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Confusion about Syria visum: at border? Confusion about Syria visum: at border?
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  #16  
Old 28 Nov 2007
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I can confirm Margus theory. We just showed up at the border and told the immigration officer we did not have visa. He asked why we did not apply in Belgium, as there is an embassy there. We said we already left Belgium 15months ago and thus were unable to apply there.
He had to discuss this answer with his chief/officer/whatever and they agreed that was a plausable reason.

They showed me a piece of paper with the different rates to purchase a visa on the border (depends on your nationality). As a Belgian we payed 36US/person (in the bank with an official receipt) and were good to go. No hassle at all.

Just make sure you have a good reason (having a full passport to back up your story sure helps).

This was at the border in Killis about two weeks ago. 2 Belgians in a Toyo Landcruiser.

Other costs at the Syrian side of the border:

Road tax: 9US
Insurance(no way around this): 38US
Diesel tax: 102US PER WEEK!

They seem to ask 200Syrian pound for stamping the carnet (and doing it wrong!), but this should obviously not be payed.

Lots more practical tidbits on Syria here: Radio Baobab » Informationsheet per country
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  #17  
Old 28 Nov 2007
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I crossed at Kilis, too and got my visa with no problem. Originally, I had tried to cross at a backwoods border point, got out of Turkey, but was refused entry into Syria... they recommended I try Kilis because it's a larger crossing. I did and, like I said, it was easy (with a Canadian passport). They asked me at the border if I wanted a multiple entry visa, but I didn't think I'd need it so I said no (which sucks, because now I'm in Lebanon and I need to re-enter Syria! Live and learn.)
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  #18  
Old 28 Nov 2007
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I just got my Syrian visa through the embassy in Brussels and was also told to show the hotel reservations..... which I didn't have so I went on-line booked a couple of hotels that would give me a quick confirmation and printed them off. The Sheraton in Aleppo will book you over the phone and fax you the confirmation immediately . Use the fax copy and email confirmations to get the visa and then cancel the bookings .... not that I would ever condone such behaviour of course

Euro 85 each from the embassy so it's cheaper getting them at the border from what I am reading here !
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  #19  
Old 10 Jan 2008
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Have any Americans been able to get border visas?
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  #20  
Old 1 Jul 2010
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Thank you all for this great resource. Syria seems to be the only country in the middle east that has such complicated visa applications, and actually wants you to apply from home. This makes life much easier.
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  #21  
Old 6 Jul 2010
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I got the visa at the syrian embassy in germany, without any hotel reservation. and on my way back from jordan, directly at the border...
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  #22  
Old 8 Sep 2010
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I'm Canadian. Quite a few years ago (meaning that the situation might have changed by now) I was able to get a tourist visa for Syria from the Syrian Embassy in London. They didn't seem to have any problem issuing the visa to me, even though there's a Syrian Embassy in Canada. The funny thing is that I paid a lot less for my visa than my friends who got theirs in Canada. I think that it only took a day to get. If I recall correctly, I filled out a form, paid a fee, and handed them my passport. I came back the next day (or within a couple days - I can't remember exactly) and my visa was ready.

They had a big sign in the embassy that stated very clearly in English that if you had ever been to Israel, they wouldn't give you a visa under any circumstances.

So, if anyone else is in a foreign country and thinking of going to Syria, I'd recommend going into (or calling) the local Syrian Embassy. If they say "no", try calling another Syrian embassy that you may be travelling past en route to Syria.
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  #23  
Old 8 Sep 2010
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I know of 2 brits that got SYR visas at the border with Killis, Turkey.
but I guess thats the only border crossing that you can.
I tried 2 days ago, about 250km east of Killis, at akchtakale, or something like that (S of Urfa)

they wouldnt give me one. I tried to even pay an extra 'fee'

no go.

Doug
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  #24  
Old 9 Sep 2010
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This is our experience in 2007, if it helps. But the advice to try a different crossing/mission if the first one says no is correct.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ighlight=syria
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  #25  
Old 25 Sep 2010
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Hi,

I met as couple from the USA in Gaziantep who had been denied visas at the border and had had to go to the Embassy (fortunately) in Gaz. (rather than back in Istanbul) and apply properly.

Brits and Irish can definitely get visas at the border (09/2009), the USAs were the first people to be denied and I think they said that USAs were specifically denied and no-one else.

Cheers,

Ian
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  #26  
Old 12 Oct 2010
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syria visa at turkeyborder
We just entered Syria from Turkey, Kilis.
It was not really a problem, you need some time, money and a carnet is handy.

We paid 28 dollar for the visa each and you have to buy an insurance which we bought for a month (minimum) 80 dollars for 2 bikes.
It took about 3 hours and they prefer you to get the visa upfront, but its do-able.

greetz Els
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  #27  
Old 15 Oct 2010
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Syrian visa at the border
Hi,
I'd like to place a recent experience on obtaining a Syrian visa at the border.

The official rule is that Dutch citizens should apply for a visa at the consulate in Begium because the consulate in the Netherlands does not supply visa. Due to a change of travelplan we headed to the Syrian border, coming from Sianlurfa in Turkey, without a visa. At the border we said we were getting it here and it was no problem at all. It took some time but at no point anything was said about getting it in the Netherlands or Belgium.

Enjoy your travel.

Arno
Last edited by gseast; 16 Oct 2010 at 00:02.
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  #28  
Old 16 Oct 2010
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My wife and I are the American couple mentioned in the previous post and yes we were denied a visa at the Turkey Syrian border. We tried two different borders and denied at both. It took us three weeks to recieve our visas from Gaziantep. We are currently in Cairo finding the Sudan visa as difficult and the procedure different from our European friends.
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  #29  
Old 16 Oct 2010
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I've spent a week in Syria three weeks ago. And I was told by Syrians that something had happened, that had anoyed Syrian officials. And because of that, no more visas where given to Americans.
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  #30  
Old 18 Nov 2010
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We got visas o'k at Kilis earlier this year, plus no need for carnet. (Brits)


Is it true that Kilis is the easiest crossing for obtaining visas? I'd like a change of route this time but don't fancy hassle at another border post if they are more difficult.

ps. Ripped off tho' coming back from Jordan into Syria at Der'a crossing.
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