, but the platform isn't operational yet, so there's no working online application to complete. What genuinely matters in advance is the entry approval: airlines won't let you board a Damascus-bound flight without one, and it smooths the land crossings too. We obtain that approval for you. It's a three-to-four-day process for most nationalities, but some passports — US and Indian holders in particular — need several weeks of lead time, so the earlier we start, the better.
Fees are set by nationality on a reciprocity basis — broadly, the more it costs a Syrian to visit your country, the more your visa costs. Published rates look like this:
| Passport | Visa fee (on arrival) | Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania | No fee | up to 6 months |
| India, Russia, South Korea, Singapore, New Zealand | $75 | 15 days |
| Most other nationalities | $100 | 15 days |
| Most of Western Europe (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Scandinavia…) | $125 | 15 days |
| Canada, Egypt, Oman | $150 | 15 days |
| United Kingdom, Australia, UAE | $250 | 15 days |
| United States | $300 | 15 days |
Short 3-day transit visas run roughly $25–$90 depending on nationality. Figures are the government's published reciprocity rates and have been shifting under the new system — we confirm the exact current fee for your passport before you travel.
Bring clean, unmarked US dollars. Visa fees — and virtually everything else in Syria — are cash only, in USD. There are no international ATMs and cards don't work, so you carry what you need for the trip. Bills must be clean and unmarked: torn, stained or written-on notes are routinely refused. We give you an exact cash figure to bring in your pre-trip briefing.
Entry Essentials
Dress modestly
Keep legs, shoulders and chest covered; long sleeves are safest. Shorts and visible tattoos have been enough to see arriving visitors refused, so it's worth getting right before you land. Steer clear of tight, sheer or politically graphic clothing — the standard applies from arrival, not just at mosques.
Passport & the Israel rule
Israeli and Iranian nationals are barred, and any evidence of a visit to Israel in your passport means refusal at the border — no exceptions. Your passport should have blank pages and comfortable validity. If an Israeli stamp affects you, tell us early.
Money is cash, in USD
No working ATMs, no card payments — Syria runs on US dollars in cash. Bring clean, unmarked bills in a mix of denominations for the whole trip, plus a little margin. We tell you exactly how much in advance.
Photography & drones
Drones are strictly prohibited — don't bring one. Ask before photographing people, and avoid checkpoints, military sites and officials. Your guide will always tell you what's fine and what isn't; when in doubt, ask first.
You Handle the Packing. We Handle the Border.
Everything on this page — the approvals, the crossing, the cash, the rules — is precisely what a Waypoint expedition takes off your plate. Independent entry to Syria is possible, but fiddly and easy to get wrong. This is the part we do best.
Approval arranged
We secure the security clearance and entry permit that let you board and cross — the step most travellers stumble on.
Met on arrival
At Damascus Airport, or at the Beirut or Amman border with staffed assistance in both directions. You're never alone at a checkpoint.
Briefed in full
A complete pre-trip briefing: exact cash to bring, documents, dress, and what you can and can't photograph.
Guided throughout
A licensed English-speaking guide and private vehicle for the entire route — and a full refund if we ever cancel for safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting In — Your Questions
Ready to Plan Your Way In?
Tell us your passport and where you'd like to start — Damascus, Beirut or Amman — and we'll map the route, arrange the approvals, and take the logistics off your hands.