Arrival in Syria

The first step is to identify the situation: a Syrian returnee, a person displaced within Syria, a non-Syrian asylum-seeker or refugee, or another foreign entrant. Entry and residence requirements differ between these groups and can also change by crossing, nationality, status and date. Current evidence does not provide one comprehensive nationwide entry guide. Check the chosen diplomatic mission, crossing authority, carrier and relevant UNHCR or Syria is Home channel before travel. Carry a valid passport or other travel document, identity and civil-status records, a Family Booklet or individual civil registration extract when available, medical information, destination contact details, cash and paper or digital copies. An individual civil registration extract is an official record of a person's civil status. The Family Booklet records family and civil-status information used by Syrian authorities. Keep entry permits, tickets, receipts and other evidence after arrival. Entry takes place through an authorized crossing or airport, but procedures are not uniform. At Bab al-Hawa, for example, Syrian expatriates arriving from outside Türkiye were required from 10 July 2025 to request a crossing permit in advance and attach a passport, proof of second nationality or a residence card, and an air ticket. Processing was reported as taking up to 15 days, and family members required separate requests. This is a date-specific example for that crossing, not a general Syrian rule. Fee decisions may involve the General Authority for Ports and Customs. After entry, ask the local office for the exact process before moving onward. Administrative practice can differ between governorates, crossings and authorities. A foreigner, including a refugee or asylum-seeker, needs a valid Syrian residence permit. UNHCR registration or an asylum-seeker identity document does not itself grant a Syrian residence permit. Where applicable, obtain or renew the permit through Syrian authorities after registration with UNHCR. Staying without the required permit can create a risk of unlawful stay or prosecution and can reduce access to police, courts and civil registries. Syrian civil registration is handled through Civil Affairs, also called Al-Nofous, including the General Directorate of Civil Affairs and its departments. These offices issue or record identity cards, Family Booklets, individual extracts, and birth, marriage, divorce and death documents. Legal partners may help vulnerable returnees, internally displaced people and host communities with registration, replacement of lost or damaged records and related court or Civil Affairs procedures. Their legal services are free, but a humanitarian case file or referral does not replace a state document. A non-Syrian person seeking asylum can register voluntarily with UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency. UNHCR states that registration is open to all nationalities, ages and genders. An appointment can be requested through the nearest UNHCR office in Damascus, Aleppo, Tartous, Homs or Qamishli. Bring a passport, national identity document, birth and marriage records, Family Booklet where available, and a written account of the situation. The process may include a photograph and biometric eye scan. UNHCR issues a file number and renewable asylum-seeker identity document; a later refugee-status interview is not automatic. UNHCR registration does not guarantee nationality, assistance or resettlement. UNHCR offices and partners report coverage across all 14 governorates, with offices also listed in As-Sweida and Deir ez-Zor and legal assistance available through partners, mobile units and community centres. Exact availability depends on the governorate, date, status and available capacity. Community centres and organizations such as SARC, SDO and IOM can provide practical information, referrals or outreach. Host families, community networks and local volunteers may also help. These informal or humanitarian channels do not replace a residence permit, civil record or other state document. People returning to Syria should return voluntarily, with adequate information, in safety and dignity. Syria is Home provides current information about legal steps, documents, healthcare, education and accommodation-related matters. After return, contact a UNHCR-supported Community Centre, keep an active phone or WhatsApp number and update Syrian contact and document information. Selected Syrian refugee families who have permanently returned may receive a single USD 600 cash grant after vulnerability prioritization and an individual assessment. The grant is for one payment per family, is funding-limited and is not automatic. UNHCR may refer the family to other providers. The official returnee call centre is 01121812333, open Sunday to Thursday from 8:30 to 15:00. The official WhatsApp number +41 22 355 05 61 sends outbound messages only. No intermediary should charge for UNHCR or partner services or promise cash, resettlement or influence over documents. Available support varies by status and need. UNHCR and partners may provide information or referrals concerning healthcare, education, cash, disability and older-person support, mental health and psychosocial support, child assistance, family tracing and protection. Registered refugees and asylum-seekers may use supported community health guidance and partner primary care, with a free partner visit of up to one visit per person per month where available. Public-hospital emergency treatment is free up to stabilization, but advanced treatment is generally referral-based. A person who goes directly to a hospital may have to pay the full cost. Service locations and eligibility must be checked locally. Children returning to Syria or entering school can seek admission through the governorate Education Directorate. Foreign school records may need certification or equivalency. Schools commonly request a Family Booklet or individual civil extract. A Ministry of Education instruction dated 11 September 2025 allowed conditional registration for children, especially returnees, during the 2025–26 school year using available documents and a written undertaking. The current applicability of that instruction should be confirmed with the relevant Education Directorate. Keep truthful and complete information, preserve file numbers, receipts and civil records, and report changes of address or family status to the relevant authority. Ask for an interpreter where available. UNHCR and partner legal services are free, while state fees, transport, accommodation, healthcare outside supported arrangements and document costs vary. No reliable nationwide fee and timing table is available. Entry, residence, civil registration, first accommodation and communication with official bodies are connected but separate matters; one registration or referral does not automatically complete the others.