{"id":4873,"date":"2023-04-06T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-06T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/?p=4873\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T12:58:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T10:58:48","slug":"visa-for-sudan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/visa-for-sudan\/","title":{"rendered":"How to get a visa (and permits) for Sudan in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/nubian-women-sudan.avif\" type=\"image\/avif\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/nubian-women-sudan.jpg\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/nubian-women-sudan.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-5543\"><\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Getting a Sudanese visa isn&#8217;t complicated but there is some bureaucracy that needs to be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span class=\"s1\">This post is kept regularly updated thanks to input from some amazing travelers. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I also recommend checking the <a href=\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/visa-for-sudan\/#comments\"><strong>comments section<\/strong><\/a> of this blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-background\" style=\"background-color:#eaeaea\">For more information read my <a href=\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/sudan-travel-guide-backpacking\/\"><strong>travel guide to Sudan<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In this visa guide for Sudan you will find:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group table-of-contents is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"table-of-contents__title\" style=\"font-size:20px\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#1\">How to get visa on arrival<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#2\">How to get a visa via embassy<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#3\">Registration and permits<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#5\">More information<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group atc-info-box is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center m-0 has-black-color has-text-color has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fe9900\">our recommended travel insurance for Sudan<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"font-size:20px\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iatitravelinsurance.com\/en-eu\/?r=30867932099453&amp;cmp=sudan_visa_en_text\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow sponsored\">IATI Insurance<\/a><\/strong> is one of the very few that covers travel in Sudan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-font-size\" style=\"font-size:16px\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-text-align-center wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iatitravelinsurance.com\/en-eu\/?r=30867932099453&amp;cmp=sudan_visa_en_text\" style=\"border-radius:11px;background-color:#fe9900\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow sponsored\">GET 5% DISCOUNT HERE<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1\">How to get your visa on arrival (VOA) for Sudan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For your information, it is possible to get a VOA for Sudan, but <strong>only if you fly into Khartoum<\/strong>, and you need to arrange it in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The VOA is not available at land borders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to pre-arrange your VOA for Sudan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Basically, you&#8217;ll need to get in touch with a local tour operator, with whom you&#8217;ll have to book a tour around Sudan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternatively, independent travelers may also arrange it via the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.acropolekhartoum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Acropole Hotel<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For that, they usually charge around $100, plus they require you to stay at least two nights with them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s an expensive hotel, nevertheless, with prices starting at $100.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, the VOA will cost you $100, or $150 if you hold a US passport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2\">How to get a visa for Sudan via the embassy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you plan to travel overland into Sudan, via either Egypt or Ethiopia, you will have to get your visa at the embassy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For that, the following options apply. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f2f2f2\">Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/egypt-sudan-border-overland\/\"><strong>Sudan-Egypt border crossing<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting your Sudan tourist visa at the embassy in your home country<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your country or city has a Sudanese embassy, that&#8217;s great, as you can apply for it from there, but it&#8217;s sort of a hassle, especially because each embassy has its own rules and some of them require a letter of invitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to get the Letter of Invitation for your Sudanese visa<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>You can get it through a local tour operator or independent travelers can also get it through the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.acropolekhartoum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Acropole Hotel<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The hotel typically charges $110 in exchange for staying 2 nights with them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How long does it take to apply for your Sudan visa?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Officially, the whole visa process takes <strong>3 weeks<\/strong> but there are travel reports suggesting that it can take up to 6 weeks, depending on the embassy, so it&#8217;s wise to apply in advance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How much does the visa for Sudan cost via your embassy?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>European-based embassies typically charge $80-$100. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, if you are not sure of your date of entry, it would probably be better to apply for it in <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/country\/egypt\/\">Egypt<\/a><\/strong> or Ethiopia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to get your Sudan tourist visa in Cairo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-red-color has-text-color\"><strong>Today, this is the easiest place. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Things have gotten much easier in Cairo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before, you needed to get a letter of recommendation from your own embassy in Cairo, and the process used to take 1 or 2 weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, you can get it on the same day and it costs $150, and all you need is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A passport copy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A copy of your Egyptian visa<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A hotel booking<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>US dollars must be new bills<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/qZcHCStMQhgx4LR28\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">embassy location<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to get your Sudan visa in Aswan (Egypt)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This used to be the easiest place to apply for a Sudanese visa, but it&#8217;s a bit unreliable since the authorities stop issuing them every now and then sending travelers back to Cairo, which is quite a detour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The last update I got in March 2023 was that they are issuing them again but know that there&#8217;s a small risk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As of today, these are the Sudan visa requirements in Aswan:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>2 passport photos<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2 passport copies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 copy of your Egyptian visa<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>$150 in cash.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>There is a shop 100 meters from the Consulate where you can make copies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you go at 9am, you might have the visa ready by 2pm but remember that this will depend on the officer&#8217;s mood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>About the Sudan Consulate in Aswan:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Consulate is closed on Friday and Saturday<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The visa section is closed on Wednesday, but this might have changed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The working hours for the visa section are from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There&#8217;s no need to have an appointment, just show up there<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The earlier you go, the better, as it gets pretty busy after 10:30 am.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to get your Sudan visa in Addis Ababa (<a href=\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/country\/ethiopia\/\">Ethiopia<\/a>)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>According to a reader of this blog, things have got easier in Addis Ababa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, bear in mind that, sometimes, they may give you trouble if you don&#8217;t have a letter of invitation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the visa, the process is quick and it only takes 1 working day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It costs $68. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make sure to arrive early (around 8 a.m.) as they only accept the applications until 11am. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bring the invitation letter, a copy of your passport, 2 photos, the address of your stay in Sudan, the address and tel number of your sponsor in Sudan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f2f2f2\">Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/travel-ethiopia\/\"><strong>How to travel to Ethiopia<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to get a Sudan visa in Nairobi (Kenya)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is old but, in September 2018, a traveler reported that he got his visa for Sudan in less than 24 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He didn&#8217;t need to present any special document other than his passport and the usual stuff. The price was $55.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/visa-for-sudan-1024x666.avif\" type=\"image\/avif\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/visa-for-sudan-1024x666.jpg\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/visa-for-sudan-1024x666.jpg\" alt=\"sudan visa\" class=\"wp-image-4882\"><\/picture><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">My visa for Sudan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3\">Registration and permits needed for traveling in Sudan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In Sudan, you&#8217;ll need to register within 3 days of your arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Travel reports on this matter are more than welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting your registration in Khartoum<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can register your passport <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/tK5vhaSVxKsn43rB7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">at this location<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This can be usually done by your sponsor, if you have one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Otherwise, doing it by yourself can be a time-consuming process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The registration costs 5,000 SDG.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting your registration if traveling overland<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Whatever country you are traveling from, once you are at the Sudanese border, the authorities will give you a special form that needs to be filled out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You need to keep a copy of it and not lose it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because you&#8217;ll have to present it at the police station for registration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Registration at the Wadi Halfa police station<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>From the moment you cross the border, you have 3 days (or 4 days, unofficially) to register at the police station. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If coming from Egypt, Wadi Halfa is the best place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Wadi Halfa, the&nbsp;whole process took less than 20 minutes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For that, you need to go to the police station and give in your registration form. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You&#8217;ll need a copy of your passport (you can make a copy there for 1SDG). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They will also ask you for a picture but, if you don&#8217;t have it, it&#8217;s not a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f2f2f2\">Registration is a must. If you don&#8217;t register, they could make you pay a huge fine for leaving the country. When I was <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/backpacking-azerbaijan-travel-itinerary\/\">traveling in Azerbaijan<\/a><\/strong>, I also didn&#8217;t register and, at the border, had to choose between paying 200 USD or getting deported and banned from entering the country within a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting your travel permit at the Ministry&nbsp;of Tourism<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A travel permit is needed to travel around the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if your final destination is Khartoum, you don&#8217;t need to get this permit because essentially, it&#8217;s a permit to get out of Khartoum, and the police do ask for it all the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Again, if you have a sponsor, they should take care of it but if not, you should first head to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and Wildlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/aojEg8wJtAnrGPvx8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the location<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What are the required documents?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Passport copy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 passport photo <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your registration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It&#8217;s FREE of charge!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>They will issue you a form which you&#8217;ll need to present at the Tourism Police office to get the actual permit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4\">Other registrations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In some cities and villages, the hotels ask you to register at the local security office. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s a pain in the ass but it&#8217;s pretty straightforward and you don&#8217;t have to pay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just go there, tell them the name of the hotel and how many days are you planning to stay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5\">More information for visiting Sudan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color has-background\" style=\"background-color:#2b8f2b\">\ud83d\udce2 In my <a href=\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/travel-resources\/\"><strong>Travel Resources Page<\/strong><\/a> you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t forget to check our <a href=\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/sudan-travel-guide-backpacking\/\"><strong>travel guide to Sudan<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As well as all our Sudan articles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/nubian-people-sudan\/\">Tales of Nubian People<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/safe-travel-sudan\/\">Is Sudan Safe?<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/visit-sudan-female-traveler\/\">Solo Female Travel Guide to Sudan<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/nubian-pyramids-sudan\/\">Travel Guide to Nubian Pyramids<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Getting a Sudanese visa isn&#8217;t complicated but there is some bureaucracy that needs to be done. This post is kept regularly updated thanks to input from some amazing travelers. I also recommend checking the comments section of this blog. For more information read my travel guide to Sudan. In this visa guide for Sudan you [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5543,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[186,184,282,216],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sudan","category-egypt","category-horn-of-africa","category-visas"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4873"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56693,"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4873\/revisions\/56693"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5543"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}