Syria rolls back new visa restrictions for US citizens after backlash: What to know

Syria has reversed a new requirement that US citizens obtain prior approval before entering the country, restoring previous entry procedures after the restriction sparked backlash. 

What happened: Mazen Alloush, director of international relations at Syria’s General Authority for Ports and Customs, told the Syrian fact-checking platform Taakkad on Friday that entry procedures for US citizens have returned to normal. He said the requirement to obtain approval before entering Syria has been canceled after being imposed “temporarily” by the Interior Ministry.

On Thursday, Alloush told Taakkad that US citizens had been added to a list requiring preapproval before traveling to Syria alongside Egyptian, Tunisian and some East Asian nationals. Gulf and European citizens, however, could continue to obtain tourist visas on arrival, he said.

Al-Monitor contacted Syria’s Foreign Ministry and the US State Department for comment on the introduction and subsequent reversal of the entry restrictions but did not immediately receive a response from either.

Separately, Syrian Guides, a website providing travel information for visitors to Syria, posted a notice Thursday stating that tourists of all nationalities must “arrange travel through a travel agency or tour operator.” The requirement would effectively limit independent travel to the country. That measure also appears to have been reversed, with the website posting another notice on Friday that the US restrictions had been canceled and other rules remained “unchanged.”

The restrictions prompted a broad backlash from observers on social media, many of whom warned that they could undermine efforts to revive Syria’s tourism sector. 

Why it matters: The Syrian government aims to boost tourism after receiving more than 3.5 million visitors in the first half of 2026, up from 1.6 million during the same period in 2025, according to the state-run SANA news agency.

However, tighter visa restrictions and ongoing security threats could deter travelers. The country still faces sporadic violence, including a bus bombing outside Damascus in August, that is already a barrier for tourism. 

Tourism is vital to Syria’s reconstruction, bringing much-needed foreign currency into the war-torn economy. In October 2025, the World Bank estimated rebuilding costs at $216 billion.

Background: Travel has become easier following the lifting of broad Western sanctions. In August, Visa and Mastercard announced their services are now operational in Syria. Reuters also reported last month that several hotel groups are exploring expansion into the country, betting its coastline and historical sites will attract both foreign tourists and the Syrian diaspora.

US citizens can now obtain a 30-day visa on arrival for roughly $200 at Damascus International Airport or at land borders with Jordan and Lebanon, according to the US State Department. However, the department still maintains a do not travel advisory for Syria due to ongoing security risks.

Under former President Bashar al-Assad, Americans and citizens of most other countries had to secure a visa prior to arrival. 

Know more: US President Donald Trump met interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa for the first time in May 2025 and signed an executive order terminating most US sanctions against Syria a month later. In November that year, Sharaa became the first Syrian head of state to visit the White House. In August 2026, the Trump administration rescinded Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.