Sudan: Entry Rules for VisitorsLast check:Last update:Data statusLast check:Last update:
Sudan:Visa Requirement Map
Explore which nationalities need a visa to enter this country and which can enter visa-free.
Sudan: Visa and entry documents and requirements
Visa requirements may change. Always verify the latest information through official government sources.
Consular Visa Application Requirements
- Sudan’s official representations issue consular visas for tourist visits, family or private visits, commercial activity, employment, humanitarian aid, education, diplomatic or official duty, and other appropriate travel purposes. Application requirements vary according to the embassy or consulate where the application is made and the purpose of travel.
- The applicant must submit a completed and signed entry visa application form. The form may require information such as first and last name, date and place of birth, nationality, passport type and number, passport issuance and expiration dates, occupation, telephone number, residential address, purpose of travel, address in Sudan, sponsor or business contact in Sudan, intended date of entry, requested duration of stay, and previous visits to Sudan. The application form includes a choice of single-entry or multiple-entry visa.
- The Berlin representation’s form includes separate options for ordinary passport, diplomatic passport, official passport, United Nations travel document, and other travel documents. However, whether each travel document is accepted depends on the representation where the application is made and the approval of the Sudanese authorities.
- The passport must be valid for at least six months from the intended date of entry. The Berlin representation also requires three blank pages in the passport.
- A photocopy or scan of the passport’s personal information page must be submitted. Some representations request both the original and a copy of the passport. In diplomatic or official applications, the original passport may be requested after obtaining the entry approval from the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- The number of photographs varies according to the application center. The Berlin and Washington representations require one passport-size photograph; the Stockholm and Dubai representations require two passport-size photographs.
- The applicant may be required to prove that they legally reside in the country where they are applying. Applicants who are not citizens of the country of application are required to provide a copy of a valid residence permit. For applications made in Dubai, the applicant must reside in the United Arab Emirates and the residence permit must be valid for at least two more months. Persons who are only in visitor status in the United Arab Emirates are required to obtain an entry clearance from the Sudanese authorities before applying.
- For tourist and family visit applications, a signed request from a sponsor in Sudan and the sponsor’s identity document may be submitted. The sponsor’s name, current address, telephone number, and signature are required. In the absence of a sponsor, a confirmation letter containing reservation details from a hotel in Sudan or a letter from a travel agency registered in Sudan explaining the travel details may be accepted.
- For tourist applications made through Berlin, a letter of invitation from a legally registered and authorized tourism agency in Sudan is required. The application may also be submitted by a tourism company, agency, or person in Sudan to the Borders and Foreigners unit of the Ministry of Interior. The entry clearance number obtained as a result of this procedure must be sent to the relevant representation through the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- For tourist visa applications in Dubai, hotel reservation and provisional flight reservation are required. The Stockholm representation also requests a copy of the travel ticket.
- For applications for commercial, employment, or humanitarian aid purposes, a letter issued by the sponsoring company or employer must be submitted. The letter must state the type of work to be performed, purpose of travel, duration of stay, who will bear the financial responsibility, and contacts in Sudan. A letter of invitation from the inviting company in Sudan explaining the nature of the work, dates, and contact information may also be required.
- For business purpose applications made in Dubai, a no-objection letter from the sponsor or employer in the United Arab Emirates is required. If the applicant is a company owner, investor, or partner, a copy of the trade license may be submitted. Additionally, a letter of invitation from the sponsoring institution in Sudan is required.
- Persons who will engage in humanitarian aid activities are required to provide an eligibility or approval certificate issued by the Sudan Humanitarian Aid Commission. This certificate may be obtained through the office in Sudan of the organization sending the applicant.
- For applications made for education purposes, an acceptance or invitation letter from the university or educational institution in Sudan must be submitted.
- For diplomatic, special, or official passport applications, a note or official letter issued by the relevant ministry of foreign affairs, embassy, consulate, or authorized institution is required. The original passport may not be delivered until the entry approval of the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs is obtained. In some representations, diplomatic and official visas are issued free of charge.
- Persons of Sudanese origin traveling on a foreign passport may be asked to provide a Sudanese passport, national number document, Sudanese identity card, or the Sudanese identity document of a parent or sibling. Some representations also request the identity document of a sponsor in Sudan.
- For private visit applications, a copy of the sponsor’s passport in Sudan must be submitted. If the sponsor is a foreigner, a copy of their Sudanese residence permit may also be required. For applicants accompanying a Sudanese family, a copy of the sponsor’s passport in Sudan is required.
- Financial sufficiency may be required to be proven with a bank statement or a declaration explaining financial means.
- No common travel health insurance requirement has been published for tourist or commercial travel. Some commercial applications require the sponsoring company to inform in writing that it assumes responsibility for the applicant’s medical expenses.
- For tourist travel applications by road, a petition explaining the purpose of the visit and the route to be followed, a copy of the international driving license, and the registration or vehicle registration document showing the license plate and chassis number of the vehicle are required.
- Minor applicants may be required to provide a child travel consent form, identity documents of parents or legal guardians, and, depending on family situation, a marriage or divorce certificate. For children traveling without their parents, a no-objection letter signed by both parents and the parents’ identity documents must be submitted. If the child is traveling with only one parent, a notarized consent from the other parent may be required.
- The Berlin application form includes fields for right and left thumbprints. The Stockholm representation also mentions an application and fingerprint form. No general in-person interview requirement has been published either.
- The Washington representation does not make yellow fever and cholera vaccinations mandatory for the entry visa. Current health conditions must be additionally verified from the relevant Sudanese representation before travel.
- The application fee and payment method vary according to the representation. The Washington representation charges 154 US dollars for the entry visa; it accepts money order, business cheque or bank cheque; it does not accept personal cheques. In in-person applications, cash payment is accepted; credit and debit cards are not accepted. At the Berlin representation, fees may be paid by bank transfer or in person by card; cash is not accepted for postal applications. Paid fees may not be refunded in case of withdrawal or rejection of the application.
- The official processing time varies according to the representation and type of application. The Washington representation publishes approximately 10 business days, the Dubai representation two to five business days, the Doha representation approximately 48 hours for normal applications. In Berlin, two to three weeks are anticipated for some commercial applications, six to twelve weeks for tourist applications by road.
- The validity period of the visa and the maximum permitted duration of stay are determined according to the visa granted. The requested duration of stay must be written on the application form, and single or multiple entry visa must be selected. The Berlin representation publishes separate fee categories for six-month and twelve-month multiple-entry visas.
- No common restriction has been published that the visa may only be used at certain airports, ports, or border crossings. The entry clearance or approval number obtained in consular applications is a pre-approval from the Sudanese authorities rather than an electronic visa. A nationwide downloadable electronic visa document or electronic travel authorization system has not been confirmed in official sources.
Transit Visa Requirements
- A transit visa is a separate visa type issued by the consulate for passengers who will continue to another country via Sudan and will enter Sudanese territory. "Transit" must be selected as the purpose of travel on the application form, and the form must be completed and signed in full.
- The passport must be valid for at least six months from the intended date of entry into Sudan. The Berlin representation requires three blank passport pages.
- The applicant must submit a copy of their passport and the number of passport-size photographs specified by the representation.
- The application form must state the country to be visited after Sudan, the planned arrival date in Sudan, and the departure date from Sudan. The applicant must have a valid visa, residence permit, or other official entry authorization showing they have the right to enter the next country. The travel itinerary and subsequent flight or transportation reservation may also be requested.
- The transit category published by the Ottawa representation is issued for stays of one to seven days.
- The transit visa fee, payment method, and processing time vary according to the representation. The application must be made before travel to the relevant Sudanese embassy or consulate, and travel must not begin until the visa is stamped in the passport.