the latest on vısa requırements for syria

[SPArnold]

Dear all,
I've seen several tımes ın dıfferent threats that some of you obtaıned theır vısas for Syrıa at the border wıth Turkey. Is thıs correct or am I mısunderstandıng you? Both the Syrıan tourısm websıte and my foreın offıce tell me that I (should have gotten) my vıs ın my home country. Anyone any experıence wıth gettıng the vısa at the border? Thanks guys! I'm German by the way.

[MountainMan]

Hi SP,

As of last November, we got them at the border even though the info says to get it beforehand. From what I've heard, most have been successful although I did hear of one person having to make the long ride back to Ankara. Don't know of any Germans per se so can't really comment if it would be any harder. In general, I would say if you will be in Ankara anyway, makes sense to spend the dayand get it there. Same price. If you will not, then your chances are quite good at the border. Have a great ride

[SPArnold]

Thanks!
I ll try my luck at the border and keep everyone posted...

[blurg]

I'll depart for Syria this weekend, I've read and heard to buy the visa at the border is no problem. I'll be in Syria probably around the 6th or 7th of july.

When do you depart?

Jurgen

[xander2]

Flew into Syria a couple of years ago without visa. I was given one on arrival at the airport. Apparently this was possible because my country (holland) has no Syrian diplomatic mission.

Great country, great people and lots of interesting things to see by the way...

enjoy

[SPArnold]

Hey Everyone. The Visa was not a problem at all, there also seems to be no communication between the "captain" of the immigration and the ministry. For me it was all very simple and Syria definitely has an Embassy in Berlin.
One thing to keep in mind, that the customs people will not ask for the Carnet themselves. You then end up paying around 75 Euros in total. After some discussion and shoving the Carnet into different windows, more discussion behind the same windows aso. this dropped to under 30 euros. Bottom line: If you have a Carnet, make sure you use it!
In Jordan again, the Customs guy asked for money, but so nicely that I just paid. I then realized that he hadn't stamped the Carnet, which he then did reluctantly, but I didn't get the money back. Bottom line: Once the Carnet is stamped, there shouldn't be substantial customs charges. If there are, ask for a receipt and/or pretend you don't have the money (in cash) and see what happens. If they let you go, the money was meant for the officer's pocket.

Getting into Egypt is notoriously expensive, but at Nuweiba port you get your personal tourist police officer, which is very helpful. He probably receives some money somewhere along the line, but at just over 800 Egyptian pounds the whole process wasn't substantially more expensive for me then for anyone else, yet much shorter with only 1 hour.

[kk2ct]

A few days ago I crossed from Jordan to Syria at the Ramtha/ Dera border. Quiet. Charged me $50 for the visa, Irish passport (I am not sure if we have a Syrian Embassy, probably not). Insurance was $30, TIP $8. And that was it. They wanted my 'triptych' (Carnet) and tore out the bottom bit, but only I believe for the bike details on it. Syria is excluded on my Carnet. Everything was receipted.
BTW entering Jordan at Aqaba, I had to pay about euro 20 for a TIP. I protested that I had paid a lot of money for the carnet, etc, etc. He laughed and said he wasn't interested in the carnet. Although he stamped it - in the wrong places - he didn't tear off his piece. Thats how important it was.
Hugh

www.LAPofAFRICA.com

[QuePasaJero]

The "official" policy on entering Syria is that, if you have a diplomatic mission in your country you need to get the visa there. Unofficially, chances are you'll get it at the border (possibly with a "service surcharge" for the local border guard). Afaik the only exception to this is if you're registered as a resident in a nearby country (my experience is with Lebanon), when all you have to do is show your residence papers (and pay any real or made-up fees they dump on you) at teh border crossing and in no-time you're through.

Another option (if you're the adventurous type and/or they get anally retentive and don't let you through), is to go in through Lebanon (in my experience very easy and hassle-free if it's for a short, tourist visa/stay), then head to the Bekka Valley (near the border), and very carefuly and patiently try your luck with the many "drug-lords" in the area, who know a whole range of different smuggling routes across the border. Don't know how hard/easy it'd be now, but I did it back in 2006 (during the Israeli conflict) in the other direction and it was quite common to run into NGO workers, journo's and other various obscure figures doing the same thing.

If you decide to do it the "hard" way, a good place to start gathering info would be one of the many foreigner-oriented bars and pubs in Beirut, but be careful not to ask any locals about it unless you have confirmed they're not Muhabarat (secret police) or on their payroll.

Don't know, however, what kind of problems it might cause down the road when trying to leave syria if you don't have any entry visas... might want to check on that with someone who's done it (journalists are probably your best bet, and you can find them by the bucketload in Beirut's Hamra area).

Oh yeah, just one (rather important) point to watch out for: If you're Jewish and/or American, I recommend you don't even THINK about using the illegal method... the Bekka valley is prime Hezbollah breeding grounds and not risk-free in the best of scenarios if you're either (although I do know of a Jewish American working for the MSF who crossed into and back out of Lebanon that way).

Anyhow, to you and anyone else going to syria, good luck and safe travels.

J.

[Tybalt]

Great thread to be reading as I'm about a month and a country (turkey) away from entering syria. I got my visa back in the states but thats all I have. It sounds like I don't need a carnet or insurance as I need to pay some sort of fee for the carnet and can buy insurance there...IS THAT CORRECT?!

Does anyone know if I can buy the insurance for Jordan, Lebanon and Israel all at the boarder as well or if there is any insurance that might cover some or all of them?

Thanks!

Also of course I'm looking for tips on things to see - roads to drive etc