Prepare the practical side of your trip

On 13 November 2026, Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Muhammad Yaqub al-Omar told SANA that Syria has lifted the temporary prior-approval requirement for U.S. and U.K. citizens, restoring previous entry procedures, and that entry procedures for citizens of all other countries remain unchanged. Mazen Alloush of the General Authority for Borders and Customs likewise confirmed to Verify on 13 November that the temporary U.S. requirement was cancelled hours after being imposed, while Syrian Guides updated its notice to state that the temporary all-nationalities advance-approval measure has been lifted and previous nationality- and route-specific rules apply again (with pre-existing prior-approval rules remaining in effect for Egyptian, Tunisian, Chinese, Russian, East Asian, and other listed nationalities).

Confirm the restored visa-on-arrival or prior-approval requirement for your specific passport and route before travel, and verify carrier boarding requirements with your operating airline.

Syria’s General Authority for Ports and Customs says passenger and commercial truck traffic resumed at Dabbousiyeh–Abboudiyeh on 9 November after reconstruction and expansion. The authority estimates capacity of 8,000–10,000 passengers and 150–250 trucks per day once full operations are established. Syrian and Lebanese authorities are still coordinating customs hours, so confirm same-day opening times before travel.

Confirm same-day customs operating hours with the crossing or your transport operator before departure.

SANA reported on 12 November that Syrian mine-action teams had surveyed about 25 km along both sides of the 440 km Damascus-Tadmur-Deir ez-Zor highway to locate and remove mines and unexploded ordnance before rehabilitation. The work is continuing; the report does not announce a highway closure or confirm that surveyed areas are safe.

Stay on the paved carriageway, do not stop on shoulders or enter unmarked tracks, and confirm current road conditions locally before traveling.

Syria’s National Meteorological Center forecasts warm autumn daytime weather on Saturday, 14 November (3–5°C above seasonal averages across most regions, while the northeastern Jazira remains 3–4°C below average), turning relatively cold at night and cold in mountainous areas. Forecasters warn of possible frost on high mountain peaks and early-morning fog across parts of central and northern Syria and the Jazira region.

Use caution on high mountain passes overnight where frost is warned, and allow extra driving time for early-morning fog across central, northern, and Jazira highways.

SANA reports that rain and floods damaged Sarraf bridge over the Northern Kabir River, interrupting access for 45 villages in Jabal al-Turkman, including the Rabia and Shuhoura areas. On 9 November, Latakia Technical Services began emergency stone-fill and culvert repairs expected to take 7 to 10 days; until reopening, drivers must use longer detours via al-Bayda, Qaroujah, and Khan al-Joz.

Confirm local road access before traveling in northern rural Latakia. Avoid the damaged bridge during the 7–10 day repair window and use the al-Bayda / Qaroujah / Khan al-Joz detour with your driver; allow substantial extra time.

Syria’s ports authority says nationals of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Yemen may cross under normal Turkish visa rules without an extra crossing permit. Syrian dual nationals may transit Turkey to their country of residence regardless of their previous entry point into Syria.

At Al-Salameh, Al-Rai, and Tal Abyad, Syrian dual nationals other than Turkish citizens need a valid Syrian passport with details matching their foreign passport. Confirm Turkish visa eligibility and crossing-specific procedures before departure.

The Roads Authority says floods washed away the diversion bridge at Suwayiyah on the road linking Syria and Iraq. Its 7 November inspection was preparation for repairs; it did not announce restored vehicle access.

Confirm the approach road and an authorized diversion before traveling to Abu Kamal / Al-Qaim. Do not infer road access from the border crossing’s operating status.

Normal passenger and commercial traffic has resumed in both directions at Syria’s Nassib border crossing with Jordan following a one-day closure on 27 October. Authorities said exceptions during the closure enabled more than 1,600 Umrah pilgrims and travelers with medical or humanitarian needs to cross.

Allow extra time for post-closure queues at the border, and confirm same-day operating conditions, entry eligibility, and Jordanian exit requirements with your transport operator before departure.

SANA reported the road fully closed at Um al-Zaytoun on 24 October. No official reopening notice was found during the 27 October review.

Do not assume the route is open. Confirm conditions locally before departure and avoid unverified detours.