Cairo, 6 January 2025: Egypt has enforced stricter entry rules for Syrian nationals, limiting access to those with temporary non-tourist residency permits, as per the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority. Airlines failing to comply face fines.
The new measures come shortly after former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s ouster last month and build on earlier restrictions targeting Syrians with European, Gulf, US, or Canadian residencies or Schengen visas unless granted prior security clearance. Syrians married to Egyptian citizens must also adhere to these requirements.
Egypt is home to approximately 1.5 million Syrians, but only 153,000 are registered refugees, according to UNHCR. Many fled Syria’s civil war, which began in 2011.
In tandem, the Syrian Embassy in Cairo introduced free, same-day travel permits for Syrians wishing to return home without valid passports. Some Syrians have already chosen to leave. Last month, 40 passengers departed Cairo via Nuweiba Port, traveling to Jordan before crossing into Syria.
Separately, Egypt has reportedly expanded its restrictions to Palestinians from Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Libya. Advocacy group Action Group for Palestinians in Syria said authorities have not clarified the reasoning, although exceptions were historically granted under specific conditions. These moves underscore the growing impact of security concerns on Egypt’s immigration policies.
