ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Semalka border crossing between the Kurdistan Region and northeast Syria's Kurdish region (Rojava) has been reopened as an official entry point, with visa issuance valid across 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 documentation 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 according to the Kurdish region's integration into state structures. The deal came after weeks of deadly clashes, sparked as the Syrian army took control of large swathes of SDF-held Kurdish-majority territory in eastern Syria in January. The fighting subsided after intervention by regional actors such as 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 transfer from the Kurdistan Region into Rojava while the region was under siege.
Aloush also addressed concerns over nationality-based restrictions, saying Syria does not maintain a blacklist targeting citizens of specific countries. Entry for all travelers is dependent 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 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.
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 exempt from standard entry fees.
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