Hi there,

Planning to do an overland trip to Cape Town starting september I'll have to cross Syria. Application for a visa with the help of a visa company was denied by reasons of demand of hotel reservation.
Sounds a bit strange since I am overlanding through the country.

I am a Dutch native, and I am curious about the rumours about getting a Syrian visum at arrival at the Turkey-Syrian border on the spot.
I've searched the HUBB but didn't get clear recent informormation about this subject.
Anybody who can confirm or deny this information on lately required information?

'Get the hotel reservation!' I hear your think, well yeah, but in the meanwhile I will have tot aply for the Sudanese visa as well, so therefore my pasport will be proceded by the Sudanese embassy.

I woud be very pleased with your reply.

Guido
The Netherlands

Hi, Guys.

I worked as an overlan driver in the middle east for 3 years. Some people have managed to get syrian visas before travel, however. I used Fajer click-t@mail.sy who is based in Damascus just over the road from the embassy. The cost of paying Faj for your visa's is normally less that what it would cost in time and money finding a visa in any other country.

He would send a agent to the boarder, do all the boarder paperwork for you and vehicles, (No bribes or backsheesh required). And set you on your way. Then when you leave the country he would send an agent to exit you as well.

Not sure how much he costs now, but try him. He has many friends who speak loads of languages.


Record Time, I made a mistake once, phoned Faj with all my passport details plus 15 passengers, and we crossed the boarder 2 hours later with an agent.

Check out the visa and make sure you understand the time limits of vehicles in the country. overstaying my truck usually cost under $200 in fines.

Hope it helps, if you can't get in touch via email s i'll pass your details

Thanks Akentigernfox,

Most likely the recommended service is well for large groups, but al I wanted to know if it is possible to get a visa at the border.
I get different infos on this topic after searcheing the HUBB, so I would like tot know if there is any recent info that can be usefull.

Guido

You'll find different information throughout the site on this issue because, well, people have different experiences. One person without a visa will be turned around at the border and the next will be granted entry. If you're worried about getting stuck then jump through all the hoops as requested by the Syrian Govt. If not then take your chances. I always prefer not having the worry of getting visas at borders and hence plan well ahead. Not at all my way of thinking when I was 21.

Having been to Syria on a number of occasions I have always found them to be relatively efficient and honest (certainly much more efficient and friendly than most western countries). I always include a letter with my visa application describing what I am doing and providing an hour-by-hour account of what my movements will be and where I'll be stopping. Doesn't really matter if you don't follow it, all bureaucracies need this stuff and it helps the visa dude tick the box.

The previous poster left the contact details of an agent who can actually do it - if you don't have the time or incliniation to sort it yourself use the agent.

I've also plans entering.

Looks like those who get VISA on the border are those who don't have Syrian embassy in their native country. Those who have embassy probably will be refused - meaning they should have the visas done by local syrian embassy prior to the trip.

True or not?

Or is it just a lottery?

Technically that's right Margus. But some people have reported (including recently) that they have managed to get visas at the border.

Margus,

The embassy in your own country rings true in my memory. I was stopped even approaching the syrian embassy in Amman Jordan. I was English, and that was all they needed to know, but hey, I just phoned my guy in syria i mentioned before and did stress free travelling bit.

Andrew

Well,

Let me share the results on this topic with you. It seems indeed that there is possibility to get an visum at the border if your home country does not have a Syrian embassy.
Regulations seems to vary each year.
At least we can conclude that the Syrian authorities are more flexible than we might expect.
Confusion is still there if you consider the existance of an consulate as a representative of the Syrian authorities. In the Netherlands we have. Apply to them?
Anyway, concerning te infos of a Dutch commercial visa bureau it must be possible to obtain a visum at the border. I will be safe and let them arrange one for me.
Regulations my be subject of change....

Guido

I'd recommend doing visum from your local embassy, saves a lot of stress.

New info I got is that if you get the VISA on the border, then you'll probably get transit VISA only. It's quite long and can be extended and mostly satisfyes travelling needs (over 2 weeks), but some say you can't get multiple entry VISA on the border. Probably have to buy 2nd VISA again if you return like I plan to do.

Looks like I'll be looking for Syrian embassy on route on the way to Syria to avoid that problem...

Ride safe, Margus

I am a Belgian citizen. Syria has an embassy in Belgium. I am currently in Central Asia and am going to Egypt overland.

Am I f*cked?

I can not apply in Belgian as I am not there now :-) Can't do it via mail as I need my passport.

How in godsname can I drive to Egpyt then? ;-)

I sent the Syrian in embassy in Belgium a mail btw, no response as of yet.

__________________
2006-2007-2008 : Brussels - Cape town - Tokio - Lubumbashi - Brussels

http://www.radiobaobab.be

Hi, Frederik,

We are planning a trip ourselves and will have a similar problem as you have. Normally you can only get a visum for Syria in the country of residence (i.e.Belgium). Various overlanders obtained a visum nonetheless in Iran/Kenya etc., with a letter of recommendation from their embassy (preferably in Arab). It might help if you get your visum for Jordania first to show that your route continues beyond Syria.
The addresses for the embassies can be found at Ministry of Tourism- Syria :: under Missions.

Good luck
Henk
BTW Great journey you guys are doing - thanks for sharing!

hi all,

same problem hereñ we´re belgians now in the stans and heading towards the middle east. getting visa in iran is time-consuming and we don-t really want to get into teheran. i emailed the Fajer-guy mentioned above and he said he could arrange visa at the border within 3 days notice for 150 dollar. not cheap, but cheaper than getting it in a capital, we figure... the click-t@mail.sy adress still works fine. no idea how good his service is, wont use it till december...

cheers

g and t

Now been there done that.

Coming from Turkey, getting the visa on the border "system" is not exacly based on whether you have an embassy in your country or not, it's rather whether they (border officials) have motivation to give you one or not! Things seemed to be organized in "arabic-chillout / no-chillout" style

We were lucky, since we were the first Estonians on motorcycles they ever had seen, so thanks to the curiosity one of the officials gladly helped us.

The VISA procedure is the following: the border guy FAXes VISUM request to Damascus (probably to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?), if they reply with a positive response, they'll issue VISA for you on the border.

If you get it, 15 day VISA costs 12 USD. It's much cheaper than from most of embassies around the world.

Apparently lot of the stuff depends on the mood of the border officials. I don't want to be too optimistic, but for me it seemed that altough when they say "VISA very big problem!" if you're an interesting person (i.e. travelling with a motorcycle etc) and they're in a good mood, you'll very probably get the VISA. If they're bored and had a bad day, things may be different...

Getting your bike in w/o the Carnet is another story. It costs 67USD for temporary import (they call it a "visit") + 20USD border guys "fee", so 87US dollars. Note that if you're leaving the contry and re-enter it (like we did - visit the country twice), then you must pay 87USD again. If I remember correctly, the insurance for the bike for 15 days was around 12USD, this you don't have to pay again.

Visiting the country twice you also must get the new VISA on the border again, but it'll be much easier if you already got one in your passport. It seems on that you can get only single-entry VISA on the border that is limited to 15 days.

Let me know if you need any further information.

Ride safe, Margus

Very thorough and comprehensive Margus...Ta! for future travels!!!

Margus, good to know that it can work out ok. We will probably just try to show up at the border. If we really can not get trrough we can still use the guy mentioned in this thread.

Does this guy have a telephone number?

Trui, We just left bahodir BB in Samarkand, your picture was on the wall. Where are you know?

__________________
2006-2007-2008 : Brussels - Cape town - Tokio - Lubumbashi - Brussels

http://www.radiobaobab.be