Syria: Information on the procedure for acquiring Syrian nationality for a child who was born in Syria of Syrian parents but who has lived in Lebanon and has no birth certificate from Syria
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 April 1992 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SYR10518 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Syria: Information on the procedure for acquiring Syrian nationality for a child who was born in Syria of Syrian parents but who has lived in Lebanon and has no birth certificate from Syria, 1 April 1992, SYR10518, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad0d5c.html [accessed 2 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
For published information on this specific subject please refer to the attached document.
According to a representative at the Embassy of Syria in Washington D.C., it is not possible for a person to be automatically granted Syrian nationality without any identification papers (27 Apr. 1992). The person will have to provide official documents with pictures which will show that his/her parents were Syrian nationals, the town and the date of birth of the requester, the family number (every family in Syria has one), or if the requester has any remaining brother or sister living in Syria (Ibid.). The representative reported that in order to legally cross the Syrian border to Lebanon, a person must present an identity card at the crossing point. This rule also applies to young children (Ibid.). Furthermore, a person who holds a Syrian identity card is considered a Syrian national (Ibid.). The representative added that if a person possesses an identity card, which is issued at birth, it is possible for that person to acquire a birth certificate or a passport at a Syrian Embassy (Ibid.).
A specialist of Syria in Ottawa stated that it is unusual for a child to live in Lebanon for a prolonged time without any identification papers, especially when the child is attending school or has to go to a hospital, for example (27 Apr. 1992). This source added that even Syrians living in Lebanon, in order to avoid military service in Syria, must posses identification papers (Ibid.).
Additional information on this subject is currently unavailable to the IRBDC in Ottawa.
References
Embassy of Syria, Washington D.C. 27 April 1992. Telephone Interview with Representative.
Specialist in Syrian Affairs, Ottawa. 27 April 1992. Telephone Interview.
Attachment
Government of Syria. 13 February 1972. Legislative Decree No. 276 And Its Amendments No. 17.
