Syrian journalist visa

Syria has not actually issued more than one “official” journalist visa in the past four years for western media, at least that i know of. Most of the people i know who are based there are able to do so through a strange combination of dealing with the ministry of information officials, while studying arabic, or working for a local syrian english language publication. I would definitely recommend traveling there on a tourist visa, and then introducing yourself at the ministry afterwards. In general though, being an American journalist living in syria is a part time job….you have to juggle the other 50% of your life which inevitably is trying to stay there legally. The best solution i know of is studying and working and being open with the ministry of info about both.

Hi.
I sent a letter to the Syrian Embassy in Sweden, telling then I was going for photos at the border to Iraq, and in the Palestinian settlements, and I found no problems at all. They called me up asking for who my contact in the area was and then they issued it.

I think it helps being open about it. I’m a Dane so don’t know about Americans. But I usually see them being teased at the Airport ;-)

I would vote for telling them before so they don’t have to find out them selves.