One Free Entry a Month
Syria's General Ports and Customs Authority issued Decision No. 59 on 15 June 2026, exempting the private vehicles of Syrian nationals living in Turkey from the border entry-stamp fee once each month. The measure took effect immediately on issuance and carries no stated expiry date.
Under the decision, a Syrian resident in Turkey may bring a private tourist car into the country once a month without paying the entry charge. Any additional crossing within the same calendar month remains subject to the standard fee.
The Standing Fee Schedule
The exemption applies against a fee structure set on 5 July 2025. A one-month vehicle permit costs $50 in US dollars (USD), while a three-month permit is priced at $200. A vehicle that overstays its permitted period incurs a late-return penalty of $110 per week.
By waiving one entry each month, the change removes a recurring $50 cost for residents who cross regularly, while leaving the wider schedule unchanged for longer stays and repeat trips.
Routed Through Bab al-Hawa
The exemption is tied to the Bab al-Hawa crossing on the border with Turkey, the designated point for the vehicles covered by the decision. The General Customs Administration was tasked with putting the measure into effect at the crossing.
Easing Cross-Border Ties
Officials framed the step as a way to ease movement and strengthen the connection between Syrians abroad and their families inside the country. Private-car crossings have become a routine channel for family visits and small-scale trade across the northern border.
The decision adjusts the cost of those crossings at the margin rather than overhauling the border-fee system, but it lowers the monthly outlay for the most frequent travelers using their own vehicles.