Your checklist
Every step from your US paperwork to your Syrian practice license, in order. Open a step to see what to do.
Your checklist is ready
Before you start
Sort this out first. It is where most people get stuck.
-
Get a valid Syrian passport The embassy checks it, and your name must be spelled exactly as on your certificates.
In Arabic: جواز سفر سوري ساري المفعول
The Syrian Embassy in Washington now asks to see a valid (unexpired) Syrian passport instead of an Arabic translation of your documents. The Board file also needs a copy of your Syrian ID and current passport.
Do this
If your passport is expired or you don't have one
Why the embassy wants it
The embassy used to require a notarized Arabic translation because of past forgery cases where names were spelled differently. A valid passport now replaces that. It has to be valid because many forged Syrian passports circulated in the past. The consular office has said these rules may be temporary.
Not sure yet
- We don't know yet what doctors with no way to get a valid passport can do.
In the US
Do these in order. Each office checks the stamp of the one before it.
-
Gather your documents The full list for your file, for each specialty you want recognized.
In Arabic: تجهيز الوثائق
This list follows the Syrian Board's current administrative order (أمر إداري) and its application form. Do it once for each specialty. Doctors recommend doing your core specialty and your subspecialty (for example Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology).
Do this
Things you do later, at the Board
- Fill in the CV questionnaire (استبيان السيرة الذاتية).
- Pay the fee (الرسم المالي). We don't know the amount yet.
Your medical degree
If your degree is Syrian, a certified copy is enough.
Good to know
- The Board's subspecialty rule ("Syrian Board certificate if the specialty is a subspecialty") is unclear for doctors whose core specialty is also from the US.
- Subspecialties Syria doesn't recognize (for example advanced endoscopy) don't strictly need it, but they are worth doing if you plan academic work.
- An older summary lists your US state medical license. Recent reports say it is probably not needed.
- An older version of the application form asks for "a recent Syndicate document" (وثيقة نقابية حديثة). The newer form and the current order don't list it.
-
Get your training program description A 2 to 3 page letter from your program, signed in ink by the program director.
In Arabic: توصيف البرنامج التدريبي
The Board order asks for a description of your training program "or its equivalent", showing when your training started and ended.
Do this
Common mistakes
- Translating a full 50-page curriculum. You don't need to.
- Waiting on a stamp. Some programs refuse to stamp, and unstamped letters still went through the state and federal steps.
Good to know
- Some doctors got through with just the completion certificate showing start and end dates, and a recent report says the certificate may replace the description. The official order still lists it, so get one if you can.
-
Get your practice letter A short letter from your employer showing at least the last 2 years of practice.
In Arabic: وثيقة ممارسة الاختصاص
The Board needs proof that you have practiced your specialty for at least the last 2 years, from the places you worked.
Do this
Good to know
- Strictly, the order asks for embassy authentication only for the specialty certificate and the training program. Doctors put the practice letter through the same chain anyway, to be safe.
- We don't know yet how doctors with long careers, or who recently retired, should cover "the last 2 years".
-
Notarize copies Notarize copies, not originals, with a complete notary certificate.
In Arabic: التصديق لدى كاتب العدل
The chain of stamps starts with a Notary Public. You notarize a copy of each document and keep the original.
Do this
Common mistakes
- An incomplete notary certificate. A state office returned one doctor's documents because the certificate didn't say whether the signer was "personally known" or "produced identification" (and which ID), or whether the notarization was in person or online. That cost weeks.
- Notarizing originals. Keep your originals.
-
Authenticate at your state's Secretary of State Use the state where you live now, even for certificates from other states.
In Arabic: تصديق وزارة خارجية الولاية
Your state's Secretary of State checks the notary's stamp. This is an authentication, not an apostille, because Syria is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention.
Do this
Good to know
- Some states are same-day walk-in. Fees vary by state (one state charged $50 per document).
- Some states won't authenticate a document that isn't in English.
- One doctor thought training verification forms must be done in the state where you trained. Others did them in their home state.
-
Authenticate at the US Department of State The slowest step in the US. Expect weeks to months.
In Arabic: تصديق وزارة الخارجية الأمريكية
The US Department of State's Office of Authentications checks the state seal. It only accepts documents that already carry the state authentication.
Do this
Good to know
- Reports range from about 2 weeks to over 2 months. Start early.
- If you have a trip to Syria booked, you can ask them to expedite (see above).
Syrian Embassy in Washington
In person only, but someone can go for you.
-
Legalize at the Syrian Embassy in Washington In person only. Call first, and someone you trust can go for you.
In Arabic: تصديق السفارة السورية في واشنطن
The embassy legalizes US documents after the US authentications. No law firm or agency is authorized to do this for you. The Syrian Embassy in Havana stopped handling US documents on July 20, 2026, so go to Washington.
Do this
Common mistakes
- Mailing documents. There is no mail service right now; the office is in a temporary location.
- Translating before the embassy. It is not needed anymore if you show a valid Syrian passport. Translation happens in Syria (step 10).
- Arriving without calling. Phones are sometimes unanswered, so keep trying or email.
Good to know
- Fees are unclear. One report says fees are paid in Syria; a later one, from the consular office, says documents for specialty and degree equivalency are exempt from fees.
- The order strictly requires the embassy stamp only on the specialty certificate and the training program. Most doctors did every document to avoid repeating steps.
- One version of the embassy notice prints a different phone number. The number above is the one in the Arabic notice and the one the office has called back from.
In Syria
A relative or friend in Syria can usually do these for you.
-
Authenticate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Damascus The ministry confirms the embassy's stamp.
In Arabic: تصديق وزارة الخارجية السورية
Do this
-
Get a sworn translation in Syria Translate in Syria, not in the US. It costs far less there.
In Arabic: ترجمة لدى ترجمان محلف
The Board order says the documents are translated inside Syria and certified by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Do this
Common mistakes
- Translating in the US. One doctor was quoted $800 just for a translator's sworn statement before a notary. Sworn translators in Damascus are reasonably priced.
Good to know
- Order is unclear. One summary says Foreign Affairs first, then translate; the Board order says translate, then have Foreign Affairs certify. Officials seem flexible, so ask at the ministry.
-
Submit your file to the Syrian Board Exams Department, Equivalency Section. Files are reviewed periodically.
In Arabic: الهيئة السورية للاختصاصات الطبية
Submit your file to the Equivalency Section of the Exams Department (دائرة الاختبارات – شعبة التعادل) using the certificate review form (استمارة تمحيص الشهادات).
Do this
Good to know
- Files are reported to be reviewed every 2 months.
- US-trained doctors are not asked to sit the Syrian Board exam or show 5 years of experience.
- Plan for at least 9 months from start to finish.
- The Ministry of Health is building its own online verification system. It isn't live yet.
-
Register with the Syndicate and get your practice license After the equivalency decision. We know few details so far.
In Arabic: نقابة الأطباء ووزارة الصحة
After the Board approves your equivalency, you get an equivalency certificate. Then you register it with the Syrian Physicians Syndicate (نقابة الأطباء) and get your specialty practice license (مزاولة الاختصاص) from the Ministry of Health (وزارة الصحة).
Do this
What we don't know yet
- The practice license is issued by the Ministry of Health, not Higher Education.
- We don't know the fees for the Syndicate and the practice license yet.