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Syria's General Authority for Land and Sea Border Crossings announced Saturday new fees for private vehicles entering the country through all land crossings with Türkiye, marking the latest development in cross-border regulations between the neighboring nations.
The authority set entry fees at $50 for one-month permits and $200 for three-month permits for private vehicles crossing into Syrian territory. Vehicle owners can extend their stay by returning to their original entry point before the permit expires, provided they remain in Syria during the extension process.
Vehicles that overstay without official extension face penalties of $110 per week, according to the statement obtained by Syrian news outlet Enab Baladi.
The fee structure comes as Syria prepares to implement new transit rules for Syrian expatriates. Starting July 10, Syrians living abroad—excluding those residing in Türkiye—will be allowed to enter Syrian territory via Türkiye for transit purposes exclusively through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing.
Under the new mechanism, Syrian expatriates holding foreign nationality or valid residency permits may enter Syria through Turkish territory. The authority confirmed that adult Syrians with foreign nationality can register and enter even with expired Syrian passports.
The regulations extend to children under 18 of Syrian expatriates who hold foreign nationality but lack Syrian passports, allowing them to enter using their foreign travel documents.
However, the transit mechanism excludes Syrians who entered Syria through Jordan, Lebanon, or Damascus International Airport. These individuals must seek crossing permission through the Turkish Embassy in Damascus or the Turkish Consulate in Aleppo.
The Bab al-Hawa crossing has served as a critical gateway between Syria and Türkiye, particularly important for humanitarian aid delivery and civilian movement during Syria's ongoing conflict that began in 2011.
The new regulations come as Syria's pursues efforts to formalize border procedures while managing the movement of Syrian nationals living in diaspora communities worldwide. Türkiye hosts the world's largest Syrian refugee population, with approximately 3.6 million Syrians under temporary protection status.
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