Syria’s transitional government has announced a significant increase in visa fees, aiming to boost revenue amid ongoing financial challenges.

A document circulating on social media—verified by The New Arab—confirms that British travelers will now be required to pay $250 for a 15-day visa.

Other notable changes include a $75 fee for U.S. citizens visiting for 15 days, while Russian nationals will be charged $25 for a three-day stay.

Visa exemptions remain in place for neighboring Lebanon and Jordan, as well as Malaysia and Mauritania. However, Iraq—a country that shares a 372-mile border with Syria—has been controversially placed in Group Seven, meaning Iraqi visitors now face a steep fee increase from $50 to $250 for a single-entry visa. Additionally, their stay has been reduced to a maximum of three months per visit.

This move could present difficulties for Iraqi Kurds with family in Syria. However, given Iraq’s role in facilitating the movement of Iranian and Assad regime-backed fighters, some view the measure as a security precaution.

According to the official document, citizens of Oman, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey will now be charged $150 for a visa valid for three months. Unlike Iraqis, travelers from these countries will be permitted multiple entries.

Commenting on the fee hike, The New Arab's Syrian-Canadian international editor, Yazan al-Saadi, based in Beirut, sees both economic and political motivations behind the decision:

"One can speculate on various reasons for these new visa requirements," he said. "The changes likely stem from economic needs—an effort to generate revenue—alongside political reciprocity with certain states and security measures aimed at limiting foreign fighters, particularly those with Western passports."

While the document has been verified as an official release from Syria’s Ministry of the Interior, The New Arab has reached out to the ministry for further clarification. Photo by Krokodyl, Wikimedia commons.