Moving to United Kingdom from Syria

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Syria to United Kingdom — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Syria to United Kingdom, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — London averages 60°F vs 78°F in Damascus, making it significantly cooler.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to United Kingdom

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Syria to United Kingdom, based on official data.

Moved in 2015
1,000

people moved from Syria to United Kingdom · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to United Kingdom?

Top countries of origin for United Kingdom's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Syria to United Kingdom.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

SY
2.1
GB
1.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SY
29.9
GB
2.4

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Syria across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

SY
$122
GB
$6,606
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SY
11.9
GB
31.7

Syria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

SY
83.0
GB
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SY
1.3t
GB
4.2t

Syria generally does better on environment, though United Kingdom leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SY
7.3
GB
41.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SY
124.4%
GB
14.3%

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Syria across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SY
13.5%
GB
4.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SY
$2,900
GB
$54,100

United Kingdom generally does better on employment & economy, though Syria leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SY
74.3 yrs
GB
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SY
15.9
GB
3.8

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Syria across all family life metrics.

Data: Ministry of Finance, Syria, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Damascus Rain: 5.3 in/yr (134 mm)
78° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Damascus London
Jan–Mar 60°/35°F (15°/2°C) 49°/38°F (9°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 85°/51°F (29°/11°C) 64°/48°F (18°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 96°/60°F (35°/15°C) 72°/56°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 70°/40°F (21°/5°C) 53°/43°F (12°/6°C)
View all months
Month Damascus London
Jan 55°/33°F (12.6°/0.4°C) 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C)
Feb 59°/34°F (14.8°/1.3°C) 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C)
Mar 66°/39°F (18.9°/3.7°C) 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C)
Apr 76°/45°F (24.5°/7.0°C) 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C)
May 85°/51°F (29.7°/10.5°C) 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C)
Jun 94°/58°F (34.2°/14.2°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Jul 98°/62°F (36.5°/16.9°C) 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C)
Aug 97°/62°F (36.2°/16.5°C) 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C)
Sep 92°/55°F (33.4°/13.0°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C)
Oct 82°/48°F (28.0°/8.9°C) 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C)
Nov 69°/39°F (20.3°/4.0°C) 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C)
Dec 58°/34°F (14.2°/1.3°C) 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C)

Data: Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department, Met Office Met Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Syria and United Kingdom. To live, work, or study long-term in United Kingdom, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United Kingdom's immigration authority.

Syria passport

Syria passport holder visiting United Kingdom

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Syria passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to United Kingdom.
United Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Syria

Visa Online (e-Visa)
United Kingdom passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Syria.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from United Kingdom?

Internet is rarely the blocker — United Kingdom has 41.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is United Kingdom safe for expats?

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Syria across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United Kingdom is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.1 in Syria.

How is healthcare in United Kingdom compared to Syria?

Syria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 31.7 doctors per 10,000 people in United Kingdom, compared to 11.9 in Syria. United Kingdom scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Syria: 64).

What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to Syria?

The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 78°F in Damascus. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while Damascus gets 5.3 in.

What language do they speak in United Kingdom?

The official language in United Kingdom is English. In Syria, the official language is Arabic.

Share this

At a Glance

SY GB
Population 21,563,800 67,791,400
Currency Syrian Pound (SYP) British Pound Sterling (£)
Languages Arabic English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +963 +44
Time zones 1 9
Emergency number 999