Syrian passport applications surge, boosting regime's coffers

Syria has seen applications for passports surge to almost a million since 1 January, local media said on Wednesday.

The government has lifted the requirement for passport applications and renewals to be approved by Syria’s security services, and a presidential decree recently doubled the cost of a new passport to $400 (355 euros), or $200 for a renewal.

With a million applications for new passports or renewals this year, this represents a potentially lucrative source of revenue for the cash-strapped government.

"The number of passport applications this year, from inside and outside Syria, has reached close to one million, with an average of 5,000 requests a day," reported the Syrian daily al-Watan, which is considered to be close to the regime.

"Facilitating" Syrian passport applications

The million applications for new passports or renewals is a potentially lucrative source of revenue for the cash-strapped government.

In April, authorities decided to "facilitate" the issue of passports among Syrians living abroad, including some refugees.

Al-Watan said that around 40 percent of Syrians living abroad had passports which have expired.

The number of passport applications so far this year is five times the number of requests from the same period last year, the paper said.

In 2014, around 1,000 requests for passports were made daily, al-Watan said, adding that the increase "shows that many Syrians see leaving as the only answer".

Applications were highest in Damascus and its surrounding province, with close to 360,000 requests filed - around 2,000 each day.

Syria's economy is battling high inflation and around half the population is unemployed. The war has forced more than 11.5 million people from their homes, over half of the pre-war population of 22 million, including just under four million who have fled to neighbouring countries.

The civil war has killed more than 230,000 people and displaced millions since it began in 2011.