FCO Travel Advice for - Syria

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  • The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to Syria. British nationals in Syria should leave now by any practical means. The FCO is not able to provide consular services, and won’t be able to help your evacuation from the country.

  • There is widespread fighting throughout Syria, including in Damascus and its suburbs. Military operations have involved the use of aircraft, tanks and rocket-propelled grenades. The continuing violence, deteriorating security situation and Syria’s chemical and biological weapons programme creates a volatile situation.

  • There have been recent reports of chemical weapons usage in Syria for which no group has claimed responsibility.

  • Fighting has caused the temporary suspension of commercial flights, closed roads, impeded access to land border crossing points and led to the closure of some border crossings.

  • There is a high threat from terrorism. There have been a number of recent kidnappings, including of British nationals and other Westerners. See Terrorism.

  • If you choose to travel to Syria against our advice, make sure you and your family have a valid exit stamp on your travel documents if you need one and take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance.

  • As a result of the ongoing political and security instability and the implementation of sanctions against some Syrian institutions, financial transactions have become significantly more difficult. See Money.

  • Take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you travel.
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