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The Hague – The Syrian Network for Human Rights:
The fall of the Assad regime presents a historic opportunity for the new Syrian government to address one of the most pressing issues affecting Syrians at home and abroad: the exorbitant cost of obtaining passports. The current system of passport fees severely impedes one of the most basic human rights: freedom of movement. It also places a heavy financial burden on Syrian families already suffering from severe economic hardship.
Current fee structure and its impact
The passport fee system reveals a stark disconnect from Syria’s economic reality. A regular passport for residents abroad costs $300 and takes approximately 40 working days to process, while expedited services cost up to $800. These fees are astronomical compared to Syrians’ income levels and difficult living conditions.
Inside Syria, the situation is no less difficult. Obtaining an immediate passport cost approximately 2.1 million Syrian pounds (about $200), while the fee for an urgent passport is 432,700 pounds. To put these costs into context, average monthly salaries in February 2025 ranged from 580,000 pounds for public university employees to 2.16 million pounds for civil servants. This means that issuing an immediate passport could consume a state employee’s entire salary, or even more, representing a tremendous burden.
Economic inequality and human rights concerns
Syria’s poverty lines highlight the severity of this crisis. The absolute poverty line is 2.54 million Syrian pounds, while the upper poverty line is 5.5 million pounds. For families living below these lines, passport fees are a nearly impossible obstacle, denying them the right to freedom of movement or family reunification.
The minimum cost of living for a family of five exceeds 9.1 million Syrian pounds, with estimates reaching 14.5 million pounds in some cases. Given these figures, spending a significant portion of a family’s income on passport fees directly infringes on citizens’ right to seek better life opportunities.
International Standards and Comparisons
International human rights organizations indicate that Syrian passport fees should not exceed $20, in accordance with international standards, and that passport validity should range between six and ten years, as is the practice in most countries. The Syrian passport is currently ranked as the second most expensive passport in the world, yet it is among the worst in terms of freedom of movement, granting its holder entry to only 28 countries.
Demands for Immediate Reform
The Syrian Network for Human Rights calls on the new Syrian government to adopt the following reforms without delay:
Reducing fees: Reducing passport issuance costs to reasonable levels consistent with local economic realities and international standards. Regular passport fees should not exceed US$50, with a ceiling of US$100 for urgent services.
Extending passport validity: Extending passport validity to 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors, reducing the need for repeated renewal applications and the associated expenses.
Combating corruption: Ending the phenomenon of brokers by creating a transparent and efficient online portal that allows direct appointment booking, without the need for intermediaries.
Exemption for vulnerable groups: Providing free or heavily subsidized passports to refugees, displaced persons, students, and families living below the poverty line.
Improve processing times: standardize passport processing times and eliminate artificial delays that force citizens to resort to faster and more expensive options.
