UK help and services in Syria

Services if you're visiting, studying, working or living in Syria. Includes information about trading with and doing business in the UK and Syria.

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Emergency help for British nationals

Get help if you're the victim of crime, you've been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad.

  1. British Embassy Damascus

    The British Embassy in Damascus is unable to provide any consular assistance as operations have been suspended and diplomatic personnel have been withdrawn.

  2. Compensation for victims of terrorist attacks abroad

    Compensation for terrorist attacks abroad - eligibility, acts of terrorism covered, application form, helpline

  3. Compensation if you're a victim of crime abroad

    If you're a UK resident and have been injured because of a violent crime abroad, you can usually apply for compensation

  4. Get help if you're a victim of crime abroad

    Contact the nearest British embassy, commission or consulate to get help if you're the victim of crime abroad

  5. Help if you're arrested abroad

    Find out what the Foreign and Commonwealth Office can do to help if you or someone you know is arrested abroad.

  6. Rape and sexual assault abroad: returning to the UK

    Information for British nationals affected by rape or sexual assault abroad and returning to the UK, including how to access medical treatment and legal advice in the UK.

  7. What to do if you’re affected by a crisis overseas

    Advice for British nationals affected by crises abroad, including terrorist attacks, natural disasters and major political unrest, and information on what help the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) can provide.

Passports and emergency travel documents

Includes how to cancel a lost passport, renew a passport and apply for an emergency travel document.

  1. Apply for or renew a British passport if you're visiting the UK

    You can apply for or renew a British passport while you're visiting the UK - as long as you expect to be in the UK for long enough

  2. Cancel a lost or stolen passport

    What you need to do if your passport has been lost or stolen and you need to travel urgently - emergency travel document and replacement passport.

  3. Get an emergency travel document

    Apply for an emergency travel document if you're outside the UK and haven't got a valid British passport - apply online, how to apply, fee, timings

  4. Overseas British passport applications

    Renew, replace or apply for an adult or child British passport if you’re living abroad or working overseas - forms, prices, how long it takes

Travelling to Syria

Includes travel advice and how to get married abroad.

  1. Getting married abroad

    Requirements, paperwork and processes for weddings and civil partnerships overseas - registration, restrictions, fees

  2. Reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad

    How to minimise your risk and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack.

  3. Syria travel advice

    Latest travel advice for Syria including safety and security, entry requirements, travel warnings and health

Coming to the UK

Get a visa to study, work or visit the UK.

  1. Check if you need a UK visa

    You may need a visa to come to the UK to visit, study or work.

  2. Contact UK Visas and Immigration about your application

    How to contact UK visas and immigration (UKVI) from inside and outside the UK.

  3. Get your visa, immigration or citizenship documents back

    Get your documents returned if you've made a UK visa, immigration or citizenship application but need them back urgently

Living in Syria

Includes how to access healthcare, get a document legalised, lists of lawyers and how to vote abroad.

  1. Get your document legalised

    Use the online service to get a UK document legalised

  2. Support for British nationals abroad: A guide

    This guide highlights some of the main ways you can help yourself stay safe abroad and what help the FCO can provide.

  3. Syria travel advice

    Latest travel advice for Syria including safety and security, entry requirements, travel warnings and health

  4. UK benefits if you're going or living abroad

    Find out what benefits you might be able to receive while you're abroad and how to export them from the UK or claim them while abroad

  5. Voting when you’re abroad

    How to vote if you're going to be abroad temporarily on election day, and what to do if you're moving overseas long term

Tax, benefits, pensions and working abroad

Includes how to pay tax, claim State Pension and get tax credits abroad.

  1. Claiming benefits if you live, move or travel abroad

    Benefits you can claim if you go abroad and countries with social security arrangements with the UK

  2. Moving or retiring abroad

    What you need to know if you move or retire abroad - tax, pensions, voting and contacting your local council

  3. National Insurance if you go abroad

    Contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to find out if you need to pay National Insurance when you work abroad

  4. State Pension if you retire abroad

    How to claim State Pension if you're overseas - payment, tax, change of circumstances - contact the International Pension Centre

  5. Tax credits if you leave or move to the UK

    Tax credits if you live abroad, go travelling, are a cross-border worker or subject to immigration control

  6. Tax on foreign income

    Find out whether you need to pay UK tax on foreign income - residence and ‘non-dom’ status, tax returns, claiming relief if you’re taxed twice (including certificates of residence)

  7. Tax on your UK income if you live abroad

    Find out whether you need to pay tax on your UK income while you're living abroad - non-resident landlord scheme, tax returns, claiming relief if you’re taxed twice, personal allowance of tax-free income, form R43

Birth, death and marriage abroad

Includes how to get married, list of funeral directors and how to register a birth abroad.

  1. Getting married abroad

    Requirements, paperwork and processes for weddings and civil partnerships overseas - registration, restrictions, fees

  2. Register a birth abroad

    Parents must register the birth in the country where the child was born - find out if you can also register the birth in the UK

  3. Surrogacy overseas

    Information for British nationals who are considering entering into surrogacy arrangements in foreign countries.

  4. What to do after someone dies

    The steps you must take when someone dies - register a death, report a death with Tell Us Once, coroners, funerals and death abroad

News and events

Find out about the UK government's diplomatic, security and development work in Syria.

  1. DFID Syria Crisis Response

    Find out how the UK will respond to opportunities and challenges, what is being achieved for the UK and who we are working with.

  2. Syria and the UK

    Updates, news and events from the UK government in Syria

Trade and invest

Includes investing and setting up a business in the UK and doing business in Syria.

  1. Business investment in the UK: Guidance for overseas businesses

    Guidance on why overseas companies should set up and locate their businesses in the UK. Includes information on UK business investment and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) opportunities.

  2. Set up a business

    What you need to do to start a business: choose a legal structure, see if you need licences and insurance, learn about reliefs and benefits

British embassy or high commission

Includes contact details for the British Embassy Beirut in Lebanon. There is no British embassy or consulate in Syria.

  1. British Embassy Damascus

    The British Embassy in Damascus is unable to provide any consular assistance as operations have been suspended and diplomatic personnel have been withdrawn.