What you need to enter Syria with a Saudi passport
Saudi citizens need a visa for Syria, but they can get it on arrival at the border.
Last verified: 6 October 2026
Verified practical details
You can get your visa on arrival in Syria, but it's worth preparing the paperwork ahead of time:
Authorisation system
Electronic visa (evisa.sy)
Entry requires a passport and a Syrian visa, which can be requested as an electronic visa on evisa.sy; according to the UK Government, processing takes around five to seven days. Journalists need the visa for their activity and must notify the Ministry of Information in advance of the equipment they bring. Anyone staying more than 15 days must report to the police before that period ends.
Apply on the official site →Visa, e-Visa, or electronic authorisation? What's the difference →
Required documents
- A valid passport with no Israeli visas or stamps, nor stamps from Jordan's or Egypt's border crossings with Israel.
- A Syrian visa, electronic or from the Embassy.
- Reporting to the police before day 15 if the stay is longer.
Transit rules
Spain's Foreign Ministry only recommends entering from Lebanon via Masnaa (Jdeidet Yabous) and, with extreme caution, from Jordan via Nassib; it advises against the other crossings with Lebanon and, under no circumstances, the crossings with Iraq. At the Turkish crossing of Bab al-Hawa, Turkey usually asks the traveller's embassy to confirm their nationality. According to the UK Government, Israeli or Iranian nationals cannot enter, and illegal entry is punished with fines or prison.
More Syria rules
They don't depend on your passport, so they are on the Syria page:
Official portal: . Destination data verified on 6 October 2026. Sources: exteriores.gob.es (travel advice of Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Syria, updated 23 April 2026: advice against travel, flights, border crossings, electronic visa, Israel, journalists, registration at 15 days, risk areas, Embassy in Damascus); gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/syria (UK Government: visa processing time, excluded nationalities, illegal entry). All checked on 6 October 2026.
This pair in context
In the other direction, citizens of Syria need a visa to enter Saudi Arabia. See the Syria → Saudi Arabia page.
Of the 17 passports from Western Asia that VisaRadar tracks, for travel to Syria 4 enter visa-free, 12 need a prior authorisation or a visa on arrival and 1 cannot enter. Same result as Saudi Arabia: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Georgia and Iraq.
With a passport from Saudi Arabia, in the rest of Western Asia you can enter Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Georgia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Turkey and United Arab Emirates visa-free; you need a prior authorisation or a visa on arrival for Iraq, Israel and Yemen; you need a visa for Cyprus.
A passport from Saudi Arabia ranks 99 of 199 in the VisaRadar passport ranking and reaches 86 of 198 destinations without applying for a visa in advance.
Counts from the same requirements matrix behind this page's verdict, using the UN M49 subregions.
Frequently asked questions
Do Saudi citizens need a visa for Syria?
Yes, but you can obtain it directly upon arrival at Syria's entry point.
What currency is used in Syria?
Syrian Pound (SYP).
What do Saudi passport holders need for the countries near Syria?
With a passport from Saudi Arabia, in the rest of Western Asia you can enter Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Georgia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Turkey and United Arab Emirates visa-free; you need a prior authorisation or a visa on arrival for Iraq, Israel and Yemen; you need a visa for Cyprus.
Related pages
See Syria requirements for other passports →
See entry requirements to Saudi Arabia for other passports →
Informational only. Always verify requirements with the official embassy or consulate before you travel.