Syria visa requirements for Kenyans

Travel and visa requirements

Basic Travel Requirements for Kenyans visiting Syria

Travelers are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to apply for a Syrian Visa.

  • A Kenyan passport valid for at least 6 months from the intended arrival date and must have 2 blank pages for visa stamp.
  • Duly completed and signed visa application form.
  • If the applicant is a minor, the parents/legal guardians have to sign the form.
  • Passport-size photographs (2 x 2” dimension) taken in white background.
  • Travel document.
  • Proof of financial support
  • Proof of accommodation
  • Copy of return flight ticket
  • Documentation showing applicant’s ties to home country, e.g. verification from applicant’s employer.
  • A police report showing the traveler does not have a criminal record.
  • Medical Insurance.
  • Documentation confirming the purpose of travel.
  • Copy of travel itinerary.

Syria Visa for Kenyans

Facts about Syria

Foreigners in Syria enjoying taking tours around to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the country. While on tour in the country, you can visit beaches, mountains, and ruins. The Syrian mountains are good hiking spots for tourists in the country. Geocaching is also one of the popular activities done by tourists in the country.
 
Tourism in Syria has been in decline since the beginning of the Syrian civil war in 2011. Since the beginning of the war, many tourist sites have been destroyed, major hotels have closed down and major flights have suspended their operations. The movement of tourists in the country has declined by 98% in 2011. In 2010 before the crisis started, the country played host to 8.5 million tourists which was a 40% increase from the number of tourists that visited the previous year. The industry generated $8.4 billion dollars which was about 14% of the country’s economy.
 
Citizens of Arab countries do not require a visa, except Moroccan women below the age of 40 years traveling alone. Nationals of Malaysia, Turkey, and Iran also do not require a visa.

Types of Syria Visa

Types of Visa Processing Time Duration of Stay
Tourist visa 15 working days 90 days
Business visa 15 working days 90 days

General Requirements for Syria Visa

  • A Kenyan passport valid for at least 6 months from the intended arrival date and must have 2 blank pages for visa stamp.
  • Duly completed and signed visa application form.
  • If the applicant is a minor, the parents/legal guardians have to sign the form.
  • Passport-size photographs (2 x 2” dimension) taken in white background.
  • Travel document.
  • Proof of financial support
  • Proof of accommodation
  • Copy of return flight ticket
  • Documentation showing applicant’s ties to home country, e.g. verification from applicant’s employer.
  • A police report showing the traveler does not have a criminal record.
  • Medical Insurance.
  • Documentation confirming the purpose of travel.
  • Copy of travel itinerary.
Syria Tourist visa Syria Business visa

Syria Tourist Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The Syrian tourist visa is for Kenyans intending to visit Syria for tourism or leisure.
  • The visa is divided into two types:
    • Single-entry visa - valid for three months.
    • Multiple-entry visa - valid for six months.
  • The multiple entry visa can be extended to up to one year.
  • Tourists must register with the Syrian immigration authorities by the 15th day of their entry into the country.
  • Syria charges a departure tax for all visitors except those on diplomatic passports and children under the age of 11. You are advised to check with your airline to confirm if this tax has been included in your flight fare.
  • Permission of residency is spontaneously granted to foreigners born in Syria.
  • If you are self-employed, please include a copy of your business license, income tax return, and the company bank statement from the latest six months.
  • Tourists coming to Syria should have enough money to comfortably spend at least 25 USD daily for their entire duration in the country.
  • If you are going to visit someone in the country, a letter of invitation from your host is required. The letter should contain contact details of your host, as well as a valid means of identification of your host.
  • A recent medical report which shows the traveler is free from any illness of public health concern must be provided.
  • The currency used in Syria is the Syrian pound (SYP) and the economy is primarily cash-based. Credit cards are not widely accepted.
  • Basic medical care and medicines are available in Damascus and some coastal areas, but not necessarily in other areas. Serious illnesses and emergencies may require evacuation to a neighboring country or to a Western medical facility.
  • Avoid talking about the Syrian political situation with a local unless your counterpart initiates the conversation. It is a sensitive and painful topic.
  • Tourists who bring pets have to submit their health certificates written in English and authenticated in their home country. As for cats and dogs, a certificate of vaccination against rabies should be presented.
  • In Syria, using mobile phones at checkpoints is prohibited.

Syria Business Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • This visa is for business travelers to Syria.
  • The Syrian business visa allows travelers to partake in any business activity of their choice while in Syria.
  • Activities carried out by business travelers to Syria include attending conferences, trade fairs and business summits and negotiating and signing business contracts.
  • An invitation letter from your business partner in Syria is important when applying for this visa. This letter should contain all the necessary details about the planned trip, including who will be taking responsibility of the travel expenses (whether the individual or the company).
  • Applicants who are self-employed should include a copy of their business license, income tax return, and company bank statement of the last 6 months.
  • A letter from your employer in Kenya stating the awareness of your leave and also the purpose and duration of your trip and any other detail that might be important should be presented.
  • Kenyans on this visa cannot take up paid or unpaid employment while they are in the country.
  • The Syrian business visa is a multiple entry visa valid for 30 to 90 days.
  • It is also possible to get a 6 months visa; valid for one or multiple trips in a one-year period.
  • Those wishing to stay in Syria for more than a year should show a Devoid of AIDS certificate (CVI).
  • The certificate serves to confirm that the traveler is HIV-free.

Syria Visa Fees

Visa Type

Sub Types

Visa Fees

Tourist visa

100.00 (USD)

Business visa

100.00 (USD)

Syria Visa Application Centres & Embassies in Kenya

Location

Address

--

Syria currently does not maintain an embassy in Kenya. Citizens of Kenya are advised to use embassies/consulates in their neighboring countries for their applications.

--

--

--

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a visa to go to Syria?

Kenyans need a visa to travel to Syria. This visa can be obtained at any embassy or consulate of Syria located near the traveler.

Is it safe to travel to Syria?

No part of Syria is safe from violence and kidnappings. Terrorism, civil unrest and armed conflict are prevalent in the country.

How many tourists visit Syria each year?
Before the war in 2011, the country received an average of more than 7 million foreigners between 2009 and 2010. But with the current crisis going in the country today, not many visit.
What is the cause of the civil war in Syria?
The civil war in Syria started as a result of the conflict between forces of the Ba’ath government and the forces who wanted to remove the government.
How old is Damascus?

Findings indicate that Damascus was inhabited as early as 8,000 to 10,000 BC.