Sudan

Sudan visas in 2026: entry permits, embassy visas and the counter visa

  • 6 visa types
  • checked 25 October 2026

How visas for Sudan work

Foreigners' entry, stay and departure in Sudan are regulated by the Passport and Immigration Act 2003 and administered by the General Directorate of Passports and Immigration, part of the Ministry of Interior. Its Aliens Affairs Department handles entry permits, residence permits and exit permits. The department's Khartoum premises were destroyed during the war; in January 2026 the police leadership announced that residence permits, visas and entry and exit permits for foreigners would be issued again, and in February 2026 the department was formally reopened in Khartoum State.

Sudan has no online visa portal. A visa is obtained in one of two ways. The usual route is a Sudanese embassy: a sponsor in Sudan (a company, a licensed tour operator, an organisation or a private person) first obtains an entry permit number from the Ministry of Interior, and the embassy then issues the visa. The second route is the counter visa issued on arrival, which the Directorate confirmed in July 2025 is still in force, with approval given by its headquarters. Fees are set by each mission: the embassy in Berlin charges EUR 80 for a single-entry visa of any category and the embassy in Washington USD 154.

Sudan does not publish which nationalities may receive the counter visa or which, if any, are visa-exempt. Sudanese embassies serve foreigners who wish to visit Sudan, and several of them, including those in Berlin, The Hague and Washington, publish their entry visa application forms and requirements online.

The armed conflict is ongoing and public services are being restored step by step. In January 2026 the authorities announced that residence permits, visas and entry and exit permits for foreigners would be issued again in Khartoum State, and the Aliens Affairs Department was officially relaunched there in February 2026. Requirements can change without notice, so confirm them with a Sudanese mission before you travel.

Which visa do I need?

Short visit: the counter visa on arrival remains in force, but Sudan does not publish which nationalities qualify, so confirm with a Sudanese embassy before travelling or obtain an embassy visa through a sponsor.

Tourist trip with certainty of entry: apply at a Sudanese embassy through a tour operator licensed in Sudan or a sponsor who obtains the Ministry of Interior entry permit.

Meetings, trade or investment: the business or investment visa, backed by an invitation from a Sudanese company.

Employment or a humanitarian assignment: the work entry visa with a sponsor letter; aid workers also need a certificate from the Humanitarian Aid Commission.

Staying on after arrival: regularise your stay with the Aliens Affairs Department and obtain a residence permit if you remain for work, study or family reasons.

Fleeing persecution or conflict: asylum is handled by the Commission for Refugees (COR) together with UNHCR.

Visa types for Sudan

Visits and short stays

  • Tourist visa Tourist entry visa (issued by a Sudanese embassy)

    A Sudanese tourist visa issued by an embassy rests on an entry permit number from the Ministry of Interior, requested by a tour operator licensed in Sudan or another sponsor.

    Validity: Single entry as standard; the Berlin embassy also issues 6-month and 12-month multiple-entry visas

Business and self-employment

  • Business visa Business and investment entry visa

    Business travellers and investors need an invitation from a company in Sudan, which applies for the entry permit through the Ministry of Interior, and a letter from their own employer.

    Validity: Single entry as standard; multiple-entry visas of 6 or 12 months are listed by the Berlin embassy

Work

  • Work visa Entry visa for work and humanitarian assignments

    Foreigners going to Sudan to work need an entry visa backed by a letter from the sponsoring employer or organisation stating the job, the length of stay and who bears the costs.

    Processing time: Up to 10 working days in Washington once the file is complete; two to three weeks in The Hague

Residence

  • Residence permit Foreigners' registration and residence permit (Aliens Affairs Department)

    Anyone staying in Sudan for work, study or family reasons needs a residence permit from the Aliens Affairs Department of the General Directorate of Passports and Immigration, usually applied for by a sponsor.

Online travel permits

  • Visa on arrival Entry visa on arrival (counter visa)

    Sudan's counter visa is an entry visa issued at the border, and the General Directorate of Passports and Immigration confirmed in July 2025 that it remains in force, with approval granted by its headquarters.

    Processing time: Approval is given by the headquarters of the General Directorate of Passports and Immigration; no time frame is published

Asylum and international protection

  • Asylum and international protection Asylum and refugee status (Commission for Refugees, Asylum Act 2014)

    Sudan has a national asylum procedure under the Asylum (Organization) Act 2014, run by the Commission for Refugees (COR) of the Ministry of Interior with support from UNHCR.

Frequently asked questions

Does Sudan have an e-visa?

No official online visa portal exists. Visas are issued by Sudanese embassies after the Ministry of Interior approves an entry permit requested by a sponsor in Sudan, or as a counter visa on arrival. Some Sudanese embassies accept application forms online, but the decision still depends on the entry permit.

Do I need a visa for Sudan?

Plan on needing one: Sudan publishes no list of visa-exempt nationalities. Visas are issued by Sudanese embassies against a Ministry of Interior entry permit, and the General Directorate of Passports and Immigration confirmed in July 2025 that the counter visa on arrival is still in force, without publishing which nationalities qualify. The Sudanese embassy responsible for your country can advise before travel.

How much does a Sudan visa cost?

Each embassy publishes its own fee. The embassy in Berlin charges EUR 80 for a single-entry tourist, transit, business, humanitarian, study, family or visit visa, EUR 480 for a six-month multiple-entry visa and EUR 960 for a twelve-month one. The embassy in Washington charges USD 154. The fee for the counter visa on arrival is not officially published.

Do I have to register after arriving in Sudan?

The General Directorate of Passports and Immigration handles residence permits and entry and exit permits for foreigners through its Aliens Affairs Department, which was relaunched in Khartoum State in February 2026. Official Sudanese sources reviewed do not publish a registration deadline, document list or fee for short stays, so ask your sponsor or the department after arrival how to regularise your stay.

Is travel to Sudan currently advised?

Sudan is in an armed conflict, and its own immigration services have only been restored gradually since early 2026. Check your government's travel advice, and confirm entry and onward travel arrangements with a Sudanese mission and your sponsor before planning a trip.

Embassies and consulates

Last checked 25 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.