Guidance

Syria: Knowledge Base profile

Published 18 September 2025

© Crown copyright 2025

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About: Syria

This document contains useful information about Syria which will assist His Majesty’s Passport Office staff process passport applications.

Contacts

If you have any questions about the document and your line manager or senior caseworker cannot help you or you think that the document has factual errors then email the Guidance team.

If you notice any formatting errors in this document (broken links, spelling mistakes and so on) or have any comments about the layout or navigability of the document then you can email the Guidance team.

Publication

Below is information on when this version of the document was published:

  • version 2.0
  • published for Home Office staff on 15 September 2025

Changes from last version of this document

This document has been updated with formatting changes.

Syria: names

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about names in Syria.

Names in Syria consist of:

  • forename
  • father forename
  • paternal grandfather forename
  • paternal great grandfather forename
  • family name
  • tribe name

Civil documents in Syria show:

  • forename
  • father name
  • paternal grandfather name
  • family name

Change of name

Name changes are allowed in Syria by submitting a change of name request to the Civil Registry Office in Syria.

Women do not change their name to their husband’s name on marriage.

Syria: nationality

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about nationality in Syria.

Dual nationality is recognised in Syria.

Syria: adoption

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about adoption in Syria.

Adoption is illegal in Syria.

Syria: surrogacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about surrogacy in Syria.

Surrogacy is illegal in Syria.

Syria: gender recognition

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about gender recognition in Syria.

Transgender citizens are not recognised in Syria.

Syria: civil partnerships and marriage

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about civil partnerships and marriage in Syria.

Civil partnerships and same sex marriage are illegal in Syria.

Religious and civil marriages are legally recognised in Syria.

Polygamy is legal for Muslim men in Syria.

Syria: documents

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents in Syria.

Since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Syria has suspended civil status registrations indefinitely. This includes:

  • births
  • marriages
  • divorces
  • deaths
  • property transactions

Syria resumed passport issuance operations on 13 January 2025.

Birth certificates

All births in Syria must be registered within 30 days of the birth at the Civil Registry department where:

  • the father’s civil records are kept; or,
  • where the birth took place in Syria

A birth certificate is issued at the time of registration.

Late registration is allowed. If a birth is registered more than 1 year after the date of birth, a police report will be submitted when the birth is registered and a fine will be applied.

When a birth is registered in Syria, the parents are issued with a civil status registration document. This is not acceptable for HM Passport Office purposes and a birth certificate is needed.

Marriage certificates

All marriages in Syria are registered at the Civil Registry Office. After the marriage ceremony, the court sends a copy of the marriage contract to the civil status department within 10 days of the date of marriage.

Marriage certificates are issued after the marriage contract has been certified and stamped by the Sharia court.

Death certificates

All deaths in Syria must be registered within 30 days of the date of death at the Civil Registry Office where the deceased’s records are kept.

A death certificate is issued once the death is registered.

Late registration is allowed. If a death is registered more than one year after the date of death, a police report will be submitted and a fine will be applied.

Identity documents

Syria issues a personal identity (ID) card to all Syria nationals from the age of 14 years old. The personal identity card shows the holder’s personal details and nationality.

Syria passports can be issued both inside and outside of Syria by Syria diplomatic representations.

Syria Passports are generally valid for 6 years.

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