Starting a business in a new country can be hard, and Syria’s economy makes it even harder. But the government has made it much easier to do business in the country by passing Investment Law No. 18 of 2021 and the updated reforms of 2025. This is to attract foreign investment.
The process of starting a foreign business in Syria is no longer a mystery. It is a legal, organised path that is mostly run by one authority. Here is a simple list of what you need to do to turn an idea into a working business.
Choosing The Right Legal Structure
You need to figure out how your business will live in Syria before you file any paperwork. According to Syrian Commercial Law, foreign investors usually have three main options.
Limited Liability Company
This is the most common type of business for small to medium-sized businesses. It protects your personal property and needs at least two partners.
Joint Stock Company
This type of company is usually only used for big projects, like factories or power plants. It needs more money to start, but it lets you own more than one share and makes it easier to move shares around.
Foreign Branch Office
If your business is doing well in your home country, you can open a branch in Syria. This is not a separate business; it is an addition to your parent company.
The Syrian Investment Authority
You used to have to go to a dozen different ministries. The Syrian Investment Authority (SIA) and its Investor Services Centre handle almost everything these days.
This Single Window system is meant to take care of your application from beginning to end. The SIA works with the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Finance and local governments on your behalf after you send in your project details.
Essential Document Checklist
You will need to gather a certain set of documents in order to get your Investment License, which gives you tax breaks and customs exemptions. The Syrian Embassy in your home country must legalise all foreign documents and have them translated into Arabic by a certified translator.
The Study Of Feasibility
You need to give a detailed report that explains what your project does, how much it will cost, how many jobs it will create and how it will affect the environment.
Proof Of Legal Status, Identity And Authority
For people, a copy of a valid passport. For companies that are already in business, you need a Certificate of Incorporation and the Articles of Association from your home country.
Power Of Attorney
This is the person who represents you legally. If you aren’t in Syria, you have to legally choose someone (usually a lawyer or a local manager) to sign papers for you.
The License To Invest
The SIA will give you your licence after they look over your file (which should take 15 days). This paper gives you the legal right to run your business and get your tax benefits.
Minimum Capital And Banking
One of the most important legal requirements is showing that you have the money to start the project.
Bank Account
You need to open a bank account in Syria. You can keep this account in a foreign currency, like USD or EUR, if you want to.
Capital Deposit
To get your final business registration, you will need to put some of your starting capital into this account. The amount you need to put in will depend on the type of business you have.
Repatriation Rights
The new law gives you the right to send your profits and original capital back to your home country in foreign currency when you leave or at the end of the fiscal year. This is an important legal protection.
Labor And Residency Rules
You need a team once your business is legally registered. Syrian law tries to find a balance between local jobs and international skills:
- Hiring Locally: You should hire Syrians, and you must register them with the GOSI (General Organisation for Social Insurance).
- Foreign Labour Quota: The 2025 reforms say that foreign companies can hire up to 40% of their workers from outside the country for specialised technical or managerial jobs.
- Investor Residency: If you are a foreign owner or manager of an approved project, you and your family can get a Work and Residency Permit that is renewed every year by the SIA.
Post-Registration
Getting the licence is just the beginning; you have to follow the rules to keep it. You have to do the following by law:
- You should start the project within the time frame you set in your application, which is usually 6 to 12 months.
- Keep accurate financial records and send the Ministry of Finance an annual audit.
- Tell the SIA about any big changes in ownership or the scope of the project.
