Voluntary Repatriation

The situation inside Syria is rapidly changing and developing. At the present time, there are gaps in the information relating to return procedures and UNHCR is not able to advise refugees with current information on the situation in the areas of intended return, including the availability of protection and humanitarian assistance. UNHCR will continue to monitor and provide updates to refugees as the situation evolves. Please contact UNHCR Egypt via:

• UNHCR Infoline: 0227390400
  Sundays to Wednesdays from 8:15 am to 3:30 pm
  Thursdays from 8:15 am to 2:00 pm
• UNHCR Reception: 17 Mecca El-Mokarrama, 7th District, 6th of October from Sunday to Thursday between 8:00 am – 2:00 pm

If you wish to obtain an appointment for UNHCR case closure, please contact UNHCR Egypt via:

• UNHCR Infoline: 0227390400
  Sundays to Wednesdays from 8:15 am to 3:30 pm
  Thursdays from 8:15 am to 2:00 pm
• UNHCR Reception: 17 Mecca El-Mokarrama, 7th District, 6th of October from Sunday to Thursday between 8:00 am – 2:00 pm

Given the evolving situation in Syria, UNHCR advises refugees to take a careful and cautious approach when deciding on any return or visit to Syria at the current time. Refugees should closely monitor developments and seek updated information from trusted sources or call UNHCR’s hotline if they have questions or concerns.

All refugees have the fundamental right to return to their country of origin freely and voluntarily, at a time of their choosing.

In view of the many challenges facing Syria’s population, including a large-scale humanitarian crisis, UNHCR is not currently promoting large-scale voluntary repatriation to Syria.

UNHCR continues to call on States not to forcibly return Syrian nationals and former habitual residents of Syria, including Palestinians previously residing in Syria, to any part of Syria.

UNHCR respects the individual decisions made by refugees who wish to return home and provides counselling to refugees who are in the decision-making process to ensure decisions are made in an informed and voluntary manner. In light of the fluid and unpredictable situation, there remain many open questions as to the availability of protection and humanitarian assistance available in Syria.

UNHCR continues to advocate that refugees should only consider return to Syria when they choose and are ready to do so. UNHCR continues to emphasize the importance of refugee views and perspectives related to returns in discussions with all partners.

UNHCR will continue to work with the Government of Egypt for the protection of refugees in Egypt.

No, it has not. As the situation inside Syria is quickly changing and developing, UNHCR continues to advocate with the Government of Egypt that any returns should be voluntary, dignified, and safe. UNHCR will maintain advocacy with the Government of Egypt and international community to respect the right to asylum and the principle of non-refoulement.

Should you be faced with arrest or other pressure to return, contact UNHCR Infoline or approach UNHCR reception or send an email to [email protected] or [email protected]

All refugees have the fundamental right to return to their country of origin at a time of their choosing, and all returns must be voluntary, dignified and safe.

UNHCR stands ready to support refugee returnees as conditions allow. For up-to-date information, please contact UNHCR Egypt via:

• UNHCR Infoline: Sundays to Wednesdays from 8:15 am to 3:30 pm and Thursdays from 8:15 am to 2:00 pm on 0227390400
• UNHCR Reception: 17 Mecca El-Mokarrama, 7th District, 6th of October from Sunday to Thursday between 8:00 am – 2:00 pm

At the moment, UNHCR is not arranging transportation. UNHCR is also not providing repatriation grants prior to return.

Means of Return currently available from Egypt

By Air:  There are a number of airlines operating between Cairo and Damascus, however none at this time fly directly. Available flights are routed via Beirut, Amman, Istanbul, and Doha. A valid Syrian passport is a pre-requisite for international travel.

Important notes to Refugees using the Egypt-Lebanon route:

• Please be informed that Syrians willing to return to Syria through Rafik Al-Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, must hold a valid residency from abroad with a minimum validity of six months at the time of travel. UNHCR is monitoring potential changes and will inform you of the changes so that you can make informed decisions on this matter.

• Please also note that all non-Lebanese nationals arriving at the Syrian Lebanese border must pay a fee of 1 million Lebanese pounds (approximately USD 11) as a monetary stamp in order to be allowed to cross the border into Syria.

By Land: Travel through Nuweibaa (located on the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba) through ferry via travel companies requires similar documentation as air travel, including passport or laissez passer and clearance for residency permit fines.

If you are considering returning to Syria:

• Prepare your family: discuss your plans together. Share and write down important contacts.
• Pack essentials: keep important documents with you (ID cards, passports, civil and education documents). Take medicine, water, food, warm clothe and any special items.
• Explain to your children what is happening. Make sure they know their name, your name and your phone number.
• Make sure that you get all your children’s education related certificates authenticated and stamped prior to leaving Egypt. This would allow you to re-enroll them in schools at the right grade for their age in Syria and make the process much easier.

When in Syria:

• Be alert to explosives objects: If you see a suspicious object 1. STOP, 2. Do not approach, 3. Do not touch, 4. In Syria, you can call 108.
• Avoid misinformation: Check Syria is home website, and UNHCR Syria Help website for information.
• Find UNHCR services and community centres in Syria: unhcr.org/sy/cc Please note that due to the changing situation on the ground, whilst the majority of centres are reopening – some community centres might have suspended services while others provide a limited number of services only. The situation is constantly changing but the webpage is being regularly updated.

Information on Inside Syria

UNHCR remains on the ground in Syria and is committed to stay and deliver. The volatile security situation in the past week has forced suspension of some of UNHCR’s services, but in areas where security is stabilizing, UNHCR is resuming activities to reach those most in need.

UNHCR Egypt strongly urges Syrian refugees to regularly check the unhcr.org/sy/cc  and the https://syriaishome.org/ website to receive the most up to date information about the situation in Syria and the services available upon arrival in Syria.

If you wish to leave Egypt and travel to Syria, you need to:

• Call the UNHCR Infoline 0227390400 or approach UNHCR Main Office in 6 of October city to obtain a file closure appointment during the working hours outlined above. You will be granted a file closure appointment on a later date.
• All closure interviews will be processed from UNHCR registration centre in Main Office in 6 of October city regardless of your area of residence.
• After attending the file closure interview, your file will be closed by UNHCR, and the closure details will be shared with the Government of Egypt. You will also sign a closure document; a copy will be provided to you and another copy will be kept with UNHCR.
• After five working days, you will approach the UNHCR registration centre in 6 of October city, Cairo and will be provided by an exit reference number issued by the Government of Egypt, that will be added to the closure document allowing you to leave the country.
• Upon receiving the relevant reference number from UNHCR Egypt, you will approach the Emigration, Passports and Nationality Administration (Communications department) in “Abasseya district ” after two weeks to apply for the exit permit. You will fill the needed forms and do the necessary steps including paying the exit fees for each individual on your case returning with you.
• You will be asked to come after around 15 days to get your exit visa.

In order to get your 7-day residence permit, also known as exit permit, to be able to leave Egypt and to return to Syria, you should follow the below steps: 

1. Request an appointment to close your UNHCR file directly from: UNHCR Main Building, in 17 Mecca El-Mokarrama, seventh district, Sixth of October City UNHCR Main Building in 6 October or call the UNHCR Infoline 0227390400
   Only the head of the household is required to request an appointment.

2. Approach UNHCR office on the appointment day to close your file with UNHCR. During the closure interview, UNHCR staff will explain further on when you should approach the office again or call the UNHCR Infoline to get the reference number of the closure letter.  You will receive a closure declaration to indicate the closure of your file with UNHCR. Also, relevant information will be provided on when you should proceed to the Passports and Nationality Administration (communications department) (Abbasseya) to apply for the exit permit.
3. If all family members intend to return to Syria and close their file, only the head of the family is needed to attend the Closure interview. If not all family members are returning, it is advised that all family members attend the closure interview in order to close and update the certificates of the remaining family members. If not all family members attend the interview, UNHCR will still close the files of the ones returning and grant a verification interview on a later date for the rest of the remaining family members to attend and receive updated certificates.
4. If there have been any changes in the family composition (someone left the country, deceased, etc.), please, if possible, bring proving documents such as death certificate, birth certificate, travel tickets and inform the UNHCR staff to amend your registration file and issue the closure declaration accordingly.
5. Upon closing your file, UNHCR office will include your case number in the closure list sent on weekly basis to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to the Passports and Nationality Administration (communications department) in Abbasseya.
6. After ten days from the closure interview date with UNHCR, you should approach UNHCR office or call the UNHCR Infoline and staff will provide you with the closure letter reference number. After at least 2 weeks from the closure interview, you should approach the Passports and Nationality Administration (communications department) in Abbasseya. Please make sure to take the following documents:

• Your Travel Document.
• Copy of your UNHCR card.
• The UNHCR closure declaration and the closure letter reference number.

7.  You will go once more to the Immigration Department (Abbasseya) after approximately 10 -15 days to obtain the exit visas (issued on separate card). The estimate amount of fees for this process is 375 EGP per travel document and it is subject to change based on the discretion of the Egyptian Authorities). The exit residence permit card is valid for 7 days. Applicants who are unable to depart within this period would be charged with overstay penalties (calculated based on the overstay period – minimum 1550 EGP per person).

UNHCR is not currently providing material or financial assistance to refugees returning to Syria.

UNHCR is available to provide return counselling to refugees to ensure refugees can understand the returns procedures and raise any concerns. You can contact UNHCR Egypt via:

• UNHCR Infoline: Sundays to Wednesdays from 8:15 am to 3:30 pm and Thursdays from 8:15 am to 2:00 pm on 0227390400
• UNHCR Reception:17 Mecca El-Mokarrama, 7th District, 6th of October from Sunday to Thursday between 08:00 am – 02:00 pm

If you are registered with UNHCR in Egypt, upon your return to Syria, the personal data collected during your registration interview and engagement with the office here will be processed by UNHCR in Syria. Your personal data may also be shared with its partners, including WFP and UNICEF, for the purposes of coordinating the provision of targeted assistance. Please take note that assistance in Syria is guided by different vulnerability criteria, for which eligibility can only be determined following assessment.

UNHCR will process the following personal data:

• Biographical data (such as full name, date of birth, nationality and family composition)
• Necessary information about any specific needs (e.g., health conditions) that you or your accompanying family members may have, to allow for targeted assistance and support.
• Contact information, i.e., phone number, to allow contact with you to deliver assistance and service.

UNHCR Syria will contact you from +41223550561 WhatsApp number to inform you when and where to collect your assistance if you are eligible.

If you have questions about or objections to the processing of your personal data, please reach out to UNHCR through [email protected] to inform us of your decision.

For more information, you can visit Syria is Home (https://syriaishome.org) or UNHCR Syria Help page (https://help.unhcr.org/syria) for updates and visit UNHCR-support Community Centre to get information on services/assistance available in your area of return.

Refugees are required to have formal travel documents (a passport or a laissez-passer issued by the Syrian Embassy in Cairo) in order to be able to exit Egypt.

National Passport: It is advisable that all Syrians departing Egypt, obtain a national passport from the Syrian Embassy in Cairo.

Laissez Passer from the Syrian Embassy in Cairo: For children born in Egypt or those who entered Egypt irregularly through Sudan without passports, obtaining a Laissez Passer from the Syrian Embassy in Egypt may be an option. Importantly, this laissez passer is issued on the same day of application and is free of cost, yet it does not allow for international air travel via transit; national passports should be obtained instead to the extent possible.

Passport extension: Syrian nationals can apply for a six-month extension on their old passports, provided they demonstrate a commitment to returning to Syria; the extension is offered through the Syrian Embassy in Cairo free of cost.

UNHCR and partners are monitoring the situation inside Syria closely. At the current time, we cannot provide confirmed or accurate information about the current security situation inside Syria.

UNHCR remains on the ground in Syria and is committed to stay and deliver. The volatile security situation in the past week has forced suspension of some of UNHCR’s services, but in areas where the security is stabilizing, UNHCR is resuming activities to reach those in most need.

• Check Syria is home website, which includes all the information about the situation in Syria, and the available services there.
• Find UNHCR community centers in Syria: unhcr.org/sy/cc
• Facebook: UNHCR Syria
• Help website: UNHCR Syria – Help for refugees and asylum-seekers
• Main website: UNHCR Syria

Please note that due to the changing situation on the ground, whilst the majority of centres are reopening – some community centres might have suspended services while others provide a limited number of services only. The situation is constantly changing but the webpage is being regularly updated.

The situation is continuously changing; the conditions today may not be the same tomorrow. UNHCR cannot comment now with reliability on the conditions of the roads in Syria. Prior to any travel, it is important for you to stay abreast of the updates coming out of Syria.

If you make the decision to return voluntarily to Syria with the intention of re-establishing yourself permanently in Syria, assistance that you may have been receiving in the country of asylum will be discontinued and you will need to close your file.

UNHCR and other service or assistance providers are not currently reviewing or changing the assistance provided to refugees and asylum-seekers based on the current situation in Syria. For the immediate future, it is expected that assistance and services will remain the same. If there will be any changes to assistance provided, this information will be shared with the community prior to implementing the changes.

If you make the decision to return voluntarily to Syria – with the intention of re-establishing yourself permanently in Syria – the resettlement country will be updated of your return to Syria and your resettlement file will be closed.

The ultimate decision on your resettlement case rests with the resettlement country. UNHCR is aware of some States suspending the adjudication of Syrian asylum claims, but we do not have information yet if this will extend to resettlement cases. UNHCR will continue to advocate with States that the situation in Syria remains unclear and that individuals may continue to be in need of international protection and resettlement.

The ICRC in Syria has been working on the clarification of the fate of separate families and is following closely the evolving situation.

• Former detainees that need support to find their families and be reunited with them should contact ICRC on the following number: +963 953 555 431
• Families who are looking for their loved ones or former detainees, should contact ICRC on the following number: +963 936 033 628.

In neighboring countries, if you have family or friend missing in Syria, you can contact ICRC locally:

• Türkiye: Turkish Red Crescent at 168 or 312 584 18 68
• Lebanon: ICRC at 727 727
• Jordan: ICRC at 659 019 99 or the Jordan Red Crescent at 647 731 41
• Iraq: ICRC at 800 222 22
• Egypt: the Egyptian Red Crescent at +20 114 455 6002 and +20 225 281 548
• For other countries: https://familylinks.icrc.org/directory

UNHCR urges all States to grant civilians fleeing Syria non-discriminatory access to their territories. The principle of non-refoulement must be upheld at all times.

For many different countries – neighboring to Syria or further abroad – may have some travel or border restrictions for Syrians, it is imperative that individuals seek updated information about the country they are intended to travel to and the border they want to cross prior to attempting to travel.

The cases generally remain under consideration for resettlement unless family members are formally notified that their case is ineligible. Also, closing the file with UNHCR would also result in the removal of the case from the RST pipeline.

• Obtain your school Certificate
• Present the certificate to your embassy for endorsement
• Authenticate and endorse the certificate in one of Egypt’s MFA offices

Original certificates: If you don`t have it with you, you need to go to the public school that you attended and get the certificates. If you studied in an international school, you need to go to the international school and request your certificate as early as you can since it may take a bit of time, as these certificates comes from abroad and where their HQ is located.

If you lost your Secondary School Certificate, you need to go to the General Directorates for Examinations – Munira Area-Qasr El Eini St, Cairo.

MFA Offices

	Governorate	Office Name	Address
	Cairo	Maryland	Maryland Garden Wall – Heliopolis
	Cairo	Armed Forces	Hesham Barakat Square
	Cairo	Elestsmar	Salah Salem Street – Investment Authority Building
	Cairo	El-Tarjoman	El-Tarjoman Group – Cairo Land Port
	Giza	Ahmed Orabi	Ahmed Orabi 96 Ahmed Orabi Street
	Giza	Giza Chamber	Giza Chamber of Commerce Building – Giza Square
	Giza	6 October	7th  District 6 October University
	Alexandria	San Stefano	Alexandria, San Stefano Endowments Buildings – San Stefano
	Alexandria	Smouha	Smouha, Housing Directorate Building
	Assiut	Assiut	Assiut, Mubarak City Council Building
	Beni Suef	Beni Suef	Beni Suef, Abdel Salam Aref Street – Next to the Military Police
	Beheira	Beheira	Behind the General of Beheira Governorate
	Sharkia	Sharkia	Sharkia, Zagazig City Council Building
	Sohag	Sohag	Sohag, General Investment Authority Building
	Aswan	Aswan	Aswan Station Square – Aswan City
	Kafr El Sheikh	Kafr El Sheikh	Kafr El Sheikh General Office of Kafr El Sheikh Governorate
	Dakahlia	Mansoura 1	Dakahlia, Mansoura 1, Talkha City Council Building
	Dakahlia	Mansoura 2	Shajarat Al-Durr Al-Mashaya Gate of Beboland Amusement Park
	Gharbia	Tanta	Gharbia, Tanta, Gharbia Governorate General Diwan Building
	Ismailia	Ismailia	Ismailia, Shibin Street – Behind the Stadium
	Port Said	Port Said	Port Said Chamber of Commerce Headquarters
	Qalyubia	Qalyubia	Qalyubia Chamber of Commerce
	Menoufia	Shibin El-Kom	Menoufia, Shibin El-Kom Nile Corniche – Next to the Media Center
	Minya	Minya	Minya, Nile Corniche Next to Minya City Council
	Qena	Qena	Qena Governorate – 23 July Street Building 20 First Floor

 

Refugees registered with UNHCR in Egypt, regardless of whether they entered the country regularly or irregularly or hold asylum-based residency or not, are exempt from overstay fees during their exit formalities.

However, for Syrian refugees registered with UNHCR holding other forms of residency, if the residency is valid, no fines are applicable. If the other form of residency, such as educational or investment residency is expired, in that case they will be exempt from overstay fees by applying for an exit permit using UNHCR document.

3 weeks from date of requesting a Closure Appointment, yet you must be prepared that the process of obtaining an exit clearance for departing Egypt, from the Egyptian Authorities might take additional couple of weeks.