Syrian expatriates to enter Syria through joint land crossings without the need for prior approval [Getty]
The General Authority of Land and Sea Border Crossings in Syria announced late on Monday that it had reached an agreement with Turkey to allow Syrian expatriates to enter Syria through joint land crossings without the need for prior approval.
In a formal statement, the authority said the decision applies to Syrians residing in countries around the world – excluding Turkey – who hold another nationality or a valid residence permit abroad and wish to enter Syria via Turkish territory.
According to the statement, “adult Syrians holding a second nationality are permitted to enter provided they carry a Syrian passport, even if expired, in addition to their foreign passport”.
It added that children of Syrian expatriates under the age of 18 who do not hold a Syrian passport would be allowed entry using only their foreign passport.
The decision also covers travel by private vehicles. The statement added that travellers can enter Syria with their own cars through designated border crossings – Kassab, Bab al-Hawa, al-Hamam, al-Salama, al-Rai, and Jarabulus – upon payment of specified fees, provided they respect the permitted period of stay in the country.
Reactions among Syrians abroad have been mixed. Some Syrians in Turkey expressed frustration that the new measure excludes those holding temporary protection documents rather than foreign citizenship or residency elsewhere.
“The decision is good, but it excludes a wide segment of Syrians in Turkey,” said Saad Khairallah, a young Syrian living in Istanbul under temporary protection status (known as the kimlik), in an interview with The New Arab’s sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
“I have a Syrian passport, yet I cannot benefit from it because of my legal status here. We also want similar treatment that allows us to visit our families through the crossings without complicated procedures.”
Others, particularly Syrians in Europe, welcomed the move as a long-awaited easing of travel restrictions.
“This decision makes things much easier for thousands of Syrian families who want to visit the homeland without the burden of previous procedures,” said Othman Nourani, a resident of Düsseldorf, Germany, who holds both German and Syrian citizenship, speaking to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
“It is an important step in strengthening the ties of expatriates with their country, and we hope it will expand to include clearer arrangements for temporary stays and lower fees that encourage visits.”
This development comes after years of complaints from Syrians abroad about the difficulty of entering their country through land crossings with Turkey, which required prior approval or lengthy and complicated procedures.
