ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Semalka border crossing between the Kurdistan Region and northeast Syria's Kurdish region (Rojava) is a fully official entry point, and visas issued there are recognized as valid documents allowing travel anywhere in Syria, an official from the interim government said on Sunday.
Mazen Aloush, Director of Communications at Syria's General Authority of Land and Sea Border Crossings and Customs, confirmed the crossing's legal status in a statement to Rudaw. "The Semalka crossing is an official border crossing under the General Authority of Land and Sea Border Crossings and Customs," he said. "All procedures for the entry of travelers and customs operations are carried out there in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations of the Syrian Arab Republic."
Aloush said the stamps and visas issued at Semalka carry the same weight as those issued at any other crossing in the country. Travelers passing through do not need additional settlement procedures or further approvals to move between Syrian provinces, as long as they comply with residency laws and other applicable regulations.
Administrative control of the crossing shifted to Damascus earlier this year, following an agreement between the interim government and Rojava outlining the Kurdish region's integration into state structures. The deal came after weeks of deadly clashes, sparked when the Syrian army took control of large swathes of SDF-held territory in eastern Syria in January. The fighting subsided after intervention by regional actors like the Kurdistan Region and Western countries, including the US and France.
Semalka played a critical role during the conflict, serving as a route for aid from the Kurdistan Region into Rojava while the region was under siege.
Aloush also addressed concerns over nationality-based restrictions, saying Syria maintains no blacklist targeting citizens of specific countries. Entry for all travelers depends on meeting standard legal requirements, including fulfilling entry conditions and securing the appropriate visa.
The visa process at Semalka mirrors the system in place at all of Syria's border crossings, according to Aloush. Citizens of countries eligible for visa-on-arrival can complete routine procedures and pay the required fees to receive their visa directly at the crossing.
Travelers from countries requiring prior approval, however, must arrange their visa before departure - either through a Syrian diplomatic mission or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates. These visas cannot be issued on-site.
Foreign journalists and media teams face an additional requirement: advance coordination with the Directorate of Foreign Media Relations under the Ministry of Information, which issues an official approval letter authorizing entry at the border.
Without this pre-approval, journalists are not permitted to cross. Once approval is received, journalists and media teams are exempted from standard entry fees.
