Go-and-See Visits

A “go-and-see” visit is an opportunity provided by the Lebanese General Security Office (GSO) and UNHCR for Syrian refugees in Lebanon to participate in a one-time, temporary visit for one adult family member to Syria for one-month through official border points.

The purpose is to help refugees assess firsthand, and in a secure way, the conditions in their intended area of return inside Syria before deciding whether to return home permanently.

Please note that short stay visits to Syria for personal, business or social purposes such as to visit family for Eid or to attend a wedding or funeral are not allowed under the GSO-UNHCR go-and-see program.

Go-and-see visits are open to Syrian nationals in Lebanon who:

• Are over 18 years of age,
• Are known to UNHCR (hold a UNHCR certificate or barcode), and
• Hold a valid Syrian national ID or passport.

Note:

• Only one adult member per family may participate, with one single entry,
• Participants are not required to have a valid residency permit in Lebanon, but they must have entered Lebanon regularly.

No, only one adult family member per household is allowed to participate in a go-and-see visit.

No, participating in a go-and-see visit will not affect your status and your assistance with UNHCR in Lebanon.

Yes, if your Syrian passport has expired and you do not hold any other form of identification, you may still be eligible to participate in a go-and-see visit. However, to re-enter Lebanon, you must hold a valid passport.

You can renew your passport at the Syrian Embassy in Lebanon before your departure or initiate the renewal process in Syria during your one-month go-and-see visit to ensure your re-entry into Lebanon.

To issue a new passport in Syria, you can submit an electronic application through the official Syrian Government website (only accessible within Syria): https://ecsc.gov.sy

Fees and processing time for passport renewal/issuance:

• Official fees: 2,000,000 SYP
• Processing time: It can take between 1 to 7 working days to process a new passport.

Validity and issuance updates:

On 10 January 2025, the Syrian caretaker government announced that:

• New passports will initially be valid for six years for all ages.
• New passports will be identical in appearance to the old ones.
• Old passports remain valid until they expire and cannot be replaced.
• The passport issuance fee remains unchanged.
• The platform for submitting electronic applications remains the same: https://ecsc.gov.sy

Required documents for passport application:

• A Syrian ID card,
• 2 colored photos with a white background,
• Bank receipt proving payment of passport fee, and
• The approval of the relevant government entity if the applicant is a government employee.

Note: You must have a Syrian ID card to issue a new passport. However, ID cards are currently not being issued by civil affairs directorates.

For more information about passport renewal/ issuance, visit the official Syrian Government website (only accessible within Syria): https://ecsc.gov.sy/.

Yes, you can exit Lebanon using a civil extract if you do not have any other form of identification. However, to re-enter Lebanon, you must have a valid Syrian ID or passport. See Q4 for guidance on how to apply for a new passport.

Note: UNHCR does not currently recommend engaging in go-and-see visits if you do not have a Syrian ID card or national passport.

Yes, even if you hold a valid residency permit in Lebanon, you should inform UNHCR of your intention to participate in go-and-see visit.

If your residency permit is based on your UNHCR file and you travel to Syria outside the go-and-see program, your residency status will be affected, and you will face a re-entry ban.

If your residency permit is based on a sponsorship, you may participate in a go-and-see visit without this affecting your residency status. Upon re-entry to Lebanon, you will be admitted under your existing residency permit rather than a one-month visa.

Failure to notify UNHCR of travel outside the go-and-see program may impact your residency status.

To record your interest in a go-and-see visit, contact UNHCR by:

• Calling: 📞04726111, or
• Messaging the Online Contact Form: help.unhcr.org/lebanon/contact-us

After logging your request, a UNHCR staff member will call you back to answer your questions and explain the implications of participating in a go-and-see visit. If you decide to participate, UNHCR will seek your consent to share your personal information with GSO to facilitate your departure from and re-entry into Lebanon.

After contacting UNHCR to express your interest in a go-and-see visit and receiving counselling by UNHCR on the process, GSO will review your request.

If you meet the eligibility criteria, UNHCR will inform you via SMS that your request was approved and provide you with a reference number and a one-month timeframe (for one single entry) within which you must complete your visit to Syria.

Yes, participation in a go-and-see visit is voluntary and you can change your mind at any time. However, if you decide not to travel after receiving your clearance SMS from UNHCR, you will not be able to participate in the go-and-see program at a later stage. Please inform UNHCR as soon as possible if you change your mind after recording your interest in the program.

The following personal data elements will be shared with GSO, your:

• UNHCR group number,
• UNHCR individual number,
• Full name,
• Father and mother’s name,
• Date of birth.

This information is required by GSO to grant you permission to participate in a go-and-see visit, and to facilitate your exit and re-entry to Lebanon without penalties related to overstay fees or re-entry bans.

Your personal data will be treated confidentially and only those who need to see it will be given access to it.

It is your choice whether to share your personal data with GSO. However, providing consent for the sharing of specified personal data (see Q9) with GSO is a requirement for participation in the go-and-see program. GSO will use it to provide you with a reference number and go-and-see card containing your exit and entry permit for re-entry into Lebanon.

You will need to arrange your own transportation to and from Syria. You must exit and re-enter Lebanon through a designated official border crossing point within one month of your departure (single entry only). Information on the designated border crossing points will be provided in the clearance SMS from UNHCR.

No, UNHCR does not provide financial assistance for transportation or other expenses related to go-and-see visits.

For one-time temporary go-and-see visits to Syria, GSO will not impose overstay fees or re-entry bans when you exit Lebanon. However, if you previously overstayed your visa/residency, you will be issued a one-month, non-renewable visa upon re-entry to Lebanon.

Depending on the case, a re-entry ban can last from 1 to 15 years. To have a re-entry ban lifted, a special request must be submitted for consideration by the Director General of the GSO in Lebanon.

GSO will check your ID and reference number and issue a Go-and-See card containing your exit and entry permit. You must keep your card/permit with you at all times, as you must show it when re-entering Lebanon within the one-month timeframe. Do not lose or give your card/permit to someone else. The official crossing point (OCP) is open 24/7 for border crossings. However, UNHCR is only present at the OCP during daytime.

If you encounter any issues at the border, please contact UNHCR for support by:

• Calling: 📞04726111, or
• Messaging the Online Contact Form: help.unhcr.org/lebanon/contact-us
• Or contact UNHCR Syria via: help.unhcr.org/syria/contact-us

If you lose your Go-and-See card/permit, you will not be allowed to re-enter Lebanon. If this happens, please inform UNHCR immediately by:

• Calling: 📞04726111, or
• Messaging the Online Contact Form: help.unhcr.org/lebanon/contact-us
• Or contact UNHCR Syria at: help.unhcr.org/syria/contact-us

If you do not return within the one-month period, GSO will not allow you to re-enter Lebanon. In this case, UNHCR will try to contact you to confirm your presence and if you cannot be reached or are found to be in Syria, your UNHCR file will be closed.

If, after your visit to Syria, you decide to return on a permanent basis, UNHCR is available to counsel you on the process and support with the preparations. You are not obliged to return to Syria permanently after the go and see visit. Only you can decide if, and when to do so.

For more information, visit: Considerations for Departure to Syria

With your consent, UNHCR may call you to collect feedback on your go-and-see experience including conditions inside Syria. This information will be used to improve future processes in support of voluntary return to Syria.

🟥 UNHCR strongly advises against using unofficial crossing points at the border as they expose individuals to significant risks including explosive objects, exploitation and abuse.

🟥 UNHCR cannot guarantee the practices at official border crossing points.

🟥 Until UNHCR concludes discussions with the government of Lebanon concerning go-and-see visits, we cannot guarantee that anyone departing Lebanon to conduct a short visit to Syria will be able re-enter Lebanon unless they meet the entry criteria mentioned above.