The Palestinian Embassy in Damascus announced on January 20, 2026, that Syria now requires prior approval for holders of ordinary Palestinian passports or travel documents to enter the country. This policy, issued by the Ministry of Interior under the HTS-led government, ends decades of open entry rights granted by Law No. 260 of 1956, which treated Palestinians nearly as equals to Syrian citizens.
Approval must be obtained through the Ministry's Public Relations Office, typically via a sponsor or relative in Syria. Palestinians holding Syrian travel documents remain exempt and enter as citizens.
The change follows HTS's takeover in December 2024 and aligns with reported crackdowns on Palestinian factions. Sources like SadaNews and analyst Richard Medhurst confirmed the embassy's statement, sparking debate over diminished Palestinian rights in Syria. Official updates will be posted by the embassy as issued.
