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Syria

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
200,911
Top destination, 2023
Germany
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
3,981
UK visas issued, 2025
5,065
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
26.8%
NationalitySYISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<SYSYRIA<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
SY8<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<6

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Syria need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomVisa requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongVisa requiredImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Syria move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. Germany128,742
  2. Netherlands19,551
  3. Austria15,246
  4. Canada9,345
  5. Belgium5,496
  6. United States4,250
  7. France3,381
  8. Türkiye3,330
  9. Norway3,116
  10. Sweden2,515
  11. Switzerland1,745
  12. Luxembourg770
  13. Italy591
  14. Finland503
  15. Hungary484

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

214k429k200020032006200920122015201820212023
214k429k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20009,427
20019,599
20028,809
20038,139
20048,212
20058,810
20068,692
20077,843
20088,160
20098,736
201011,409
201113,575
201222,777
201345,095
2014128,200
2015428,623
2016366,187
2017202,416
2018159,828
2019132,059
202077,076
2021144,996
2022167,493
2023200,911
Share going to the top destination
64.1%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Syria who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Türkiye3,563,983
  2. Jordan1,593,643
  3. Germany860,697
  4. Lebanon784,884
  5. Saudi Arabia496,044
  6. Iraq258,068
  7. Sweden243,388
  8. Egypt156,146
  9. Netherlands153,160
  10. Canada125,767
  11. Austria90,968
  12. France60,670

Living abroad by year

4.46M8.93M19901995200020052010201520202024
4.46M8.93M19902000201020202024
Data table
1990296,211
1995342,460
2000382,108
2005547,473
20101,265,925
20155,981,460
20208,652,202
20248,927,523
Living abroad, 2024
8,927,523
Change since 2000
+2236.4%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
39.9%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Syria by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B23,161
  2. K1256
  3. F1135
  4. J1108
  5. G459
  6. G142
  7. G235
  8. H426
  9. F224
  10. H1B18

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

2,9805,959201720182019202020212022202320242025
2,9805,95920172019202120232025
Data table
20172,189
20182,130
20191,762
20201,350
20211,221
20224,099
20235,959
20245,481
20253,981
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. IR51,068
  2. IR1307
  3. F4287
  4. CR1184
  5. DV126
  6. F389
  7. IR271
  8. F157
Immigrant visas, FY2025
2,361
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
58
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Syria who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Syria with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

7,34515k2015201620172018201920202021202220232024
7,34515k201520172019202120232024
Data table
20153,840
20164,800
20175,880
201814,690
20195,970
20203,180
20211,750
20223,250
20233,680
20245,590
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Refugees and asylees2,490
  2. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens2,270
  3. Family-sponsored preferences580
  4. Employment-based preferences140
  5. Diversity visa lottery100
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Spouses and children70
  2. Specialty occupations (H-1B)40
  3. Intracompany transferees (L-1)10
  4. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)10
  5. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)10
  6. Other temporary workers10
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Syria)
5,590
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Syria)
3,240
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
4,710
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Syria (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Syria (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Family2,493
  2. Visitor1,861
  3. Other316
  4. Study218
  5. Work177

Visas issued by year

4,6799,357201020122014201620182020202220242025
4,6799,357201020132016201920222025
Data table
20105,522
20115,739
20123,490
20133,812
20143,251
20155,918
20168,959
20178,079
20187,982
20198,171
20202,862
20213,960
20225,274
20236,970
20249,357
20255,065
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
185
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of Syria, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
202501802504,32015
2024303302557,74530
2023454653309,35055
202251752508,50525
20210802055,59530
20200752154,88540
201909028510,12050
201809027512,04560
201705025012,060120
201604519035,00510
20150552209,85010
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Syria, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

14282005–062007–082009–102011–122013–142015–162017–182019–202021–222023–242025–26
14282005–062009–102013–142017–182021–222025–26
Data table
2005–069
2006–0720
2007–0816
2008–0912
2009–1010
2010–119
2011–1220
2012–1324
2013–1412
2014–159
2015–169
2016–1716
2017–1817
2018–197
2019–2011
2020–214
2021–227
2022–2317
2023–2421
2024–2512
2025–2628
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Core Skills12
  2. Specialist Skills8
  3. Short-term3
  4. Labour Agreement3
  5. Medium-term2
Granted, 2025–26
28
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Syria living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

8511,7012012201420162018202220242025
8511,7012012201420162018202220242025
Data table
2012261
2013332
2014409
2015477
2016534
2017631
2018733
2019865
20221,153
20231,393
20241,584
20251,701
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Long-Term Resident603
  2. Designated Activities448
  3. Dependent220
  4. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services128
  5. Permanent Resident90
  6. Student89
  7. Spouse or Child of Japanese National38
  8. Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident24
  9. Business Manager19
  10. Highly Skilled Professional18
Residents, December 2025
1,701
In work-related statuses
188
Share in work-related statuses
11.1%
Students
89
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in Syria

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Syria, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
Greece3,9393,02189422.7%
Romania47023615733.4%
Austria35817118250.8%
Poland1555010467.1%
Czechia817922.5%

Applications by year

22k43k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
22k43k200920122015201820212024
Data table
200943,157
201042,724
201133,810
20125,302
2013400
2014360
2015565
2016377
2017389
2018643
2019953
2020157
2021784
20221,277
20234,185
20245,003
Refusal rate, 2024
26.8%
Refusal rate, 2019
17.8%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Syria in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Other reasons61,844
  2. Family42,783
  3. Education3,339
  4. Work2,039
First permits by country
  1. Germany66,141
  2. Netherlands17,738
  3. Austria4,368
  4. Belgium4,229
  5. Greece3,671
  6. France2,881
  7. Norway2,051
  8. Sweden1,761
  9. Cyprus1,444
  10. Romania922
  11. Luxembourg820
  12. Spain589
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. EU Blue Card689
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)470
  3. Researchers38
  4. Other paid activities842
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
1,955
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
114,078
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
80,198
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
795
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
1,097,073
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
47,195
Changed status into work, 2025
779
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
2
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
31
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Syria in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark2025338276259244
Sweden20251,3361631,00925454
Netherlands202527,590165956,70520,61015
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland202533018312
Austria20253,0682,479589
Work-related, latest year
  1. Denmark27
  2. Sweden16
  3. Netherlands165
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Germany

Citizens of Syria living in Germany on 31 December 2025, by residence status in the Central Register of Foreigners (Destatis).

By residence status, 31 Dec 2025
  1. International law, humanitarian or political reasons544,715
  2. Application for a residence title pending106,665
  3. Family reasons101,130
  4. Permanent residence title69,355
  5. Permission to reside during the asylum procedure65,605
  6. Neither tolerated nor permitted26,865
  7. Tolerated stay (Duldung)9,315
  8. Employment4,990
  9. Special residence rights and national visas3,790
  10. Education and training3,325
  11. EU free movement515

Residents in Germany (31 Dec)

488k975k201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
488k975k2014201620182020202220242025
Data table
2014118,196
2015366,556
2016637,845
2017698,950
2018745,645
2019789,465
2020818,460
2021867,585
2022923,805
2023972,460
2024975,060
2025936,285
Residents in Germany, 31 Dec 2025
936,285
With a residence title for employment
4,990
Permanent residence title
69,355
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), Central Register of Foreigners, 31 December 2025 (reproduction permitted with source)Data as at 31 Dec 2025

Italy

New residence permits issued in Italy to citizens of Syria, by year and reason, and permits valid on 1 January 2026 (Istat).

New permits by year

6451,2892016201720182019202020212022202320242025
6451,289201620182020202220242025
Data table
2016849
20171,289
20181,058
2019704
2020309
2021376
2022477
2023545
2024405
2025549
New permits by reason, 2025
  1. Asylum and protection208
  2. Family177
  3. Study139
  4. Other reasons17
  5. Work8
New permits, 2025
549
Valid permits, 1 Jan 2026
6,772
EU long-term residents, 1 Jan 2026
1,724
Source: Istat, residence permits of non-EU citizens: permits issued in the year and valid permits on 1 January (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Syria

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Syria, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Algeria1——
Argentina1——
Austria1——
Belarus1——
Brazil1——
Chile1——
China1——
Czechia1——
Egypt1——
Finland1——
Germany1——
Greece1——
India1——
Indonesia1——
Italy1——
Morocco1——
North Korea1——
Palestine1——
Philippines1——
Poland1——
Romania1——
Russia1——
Saudi Arabia1——
South Africa1——
Spain1——
Sweden1——
Türkiye11—
Ukraine1——
United Arab Emirates1——
Countries
29
Missions
30
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Syria, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

8121,62320002003200620092010
8121,62320002003200620092010
Data table
2000180
2001170
2002135
2003889
2004855
2005823
2006795
20071,030
20081,325
20091,350
20101,623
Remittances received, 2010
US$1,623 million
Share of GDP, 2010
2.6%
Average cost of sending US$200 to Syria, 2016
10.7%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2010

All corridors from Syria

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Syria → Germany
  • Syria → Netherlands
  • Syria → Austria
  • Syria → Canada
  • Syria → Belgium
  • Syria → United States
  • Syria → France
  • Syria → Türkiye
  • Syria → Norway
  • Syria → Sweden
  • Syria → Switzerland
  • Syria → Greece
  • Syria → Luxembourg
  • Syria → Italy
  • Syria → Hungary
  • Syria → Romania
  • Syria → Spain
  • Syria → United Kingdom
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more