Frequently Asked Questions

The decision to return to Syria is a deeply personal one, and it should always be fully informed, voluntary and take place in conditions of safety and dignity.

While the recent developments in Syria present an opportunity for Syria to move forward and for Syrian refugees and internally displaced people (IDP) to think about returning home, it is too early for UNHCR to advise refugees about the situation in areas of intended returns, as it is expected to continue to change.

UNHCR and partners are monitoring the situation inside Syria closely. At the current time, we cannot provide confirmed or accurate information about the current security situation inside Syria.

It is not up to UNHCR or anyone else to make the decision to return on behalf of refugees. Refugees are best placed to make that decision based on their individual circumstances, family situation, and conditions in their home country. 

UNHCR continues to call on countries and local authorities to allow those who fled to access their place of origin/residence, and to refrain from returning anyone against their wishes.

UNHCR believes it is important for refugees to be able to assess conditions firsthand in their area of intended return, such as through short ‘go-and-see’ visits.

Important notes:

• UNHCR is not currently facilitating any visits to Syria. However, UNHCR believes it is important for refugees to be able to assess conditions in their area of intended return, such as through short ‘go-and-see’ visits. UNHCR will continue to advocate for this possibility with concerned States.
• UNHCR cannot guarantee the practices at border crossing points
• UNHCR cannot guarantee that anyone departing their country of asylum to conduct a short visit to Syria can re-enter again.

Access to water, electricity, and other basic services varies across different areas in Syria. UNHCR is currently developing sub-district profiles to provide detailed information on:

• Availability of water and electricity
• Health facilities and services
• Education facilities and programs
• Protection services through community centers
• Agriculture and food security conditions

These community profiles will offer a clearer picture of the situation in different regions once finalized and uploaded. Stay updated by checking UNHCR’s platforms for the latest information.

We encourage you to visit the available official websites.

Additionally, you can visit this website, which will be frequently updated, the UNHCR Syria Help Page, your nearest UNHCR office, the Syrian embassy or diplomatic mission in your country of residence, and the Services Advisory portal available via this link Service Advisory Platform. Other information links will be shared as available.

Syrians returning to the country need to present valid identification documents, such as a Syrian national passport or identity card, for entry into Syria.

For those without identification documents but recorded in the Syrian civil registries, immigration officials at the borders have indicated that entry will still be permitted following a verification of identity through the Civil Affairs database that is accessible by Immigration Officials at the borders. Such individuals are provided with civil record extract to be used for the entry.

Syrian diplomatic missions abroad are also authorized to issue temporary travel documents for Syrian nationals without identity documents seeking to return to Syria.

Prior to departure, we advise approaching the relevant Syrian diplomatic mission or your nearest UNHCR office for the most accurate and up-to-date information on the documentation requirements based on your specific situation.

Yes. There have not been any changes to the officially issued passports or identity cards.

Based on the rules and regulations of the country in which you are residing, you may need to report the loss of your personal identification documents.

At the same time, you can approach a Syrian diplomatic mission in the country where you reside to issue a replacement of your lost passport or temporary travel documents. Please consult the diplomatic mission in your country of residence on the appropriate procedures and fees.

Replacement of lost Syrian ID cards can only be processed in person inside Syria. However, services related to the issuance of ID cards are currently suspended until further notice.

Services related to the issuance of ID cards are currently suspended until further notice but temporarily you can obtain a civil record extract reflecting your BIO data.

However, to acquire a passport, you can apply directly through the Ministry of Interior’s official platform: https://www.ecsc.gov.sy/home

For legal assistance in relation to issuance of ID cards and other civil documentation, UNHCR Syria, through its legal partners, provide free of charge legal counseling and representation before courts or other administrative bodies on a needs’ basis.

Please approach the legal assistance centers or contact any of the hotlines operated by partners implementing the legal assistance project funded by UNHCR in Syria.

For contact details, visit UNHCR Syria Help website: Legal assistance for IDPs and Returnees – UNHCR Syria

Yes. UNHCR Syria, through its legal partners, can provide free legal counseling and representation before courts or other administrative bodies on issues related to civil documentation including IDs. 

Please approach the legal assistance centers or contact any of the hotlines operated  by partners implementing the legal assistance projects funded by UNHCR in Syria.

For contact details, visit the UNHCR Syria Help website: Legal assistance for IDPs and Returnees

In principle, you may approach any civil affairs centers to record new personal status events (birth, marriage, divorce, death) with the supporting documents. However, since 8 December 2024, the services related to registering civil status records are not processed until further notice. Yet, it is still possible to receive your civil extracts for civil events that were registered by Civil Affairs Offices before 8 December.

Relevant updates on registering civil status events will be provided here or you can contact UNHCR legal aid partners at: : Legal assistance for IDPs and Returnees – UNHCR Syria

The caretaker authorities in Syria require that all children entering Syria have a birth certificate and are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

If your children were born outside Syria and have not been registered in Syrian records through diplomatic missions abroad or through civil affairs offices in Syria, they will need a birth certificate issued by the country of birth.

Birth notifications from medical institutions, such as hospitals, may exceptionally be accepted for unregistered children when entering Syria.

No. Children under 18 years returning to Syria need to be accompanied by an adult parent, relative, or guardian.

Alternatively, a travel authorization issued by the parents abroad needs to be presented.

For further information, you can contact UNHCR legal aid partners at: : Legal assistance for IDPs and Returnees – UNHCR Syria

Civil affairs offices are not yet fully operational, and the registration of births and other civil events remains suspended.

Once civil registration activities resume, the following steps are expected to be required:

1. Obtain a Medical Birth Notification: Get a medical birth notification (taqrir wiladah) for the newborn from the hospital, doctor, or licensed midwife where the child was born. If the birth took place outside a medical facility and no birth notification was issued, a police report documenting the birth, with two witnesses, may be required.
2. Authenticated Birth Attestation: Bring the birth notification or police report and the other required documents (family booklet or identity documents of the parents), with two witnesses, to the mukhtar of the neighborhood where the birth took place. The mukhtar will provide you with an authenticated birth attestation (shahadat wiladah).
3. Complete Registration: Take the duly filled birth notification (taqrir wiladah) or police report, and the birth attestation (shahadat wiladah), along with the family booklet (family record extract or marriage certificate) and the parents’ identity cards, to any civil registry office (Al-Nufus) to obtain the final birth certificate (bayan al wiladah).

Since 8 December 2024, the registration of civil events by civil registries in Syria has been suspended, this includes birth registration.

According to the Syrian law, any personal status event, such as birth, death and marriage, that occurs outside of Syria, including of Syrian nationals, should be registered according to the laws of the country of residence, as long as they do not conflict with Syrian laws (Article 17 of the Civil Affairs Law, amended by Law 13/2021).

The official document issued in the country of asylum must be presented to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Syria for certification upon return. The certified document can then be registered at any civil affairs office.

However, since 8 December 2024, the registration of civil events by civil registries in Syria has been suspended.

If you have returned to Syria without registering your child in the country of birth, you need a document proving the birth event, such as a medical notification.

This document allows UNHCR partners to assist you with the birth registration process.

For more information, please visit legal assistance centers or contact the hotlines operated by UNHCR partners in Syria listed on our UNHCR Syria Help Page: Legal assistance for IDPs and Returnees – UNHCR Syria.

Stateless individuals whose place of habitual residence is Syria can return to Syria.

However, there is no clear framework regarding the rights of stateless persons in Syria.

You can contact UNHCR legal aid partners for support at: Legal assistance for IDPs and Returnees – UNHCR Syria

The situation in Syria is continuously changing.  Road conditions today may not be the same tomorrow. UNHCR cannot confirm the safety of any crossing points or routes, and does have reliable, up-to-date information on road conditions. Please exercise caution and seek local advice before traveling.

Prior to any travel, it is important for you to stay abreast of the updates coming out of Syria.

For more information and updates on the accessible crossings, please consult the website of the General Authority for Air and Sea Borders/Facebook outlet.

Please note that each border between Syria and neighboring countries, such as Lebanon, Jordan, Türkiye and Iraq, have specific regulations and entry requirements set by the caretaker authorities present at the official border crossings.

Generally, Syrian refugees are allowed to take their personal belongings, tools, and household furniture with them when they return to Syria for the purpose of permanent residence. However, the specifics can depend on various factors such as the regulations of the host country, the logistics of transportation, and the conditions at the border.

It is important for refugees to check with relevant authorities, UNHCR or local government agencies, for detailed guidance and support regarding the transportation of personal belongings. They can provide the most accurate and up-to-date information based on the current situation.

Lastly, we recommend you check the latest information about customs fees being charged at the border. See question below. 

According to Syrian Law no. 38/2006, personal possessions, tools, and household furniture brought back to Syria for the purpose of permanent residence are exempted from custom fees.

UNHCR has recently been informed that the caretaker authorities in Syria may be introducing certain customs and fees on some items entering Syria. However, this has not been implemented yet and we will keep refugees updated as more information becomes known to us.  

UNHCR believes it is important for refugees to assess conditions firsthand in their area of intended return, such as through short ‘go-and-see’ visits. However, each asylum country has its own policies regarding re-entry:

Türkiye

• In Türkiye, the Presidency of Migration Management allows a maximum of three go-and-see visits by the head of household. If the head of household cannot travel, another adult family member may go instead. Those using their authorized exit right must re-enter Türkiye through the same border gate they exited from.
• For details, visit UNHCR Türkiye Help Page for Movement Procedure.

Lebanon

• UNHCR Lebanon is working with the Lebanese Government to operationalize the go-and-see visit soon under some specific conditions.
• For details, visit the UNHCR Lebanon Help Page for Considerations for Departure to Syria

UNHCR will continue to discuss with relevant authorities and update communities and partners on rules and regulations applicable to go and see visits.

Important notes:

• UNHCR is not currently facilitating any visits to Syria, but continues advocating for go-and-see possibilities with concerned States.
• UNHCR cannot guarantee border crossing procedures or re-entry to asylum countries.
• Frequent travel between Syria and your asylum country may affect your refugee status. Regularly moving back and forth can impact your UNHCR file and eligibility for protection and assistance.
• If you are planning a temporary visit to Syria to decide whether to return more permanently, inform UNHCR before you go.

While Syrian refugees are allowed to take their personal belongings and furniture with them when they return to Syria, the specifics depend on various factors such as the regulations of the host country, the logistics of transportation, and the conditions at the border.

Certain items may be restricted for departure from country of asylum or be subject to customs fees, including gas and fuel canisters, e-bikes and motorbikes, certain electrical equipment, binoculars, and living animals.

UNHCR is advocating with border authorities to continue ensuring the smooth return process for refugees, including possible exemptions from customs fees upon return to Syria.

Further updates will be shared once more information becomes available. Please stay informed by checking UNHCR’s official channels, including this website.

If you have any questions, please select the country you want information about on UNHCR’s HELP homepage or contact your closest UNHCR country office. 

If you have any fears or concerns, please approach the legal assistance centers or contact any of the hotlines operated by UNHCR implementing partners who provide free of charge legal assistance program funded by UNHCR in Syria. All contact information and available services can be found on UNHCR Syria Help Page available at: Legal assistance for IDPs and Returnees – UNHCR Syria.

Also, you can approach or contact the nearest community centre in your area of return, which are one-stop-shops for people in need of help.

In the community centres, UNHCR and our partners provide free and confidential services, including:

• legal assistance
• child protection
• protection from gender-based violence
• psychosocial services
• specialized programmes for persons with disabilities and older persons.

At the community centre, trained staff is available to listen to your story in full confidentiality and explore possible services free of charge in a safe place.

More information on types of services per location, which will be continuously updated, can be found on the Service Advisory Platform: Services Advisor Syria

If you lost contact with a family member due to conflict, migration , or disaster, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in coordination with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC),provides family tracing services to help families reconnect with missing loved ones.

Family tracing is not a guarantee that a lost family member will be found, and tracing can sometimes take months or years.

However, ICRC will collect information that may help clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing family. When tracing is successful, ICRC will inform families of the whereabouts of their loved ones and, when possible, help to reunite those families.

To start the process of family tracing, you can contact the following helplines:

• Former detainees who need support to communicate with and be reunited with their families can call: 0953555431.
• Families searching for their loved ones, including former detainees can call: 0936033628.

Families can also contact ICRC offices in Damascus and Rural Damascus, Aleppo or Homs directly with the usual Protection of Family Links phone number:

• Damascus: Mob: 093 600 112 / Tel: 011 338 060 00
• Aleppo: Mob: 093 003 8337 / Tel: 02 122 147 00
• Homs: Mob: 093 603 3624 / Tel: 03 122 333 22

The helplines are working from Sunday to Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except on official holidays.

Currently, UNHCR does not provide targeted cash or monetary assistance for returnees in Syria.

Similarly, there is no blanket shelter support provided by UNHCR Syria for individuals returning to Syria.

However, UNHCR operations in neighboring countries are collaborating to support individuals voluntary seeking to return through cash-based interventions.

What You Can Do:

• Check with UNHCR in your country of asylum to see if any assistance is available before returning.
• Stay updated through official UNHCR communication channels, including the UNHCR Syria HELP Page, where updates on support programs will be shared.

UNHCR scaled-up community-based interventions inside Syria to support both internally displaced people and refugee returnees, as well as the local communities that are hosting them, focusing on strengthening the resilience and enhancing access to vital services.

Types of assistance provided by UNHCR and our partners include:

• Legal support (for civil documentation)
• Agricultural kits
• Medical-in-kind assistance
• General-in-kind assistance
• Gender-based violence (GBV) and child protection case management
• Awareness raising on protection from sexual exploitation and abuse
• Mental health and psycho-social support
• Multi-purpose cash assistance (based on assessed needs)
• Inclusive care for the elderly and persons with disabilities

Food assistance is being provided by WFP in collaboration with SARC in certain areas to a limited number of returnee families as part of their regular programming, based on internal vulnerability criteria devised. Needs are much greater than current stocks and therefore not all families are receiving food assistance.

If you ae trying to find out about available services and assistance near you, visit the Services Advisor website for Syria. You’ll be able to search and find information, including contact details and opening times, of service providers in your area.

UNHCR is committed to supporting refugees voluntarily returning to Syria and is working on scaling up assistance including for transportation and logistics.

Jordan

 Since 20 January 2025, UNHCR Jordan has been piloting a project that provides bus transportation to refugees who wish to voluntarily return to Syria from Jordan. During this pilot, UNHCR is directly contacting a limited number of refugees who previously expressed interest in return, through the UNHCR Jordan Help page.

Syria

UNHCR is currently procuring transportation services to support refugees returning from neighboring counties to Syria, to do so in the upcoming weeks.

Further updates from UNHCR will follow.

HCR Syria provides assistance to Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and refugee returnees inside Syria through a wide network of community-based services.

Where can you get assistance?

• 106 UNHCR-supported community centres
• 115 mobile units
• 2,250 outreach volunteers (as of February 2025)
• across 14 governorates

What services are available?

 The assistance and support offered by UNHCR through this network can be grouped as:

Protection services: mainly delivered through the UNHCR-supported community centres – includes legal assistance with access to civil documentation (essential to access support and public services) and housing, land and property (HLP) rights, child protection, gender-based violence, mental health, care programmes for the elderly and those living with disabilities, and psychosocial support services.

Assistance programmes: this includes cash-based interventions inside Syria for goods and services; shelter and basic support to basic services; livelihood programmes; and the distribution of core life items that will enable people to meet their immediate essential needs to help settlement and reintegration in dignity and safety.

For more information about community centers that provide services in Syria, please visit

• UNHCR Syria HELP Page.

For available services and assistance near you, visit the Services Advisor  website for Syria. You will be able to search and find information, including contact details and opening times, of service providers in your area.

Border Health-Protection Support Points at Nassib (Syria-Jordan border), Jdaidet Yabous, Arida, Daboussieh and Joussieh (Syria-Lebanon border), Kassab (Syria-Türkiye border) are supported through UNHCR’s partner SARC to assist returnees crossing into Syria. The Dabbousieh and Al-Arida points (Syria-Lebanon border) remain under repair.

UNHCR has also established presence at Bab Al-Hawa, through partner Namaa and Al-Salamah through partner AlIhsan crossings (Syria-Türkiye border) with a view to expanding UNHCR presence to  Abo Kama/ Qaim (Syria-Iraq border), Al Ra’ee, Jarablus and Al-Hamam (Syria-Türkiye border).

At the mentioned border crossing points, information is available on services in areas of return, as well as counselling and referral services. They also offer access to the internet or a hotline to communicate with relatives, basic medical attention, and other amenities.

Transportation support to areas of return is also provided at the border pots. More information will be made available shortly.

You can approach or contact the nearest community centre in your area of return, which are one-stop-shops for people in need of help.

For more information about the location of UNHCR-supported community centres, please visit https://www.unhcr.org/sy/cc.

All UNHCR services are always free of charge. including transportation support. 

Those returning to their areas of origin are returning to their homes or are being hosted by family or community members.

No announcements have been made regarding the establishment of collective shelters by the caretaker authorities in Syria for returnees. Therefore, it is currently not possible to say what conditions will be applied, should such facilities be established.

UNHCR believes that community shelters are a temporary solution and those returning voluntarily should not be living in another displacement in the community shelter.

Since before the crisis, banks have been providing loans for home reconstruction with some strict conditions. There have been no announcements made promoting such loans in recent times. Please consult individual banks for details. 

You can also approach or contact the nearest community centre in your area of return, which are one-stop-shops for people in need of help with a view to providing possible support.

UNHCR Syria together with partners and stakeholders, works to provide livelihood opportunities and improve the economic conditions for the most vulnerable by increasing self-reliance and their capacity to shape their own futures.

See the different kinds of livelihood programmes in Syria.

For queries relating to any of the services listed above, please consult the list of community centres to contact the community centre closest to your aera of residence taking into account the limited scope of services delivered through community centers which may not be also available throughout the year.

Also, please consult section on Employment & Economic Conditions of this FAQ.

While there is no information available regarding the establishment of collective shelters by the caretaker authorities in Syria for returnees, UNHCR Shelter support in Syria ranges from emergency shelter to longer-term shelter assistance, as well as restoration of communal basic facilities in areas of high return.

To support returnees, UNHCR and our partners provide housing assistance as part of long-term shelter solutions. This includes the repairs of damaged houses of returnees. UNHCR also supports the repair of communal basic infrastructure to enhance livelihoods and the basic services to the communities of high return areas.

The repair of houses can include moderate structural repairs, doors and windows repairs, electrical works (cabling, installation of lamps, etc.), and water and sanitation work in the residential units, including the common areas, to make the house habitable again.

UNHCR implements yearly rehabilitation programs for returnees. To be eligible, the families are identified and selected through vulnerability criteria and undertaking technical assessment of the housing units.

Yes, you can reclaim your house or business, in principle, provided you have proof and/or ownership documentation to support your claim.

If you have any issues related to your properties, please visit the UNHCR legal assistance centers or contact the hotlines operated by UNHCR legal partners for free legal assistance.

You can find all contact information and available services on the UNHCR Syria Help Page: Legal assistance for IDPs and Returnees – UNHCR Syria.

On Housing, Land, and Property (HLP) matters, UNHCR and its legal partners provide a range of support services, such as counseling and raising awareness about housing and property rights, helping individuals understand their entitlements and navigate legal complexities.

UNHCR legal partners can assist with the process of issuing replacement documents, such as cadastral records, ownership deeds, and powers of attorney. Additionally, they represent cases in courts, including efforts to restore damaged real estate records or authenticate sale contracts.

This comprehensive support aims to ensure that individuals can secure and maintain their housing and property rights effectively. 

If you have any issues related to your properties, please visit the UNHCR legal assistance centers or contact the hotlines operated by UNHCR legal partners for free legal assistance.

You can find all contact information and available services on the UNHCR Syria Help Page: Legal assistance for IDPs and Returnees – UNHCR Syria.

The availability of job opportunities may vary depending on the locations and business sectors across Syria. General high-demand fields include healthcare, construction, education, agriculture, and skilled labors.

Several organizations, including UN agencies, NGOs, and local institutions, offer livelihood programs to support returnees. These services may include:

• Vocational training and skills development
• Job placement assistance
• Small business grants and entrepreneurship support
• Agricultural support programs for farmers

You can also access additional information on labor market, including job opportunities, training and vocational guidance, most required jobs and skills by visiting the National Labor Market Information Platform – Syria.

If you gained skills through work experience, vocational training, or informal learning during displacement, you may seek certification through vocational training centers, professional associations, or relevant official bodies.

See the different kinds of livelihood programmes in Syria.

Health services are provided by the public, NGO and private sectors, and are led by the Ministry of Health which is the main provider of health services that cover all levels of health care.

• Primary health care is provided through 1296 Ministry of Health centers and mobile clinics/teams, NGO centers supported by UN agencies, and private polyclinics. Ministry of Health clinics are offering free of charge national package of health services that focus on health promotion, disease prevention, disease management, and rehabilitation. Primary health care services consist of mother and child health services, communicable and non-communicable diseases management including mental health and psychosocial services, elderly, youth, dental and nutrition services, in addition to medical investigation and medicine services. Some of the centers offer specialized services such as Thalassemia services, and 24/7 emergency services.
• Secondary and tertiary health care is provided through 98 Ministry of Health and Department of Health hospitals and specialized centers, 12 university hospitals, NGO and private hospitals. Available care includes a wide range of medical and surgical interventions for elective and emergency cases that cover all specialty areas. Care at Ministry of Health hospitals is generally against a charge. Hospitals affiliated with the Department of Health are free of charge.
• Rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities, including assistive devices and artificial limbs, are provided through clinics, workshops and hospitals, NGO run workshops for artificial limbs, the SARC artificial limb centers in rural Damascus and Aleppo, UNHCR supported community centers, and Ministry of Health rehabilitation center in Damascus.

If you are Syrian, you can access all levels of care at the standard rate set by the Ministry of Health.

You can access any public primary health center to receive the package of primary health care services free of charge. Some NGO centers offer services for flat rates.

No legal documents are required in public primary health care centers of the Ministry of Health or the Department of Health, except if specialized or medicine services are provided. In that case the ID card should be presented.

Hospital services in autonomous hospitals of the Ministry of Health, university hospitals and NGO hospitals are generally charged at a national rate for Syrians in addition to the cost of medical supplies, if required. While non-autonomous hospitals affiliated with Departments of Health are free of charge except for the cost of medicines, medical supplies and devices.

Emergency services/departments in hospitals receive patients for life saving services free of charge regardless of their identity and nationality, up to the stabilization phase.

The Ministry of Education has opened its schools to all children and has shown flexibility by accepting late school registration for any students. You should submit the document of last grade your child studied to the Education Directorate of the governorate you are residing in.

The Ministry of Education recognizes high school certificates from other countries. You must submit a school document of the latest grade your child studied in the secondary level, in addition to the basic education certificate.

Each school level has a specific document that should be submitted.

For more details, see the recent pamphlet endorsed by the Ministry of Education as of February 2025.