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Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani has announced that the interim government is considering extending the validity of passports for its citizens living abroad.

This decision comes as part of a broader initiative aimed at improving services for Syrians in the diaspora, many of whom have faced significant bureaucratic hurdles in renewing their passports since fleeing the country’s war.

In a statement, Al-Shibani said the government is working on measures to ease the burdens on expatriates, directing consular services to enhance their support.

Writing on social media platform X, he said that Syrians abroad should receive top-tier consular services, and vowed to address their complaints by offering free document certification until new directives are implemented.

"I have directed the Department of Consulates and Expatriates to provide the best consular services to expatriates, listen to their complaints, and certify all their documents free of charge until new instructions are issued" his statement read.

The Foreign Ministry is also reviewing the possibility of reducing passport renewal fees and extending the validity period of passports for citizens living abroad.

"We are also currently studying extending the validity period of passports, reducing fees, and other measures that contribute to alleviating the burden on our honourable people outside Syria," Al-Shibani added.

The announcement comes as part of a series of steps by the Syrian government, which is working to facilitate the return of its nationals who had fled the country during the brutal civil war in 2011.

Many Syrians sought refuge from the regime of Bashar al-Assad, during which freedom of speech and expression were suppressed, and many activists faced a brutal crackdown.

Since toppling Assad, the new government has tried to rebuild connections with its diaspora, many of whom remain wary of returning due to ongoing political and economic instability.

For years, Syrian passports have been used by the Assad regime as both a tool of pressure and a significant source of revenue.

The renewal process, often lengthy and costly, has been a source of frustration for citizens, especially those who have been critical of the regime. This has led to widespread corruption, with individuals paying bribes to officials for quicker processing times and the issuance of documents.