The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates has announced that a technical delegation from the ministry will visit Syrians in Sudan to provide a set of urgent and free consular services.

According to a statement published by the ministry on its official Facebook page today, Saturday, August 3, the delegation will operate from August 4 to 7, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.

Services Provided by the Delegation:

1. Passport Renewal

• Valid for one calendar year.

• Expired passports must be presented.

• The passport holder must be present in person, or a first-degree relative or legal representative.

2. Issuance of Travel Documents (“Laissez-Passer”) – not covering airfare costs:

• Valid for 90 days, for land or air travel.

• Valid only for travel to Syria, and for one-time use.

• Any official personal identification document is required (e.g., birth certificates issued by relevant Sudanese authorities).

• The applicant or a first-degree relative or legal representative must be present.

• Two recent identical passport-size photos are required.

3. Certification of Official Documents

• Academic documents (school and university degrees) and civil status records (birth, marriage, divorce, death).

• Powers of attorney (must be submitted in person by the grantor).

• Documents must be authenticated by either the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates or the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ministry stressed that the delegation will serve citizens directly, without intermediaries, and that it has no official website or affiliated offices claiming to facilitate such procedures.

It also urged citizens to adhere to travel and movement regulations between Sudanese states.

Previous Calls for Evacuation

Previously, Syrians stranded in Sudan told Enab Baladi they demanded the current Syrian government establish a clear, state-funded evacuation mechanism, especially given the financial hardship facing most of those stranded. Many feared a repeat of the previous regime’s evacuation process, during which each individual had to cover the cost of their return, which reached about $350 per ticket.

Previous Promises

On May 20, a delegation from the Syrian community in Sudan met with the Sudanese ambassador and consul in Damascus. According to one attendee, the Syrian community’s requests included four main points:

1. Immediate issuance of visas by the Sudanese embassy in Damascus for individuals who can prove they were in Sudan before April 15, 2023.

2. Appeals to Sudan’s Interior Ministry and relevant authorities to exempt those who were in Sudan before that date from exit penalties or fees, and to facilitate their return to Syria.

3. Urgent renewal of Sudanese passports (for naturalized individuals) via the Sudanese embassy in Damascus, to help them resolve legal matters related to real estate, company ownership, or foreign residency.

4. Issuance of recommendations to revive bilateral trade relations, including reciprocal treatment of citizens, customs exemptions, and easier government delegation visits between the two countries.

The community delegation stated that it would work to promote these initiatives with the relevant Syrian ministries.

Sudanese Ambassador’s Response

In response, the Sudanese ambassador promised to communicate the requests to the competent authorities in Sudan. He said the embassy is working to launch a direct air route between Damascus and Port Sudan, and an agreement was made to form a follow-up and liaison committee between the embassy and the Syrian community.