canivisit.com
Beta — verify with official sources⌘K
Home/from/fr/to/sy
🇫🇷FRANCE
🏳SYFR-SY

Do France passport holders need a visa to visit SY?

French ordinary passport holders need a visa for Syria, but as of 2026 the visa is granted on arrival (30 days) at Damascus and Aleppo airports for EU citizens, paid in USD cash. There is no operational eVisa. Note: France formally advises against all travel to Syria. A France (FR) ordinary passport holder is NOT visa-free for Syria. Following the change of government in late 2024-2025, Syria reformed its entry rules: EU/EFTA citizens (including France), the UK and US can now obtain a visa on arrival valid for 30 days at Damascus International Airport (DAM) and Aleppo International Airport. The previously announced eVisa platform (launched May 2024) is not operational as of 2026, so applying online is not possible. The visa-on-arrival fee for EU passports is around USD 75, payable in US dollars cash only — ATMs do not function in Syria and credit cards are not accepted, so travelers must bring sufficient USD. Passports must be valid for at least six months. Anyone staying more than 15 days must register with Syrian immigration. Absolute bar: any traveler holding Israeli nationality or whose passport shows an Israeli stamp or border marking is refused entry. The land-border visa situation (e.g. from Lebanon/Jordan) was described as unclear in early 2026, so air arrival at Damascus or Aleppo is the most reliable channel. Critically, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs formally advises against ALL travel to Syria (entire country red zone) due to armed conflict, terrorism (e.g. the June 2025 Damascus church attack) and the absence of French consular protection (France's embassy operates from Beirut). This guide describes the legal entry mechanism only; it is not a recommendation to travel.
VISA REQUIREDTOURISMSINGLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-30
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
France (PR)Living in France as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-30
Visa type
Visa on arrival (tourist) — issued at Damascus/Aleppo airports; no operational eVisa
Maximum stay
30 days
per entry
Entries
Single entry
from issue date
Visa fee
Approx. USD 75 (EU passports), cash USD only
consular fee only
Processing time
On arrival (issued at the airport immigration desk)
standard track
Validity
Use on entry; stays over 15 days require registration with immigration
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Confirm passport validity and clean record
Ensure your French passport is valid at least 6 months beyond entry with blank pages. Verify it contains NO Israeli stamps or border markings and that you hold no Israeli nationality — either means automatic refusal of entry.
· 6 months validity· No Israel stamp
/02
Reconsider travel and check the advisory
Read the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs advisory: all travel to Syria is formally discouraged (entire country). France has no embassy inside Syria (consular services run from Beirut), so no consular protection is available on the ground.
· Red-zone advisory· No consular protection
/03
Bring sufficient USD cash
The visa fee and most in-country expenses must be paid in US dollars cash. ATMs do not work and credit cards are not accepted, so exchange and carry enough USD before departure.
· USD cash only· No ATMs
/04
Fly into Damascus or Aleppo airport
Air arrival at Damascus International (DAM) or Aleppo International is the reliable visa-on-arrival channel for EU citizens. The land-border (Lebanon/Jordan) visa situation was reported as unclear in early 2026.
· DAM/ALP airport· Air arrival reliable
/05
Obtain the visa at the immigration desk
On arrival, present your passport, proof of onward/return travel and accommodation details, and pay the visa fee in USD cash. EU passports receive a 30-day tourist visa.
· 30-day visa· Onward ticket
/06
Register if staying over 15 days
If your stay exceeds 15 days, register with the Syrian immigration/security authorities as required by local rules to avoid problems on departure.
· Register >15 days
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

10 items
Personalized checklist
0 / 10 complete
French passport valid 6+ months with blank pages
required
No Israeli stamps, visas or border markings in passport
required
Visa-on-arrival fee in USD cash (approx. USD 75)
required
Return or onward air ticket
required
Proof of accommodation / hotel booking
recommended
Sufficient USD cash for the whole trip (no working ATMs/cards)
required
Comprehensive travel/medical insurance covering conflict zones
recommended
Check the French foreign ministry advisory before booking
recommended
Local contact / sponsor or tour operator details
recommended
Plan to register with immigration if staying over 15 days
recommended
Track your progress · save & email a copy
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Visa-on-arrival fee (EU passport)~USD 75Paid in US dollars cash at the airport immigration desk
Currency exchange / cash marginVariableBring extra USD; ATMs do not work and cards are not accepted in Syria
Immigration registration (if >15 days)Local fee (variable)Required for stays exceeding 15 days
Total estimateUSD 75 — USD 100+incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Visa on arrival at airport
On arrival (minutes at the desk)
EU citizens are issued a 30-day tourist visa at Damascus or Aleppo airport after paying the USD cash fee. This is the recommended and most reliable channel.
Pre-arranged visa via Syrian consulate
Variable (days to weeks)
Where required or preferred, a visa can be sought from a Syrian diplomatic/consular mission before travel; useful as a fallback given uncertain land-border rules.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
No visa-waiver agreement
France has no visa-free arrangement with Syria; French ordinary passport holders are not on Syria's visa-exempt list (which covers only a small group of mainly Arab and neighbouring states).
High
/02
Post-2024 entry reform
After the change of government, Syria opened visa-on-arrival to EU/EFTA, UK and US citizens at its main airports, replacing the strict pre-approval-only regime.
High
/03
eVisa not operational
The eVisa platform announced in 2024 is currently offline, so an online application is not available and arrival at the airport is the practical route.
Medium
/04
Israel-related absolute bar
Any Israeli nationality or Israeli stamp/marking in the passport leads to automatic refusal, independent of nationality.
Medium
/05
Severe security advisory
France formally advises against all travel; ongoing conflict and terrorism risk shape the practical reality of entering Syria.
High
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.
/02
Customs
Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.
/03
Connectivity
Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-05-30 · major
France to Syria route verified
Confirmed France ordinary passport holders receive a 30-day visa on arrival (approx. USD 75 cash) at Damascus/Aleppo airports; eVisa platform offline; Israel-stamp bar and France's all-travel-discouraged advisory noted.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Can French citizens get a Syrian visa on arrival in 2026?—
Yes. As of 2026, EU/EFTA citizens including French ordinary passport holders can obtain a 30-day visa on arrival at Damascus and Aleppo airports, paying the fee in USD cash.
Is there a Syrian eVisa I can apply for online?+
How much does the Syrian visa cost and how do I pay?+
Will an Israeli stamp in my passport be a problem?+
Is it safe to travel to Syria right now?+
What about entering by land from Lebanon or Jordan?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the France passport

🇫🇷⇄
Compare the France passport
Stack it up against another passport→
🇫🇷◐
France visa-free map
See where this passport goes visa-free→
🇫🇷▤
France passport power
Global rank and destination breakdown→
See something wrong on this page?
Policies change. If something looks off, tell us — we review every report within 48 hours.