Sanctions screening — mandatory pre-acceptance
NYC runs Refinitiv World-Check + Dow Jones Risk Center against every Syria client + counterparty + transferee — checking OFAC SDN/Syria Sanctions Program, EU CFSP 2013/255, UK Syria (Sanctions) Regulations 2019, HMT Consolidated List, and Bank of Thailand List.
Ordinary Personal Status work (marriage/divorce/inheritance/birth/death) is acceptable; we decline anything tied to the Assad family, Makhlouf network, Syrian Arab Army / 4th Division, GIS / Air Force Intelligence, SSRC chemical programs, Captagon trade, oil/gas, or dual-use technology.
Failed screenings are refused, and a SAR (Suspicious Activity Report) is filed with AMLO within 7 days.
Embassy closed → Beirut / Amman routing
Embassy of Syria Bangkok closed permanently in 2012 after Thailand severed diplomatic ties during the civil war — no reopening planned.
Route 1 (Beirut): DHL Bangkok → Embassy of Syria Beirut (Abdallah Yafi Avenue, Hamra) → DHL back — 14–21 days, THB 8,500–12,000. Only viable if the client isn't on the Lebanon entry blacklist.
Route 2 (Amman): DHL → Embassy of Syria Amman (Abdoun) → MOFA Jordan attest → DHL back — 10–18 days, THB 7,500–11,000. NYC's primary routing since 2024.
Route 3 (Direct Damascus): for high-value matters only — Damascus partner (Mezzeh) walks MOFA Damascus (al-Adawi Square) + Ministry of Justice + Sharia Court 21–45 days.
Personal Status Law 59/1953
Syria uses the Millet system — marriage / divorce / inheritance split by sect: Sunni (Hanafi default), Shia (Ja'fari), Druze (Personal Status Law for Druze 1948), Christian (12 denominations with separate ecclesiastical courts), Jewish (now <100 community members).
Inter-faith: Muslim man + Christian/Jewish woman allowed (kitabiyya); Muslim woman + non-Muslim man banned unless he converts; Christian-Christian inter-denominational requires Patriarchate dispensation.
No civil marriage exists in Syria — workaround is Cyprus / Türkiye / Beirut civil marriage then registration with MOI Damascus under Decree 60/L.R.
Cost and timeline
Standard 5-document set (marriage / birth / POA / Affidavit / academic): THB 18,000–35,000 including MFA Thailand + 2× DHL legs + Consulate fee USD 50–150/doc + Damascus/Beirut Arabic Sworn Translation + partner handling.
Timeline 30–60 days, sensitive to Israel-Syria border closures, Eid + Ramadan (April), and Arab New Year.