Visa & Passport Information; Middle East

Most nationalities require visas for most of the countries visited on our Middle East overland tours. However for most Nationalities we can currently obtain these en-route (please check the information below) so you are not required to obtain any visas before you travel. Please ensure that you bring US Dollars to pay for your visas. You will need at least one blank page in your passport for each country you enter, which must be valid for at least 9 months.

Please note: Nationalities other than Australia, NZ, UK, Canada, EU, & USA please seek local consular advice for your visa requirements before setting off. As visa requirements are subject to constantly change it is advisable to check before travel. Visa costs change overnight so prices used are only correct at the time of publishing.

**Passports or vaccination cards with an Israeli stamp, or any indication of travel to Israel, must be replaced if you are on a Middle East Trail, Istanbul to Cairo or Crusaders Path trip. This also applies for flight tickets in or out of Israel and any border stamps given when you exit Israel by any land border, particularly from Israel to Egypt

**If you have dual nationality you can only use one passport.

TURKEY - Visas are issued upon arrival in Turkey. South Africans MUST obtain their visa for turkey BEFORE they travel. New Zealanders and South Africans do not need a visa. British and Australians do but they are only issued upon arrival in Turkey, they cost USD$20 for British and US$20 for Australians . For Canadians and Americans, Visas will cost USD$20.

Those starting in Cairo for the Middle East Caravan:: your point of entry of entry into Syria is the Dar'a border from Jordan. Your point of exit will be from Damascus airport. Your date of entry will be 3 days before your trip ends in Damascus. Duration of stay in Syria is 4 days plus any time you have before your flight departs. If you are unsure put 10 days.

Those starting in Damascus for the Middle East Caravan: your point of entry is into Damascus airport. Your point of exit will be the Dar'a border with Jordan. Your date of exit will be 3 days after your trip starts in Damascus. Duration of stay in Syria is 4 days plus any time you have before the trip starts. If you are unsure put 10 days.

Those starting in Istanbul for the Ottoman Odyssey: your point of entry into Syria is the Bab al-Hawa border from Antakya in Turkey. Your point of exit will be from Damascus airport. Your date of entry will be 6 days before your trip ends in Damascus. Duration of stay in Syria is 6 days plus any time you have before your flight departs. If you are unsure put 10 days.

Those starting in Damascus for the Ottoman Odyssey: your point of entry is into Damascus airport. Your point of exit will be the Bad al-Hawa border with Antakya in Turkey. Your date of exit will be 6 days after your trip starts in Damascus. Duration of stay in Syria is 6 days plus any time you have before the trip starts. If you are unsure put 10 days.

The pre-tour address in Damascus is Kaboun Camping, Autostrad Damascus - Homs, Damascus. Tel: 011 512 6235. You may also be asked for a short letter from your employer or college stating who you are. Your visa will be valid for 3 months from the date of issue so do not apply for it more than 3 months before you are due to enter Syria. If you are having difficulty obtaining your visa or do not have enough time then it is possible to arrange through our Syrian agent, for which a fee will be charged.  Please contact us for details.

Departure tax for Syria is 1500 Syrian Pounds (approx. £20) if departing by air or 500 Syrian Pounds (approx. £7) by land.

JORDAN - All nationalities require a visa. For the Crusaders Path trip we pre-book these and collect them on the border as a group visa so you do not require a visa before you join this tour. The cost is US$20 to be paid in US$ cash only. This price includes entry and departure taxes and reduces our time at the borders considerably.  On the Egypt & Jordan Local Transport trip, the visa for Jordan is included in the trip cost and is obtained on arrival. There is a $5 exit fee from Jordan.

EGYPT - The visa costs GBP10 / US$15 for most nationalities (excl. Sth Africa) and is obtainable on entry into Egypt. South African passport holders MUST obtain their visas before travelling. On northbound trips from Tunis / Cairo to Damascus / Istanbul there is a departure tax of EP 50 (approx. £6) at the ferry terminal when leaving Egypt.

LEBANON - Visas are included in the price of the excursion and are obtained at the border.

TUNISIA - Most nationalities do not require a visa, Australians can obtain this visa on entry into Tunisia. New Zealanders and South African passport holders MUST obtain this visa BEFORE they travel. For more information on other nationalities & Visas checkout www.projectvisa.com

LIBYA - All nationalities require a visa (unfortunately at the present time USA, Chinese & Swiss Passport holders will not be issued Libyan visas) these need to be arranged in advance. For Libya all nationalities need to obtain an Arabic Translation of your personal details from the front page of your passport.  This must be done through an official translator with an authority to translate & stamp your passport & we will require a scanned copy of this page and the translation sent to the Keystone Journeys office at least 5 weeks before your trip departs. We have previously used the official translator below for this in the UK. You must check with them the current required processing time. We suggest at least two weeks. The cost is around £30 for British Passport holders and £45 for all others. You will also need to send you passport to them by special delivery, and enclose a special delivery envelope for return. The address of our recommended authorised translator is: Mustafa Qawateen, 183 Old Oak Road, London, W3 7HH. Tel. 0795 7391043. Email mqawatin@hotmail.com. Once we have received your scanned copies, we will then forward all of the information to Libya for a visa application number to be issued so that you can obtain the visa on arrival at the border.