U.S. Passport Holders: Arrange Syria Visa Approval Before Travel

Plan approval before you travel

U.S. passport holders should not travel to Syria expecting to resolve entry approval after arrival. Halabia Travel can coordinate the preparation and submission of the request before departure for planned entry by airport or by land from Lebanon or Jordan.

Entry approval is decided by the Syrian authorities. An application that is still being processed is not an approval, and requirements can change. We therefore review the passport, route and travel plan with each traveller before any arrangements are finalised.

For a U.S. passport holder, prepare a passport that is valid at the time of entry, has at least six months of validity beyond the planned arrival date, and has at least one blank page available for entry formalities. We also ask for a clear copy of the passport identification page, the exact arrival and departure dates, and the intended airport or land-border entry point. These are preparation requirements for the file, not a guarantee of approval.

Although this article focuses on U.S. passport holders, the latest operational information available to us indicates that advance entry approval may currently be required for tourist visitors of all nationalities, whether arriving by air or land. This should be confirmed for the traveller's passport, route and travel purpose before departure; it is not a guarantee of approval or admission.

Passport documents to prepare

Before Halabia Travel begins the application file, the traveller should have the following ready:

Do not treat a submitted application, a travel plan or a booking confirmation as entry approval. We recommend waiting for the written approval copy before making non-refundable flight arrangements.

• A clear colour scan or photograph of the U.S. passport identification page.
• Passport validity extending at least six months beyond the planned arrival date.
• At least one blank passport page for entry formalities.
• Exact arrival and departure dates, with the intended airport or land-border crossing.
• The full route, confirmed hotels and the contact details needed for the application.

What Halabia Travel prepares with you

There is no legitimate process of selling a security clearance. For a U.S. passport holder or any other traveller whose case requires security clearance, the clearance can only be requested through prior coordination with a travel agency and a complete, agreed travel file.

Before Halabia Travel submits the request, the traveller must provide the exact arrival and departure dates, the exact point of entry by land border or airport, a fully detailed itinerary and pre-selected, confirmed hotels. For example, the file may specify the number of days in Damascus and Aleppo and planned visits to Palmyra.

• Exact arrival and departure dates.
• The exact airport or land-border entry point.
• A complete day-by-day travel itinerary, including planned stays and visits.
• Pre-selected and confirmed hotels.
• The information required for Halabia Travel to submit the entry-approval request on your behalf.

Accompanying guide responsibility

The accompanying tour guide must receive the traveller from inside the relevant restricted area at the airport or land border and must see the traveller off in the same manner at departure.

This arrangement requires the guide to sign an official pledge inside the border crossing or airport, accepting direct responsibility for receiving, accompanying and seeing off the traveller.

Application process and final confirmation

As the travel agency, Halabia Travel submits the application on the traveller's behalf using the agreed information and itinerary. The processing time to issue the entry visa or security clearance is currently estimated at three to four weeks, but the timeline and outcome remain subject to the relevant authorities.

Once the entry visa is issued, Halabia Travel sends the traveller a copy and confirms that the arrangements are ready to officially welcome them at the agreed border or airport.

Speak with Halabia Travel before finalising your travel plan

Halabia Travel does not book airline tickets. Send us your nationality, intended dates, entry point and complete route before purchasing non-refundable tickets or making other final travel arrangements. We will explain the documents and coordination steps for your case and help prepare the journey around the approved plan.

Frequently asked questions