Syria: Foreign Arrivals Are Rising Sharply—What's the Status of the e-Visa?

Syria reports a significant increase in international arrivals for the first half of 2026. According to figures from the Syrian Ministry of Tourism, a total of 3.52 million people visited the country between January and June 2026—more than twice as many as during the same period last year. The growth in foreign travelers is particularly striking: With 719,000 registered visitors from abroad, the figure is 448 percent higher than the comparable figure of 131,000 in the first half of 2025.

In addition to foreign visitors, Syria also recorded a sharp increase in travelers from Arab countries (664,000, up 107 percent) as well as in Syrians living abroad who visited their home country (2.13 million, up 75 percent). According to the published figures, Turkey was the most important source market among foreign visitors, followed by Germany, Sweden, the U.S., the Netherlands, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

This upturn coincides with efforts by the new Syrian government to make the country more accessible to travelers and to specifically promote the tourism sector. This goal automatically brings the issue of entry regulations into focus—particularly the status of the electronic visa, which was originally introduced in 2024.

However, this is precisely where significant uncertainty arises: The e-visa system launched at that time was introduced before the political transition in Syria and is currently unavailable in its original form. The official online portal simply displays a “Coming soon” message to visitors, without specifying a concrete date for its resumption. For travelers expecting a straightforward digital entry permit, this currently adds to the uncertainty as they prepare for their trip.

Anyone wishing to find out about the entry requirements that are actually in effect during this transitional phase should not rely solely on the unclear status of the official online system. Here at buch-dein-visum.de, we continuously monitor developments regarding the e-visa for Syria and assess on a case-by-case basis for each applicant which options are currently realistic and reliably feasible. This helps avoid delays or failed attempts due to non-functional portals from the outset.

Since regulations can change at short notice during a period like this, travelers are advised not to wait too long to prepare their travel plans and to clarify the required documents well in advance. An overview of visas for Syria and the various application methods provides an initial guide, while we handle the specific implementation for each applicant behind the scenes.

Given the rising number of visitors, pressure on the Syrian authorities is likely to grow to make the e-visa system available again soon or to replace it with a new solution. Until then, it remains advisable for travelers to seek professional assistance to ensure a smooth visa application process despite the unclear official situation.