South Sudan Visa: South Sudan Tours
South Sudan, the youngest of the independent African states that recently got its independence from the greater Sudan, requires all guests willing to travel to their beautiful country to have a Visa though some countries are exempted. The South Sudan Visa, like any other country’s visa, is a document that enables visitors from other countries permission to enter the African nation entirely for business, study, or pleasure without any inconveniences. All citizens from any country worldwide are eligible to apply and have a chance of getting the South Sudan Visa. More to this South Sudan Visa, the passport of every traveler must be valid for at least 180 days from the date of arrival in South Sudan.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the process of obtaining a South Sudan visa was mainly manual. This was in a way that travelers willing to apply for a visa to the country had to physically go to any of the South Sudan Embassies in their respective countries. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the change in many systems mainly online to reduce person-to-person interaction to curb the widespread of the disease, South Sudan used this opportunity and too like other countries introduced the digital eVisa to replace the older system of applying in person at an embassy. This has with time enabled visitors who are required to enter the country with a visa to be able to apply online and be able to obtain their eVisa in a downloadable PDF form, from anywhere within 72 hours if all the requirements are fulfilled and the application is successful.
For regular passports, you can only be granted South Sudan visa for only single-entry. This means that the Visa will become invalid as soon as the visitor exits the country. Multiple entry South Sudan visas are only granted to Diplomatic and Official passport holders. They can be able to leave and enter the country again whenever the visa is still valid.
How to obtain a South Sudan eVisa.
With the online system, getting a South Sudan eVisa is somehow a simple procedure. You just need a mobile phone/computer, and a good internet connection, then, you will also have to provide some basic travel, flight, and health-related information. In cases where one had ever obtained a South Sudan Visa, they must also supply this information. For countries that are not exempted, and must obtain a visa before entry, the process starts with a checklist of the requirements. This is not a must-have, but it works as a good reminder that will enable anyone not to forget any vital document that might be a stumbling block in the application of your visa, and hence destroy your travel plans.
The Checklist:
- Your passport:
This passport must be valid for at least 180 days from the date of arrival in South Sudan (Scanned).
- Applicant Photo/passport size
- The required photo should be in passport format. This implies that the photo must show a recent whole-face capture of the applicant with a light background.
- The required size of the passport photo should be 3.5 x 4.5 colored, and the head should take a range of 70-80% of the photo.
- In the photo, the applicant must be looking or staring straight at the camera with a neutral facial expression. This also means no smile and the mouth should be closed too.
- In many cases, try as much as possible to avoid taking a photo wearing uniforms or colors matching the background. This is to avoid the applicant’s photo camouflaging with the background.
- Vaccination
For your health and safety and the safety of the country to be visited, South Sudan, most countries require a Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate. The date of the vaccination should at least be a month before the date you are willing to travel.
- Invitation Letter
An Official Letter from Your Organization/Company and or Invitation letter addressed to the Embassy of South Sudan from your organization/ Company, explaining the purpose of your travel. For business, the invitation letter will be from a registered company in South Sudan or a recommendation letter from a company in the country. While for education, an acceptance letter from a licensed Educational institution within South Sudan. For tourism purposes, proof of accommodation is usually required before a visa is granted. And for diplomatic reasons, a verbal note is a requirement.
- Negative pre-departure PCR COVID-19 test result
- Previous eVisa (if applicable)
Different individuals requesting a South Sudan Visa have different personal situations. With this, the embassy may request you to provide additional documents or information, even after you have submitted all the above-required documents mentioned. So feel free to provide whatever is required of you to increase your chances of obtaining the required visa.
Once you have paid and submitted your application, you can complete our online form in 10 to 15 minutes, and you will receive an email confirming your submission. Simply wait for your email confirming your visa to come within the chosen time range. Within 72 hours, travelers can have their e-visa PDF. Make sure to print off or save this document so you have it ready to present when you arrive in Sudan. In either case, the authorities will validate your electronic visa and print a copy for you to have stamped into your passport.
Upon arrival in Sudan, the eVisa will be presented to the authorities in charge. The officer will then check your travel documents and visa. This can be at least a 5-minute wait. The official will physically stamp the passport with the visa if there are no problems with the application or supporting documentation.
Important information about South Sudan Visa
- It is strongly advised that you carry a copy of your eVisa and any related paperwork in hard copy or as a soft copy on your person in case the system should fail.
- A government visa fee is necessary when submitting an online application; it is non-refundable and varies depending on your nationality.
- Applications that are incomplete or that contain misleading information will be rejected automatically. Likewise, failing to upload all of the required documentation.
- It is illegal to conduct any type of business or employment without the necessary license or pass while within the country.
Visa application fees / Visa Categories.
South Sudanese Nationals: Native citizens / Nationals of South Sudan with Sudanese passports, or from any other exempted countries are not required to acquire a visa before entry into the country. On the other hand, South Sudanese nationals or other nationals traveling from exempted countries, but traveling with different passports and other travel documents will require a visa. They must fulfill all the necessary procedures before being granted entry into the country.
African and Asian: Nationals willing to travel to the Republic of South Sudan with either Asian or African passports will have to apply for a Visa and be able to fulfill all the requirements to be able to gain entry. They will be charged a non-refundable visa application fee of USD 50.
American Nationals and holders of U.S. Green Cards: Visitors traveling with passports as Americans or any other nation that holds a United States green card, traveling to South Sudan, must also fulfill all visa requirements and will be charged a fee of USD 160, non-refundable.
European Nationals: Visitors Traveling to South Sudan with European Passports must also be able to fulfill all visa requirements. They will too be charged a non-refundable fee of USD 100 to be able to have their eVisa processed.
Government officials and All Diplomats: While traveling to South Sudan on a diplomatic, official, or service passport, all diplomats are required to produce an official Note Verbale from their corresponding embassies. All Diplomatic Visas are issued free of charge (Gratis).
The countries exempted from South Sudanese visas, or the countries where passport-holder citizens do not require a visa to enter South Sudan are Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Egypt.
It should be well noted that all visa application fees stipulated above are non-refundable. This also applies even if the application isn’t successful and the visa is not approved or granted. Though in many cases, with the right information and requirements, the visa will be granted so you don’t have to worry about losing your money.
Types of South Sudanese Visas
South Sudan Tourist Visa: This is the type of Visa issued to travelers who are willing to go to South Sudan mainly for sightseeing and tourism. This visa can be offered to anyone to realize their tourism desires and love for adventure within South Sudan. In addition to the requirements listed in the checklist, a round-trip flight ticket is also required. In the case of minors, a birth certificate is required too and a letter of consent from the parents if the minor isn’t traveling with their actual parents. Bank statements, cash, or traveler’s cheque may also be required before granting a tourist visa. This is to prove that you can take care of yourself financially while in the country.
South Sudan Business Visa: Your South Sudan business visa authorizes you to go to South Sudan and remain there for as long as stipulated by your visa’s terms of validity. It enables the holder to carry out business-related activities like going to conferences or meetings, leading or participating in training, carrying out internal audits, setting up equipment, or providing other temporary services for a customer, regional affiliate, or branch office. Proof of accommodation and proof of financial sustainability are some of the added requirements to gain this type of visa.
South Sudan Diplomatic, Official, and Service Visa: The South Sudan Diplomatic, Official, and Service Visa is an entry visa that permits you to take part in intergovernmental meetings, consultations, negotiations, exchange programs, and other events held in South Sudan. Proof of accommodation, flight details, proof of financial stability, and a verbal note are required for this visa to South Sudan.
South Sudan Study Visa: This is applied for and issued to any foreign nationals who visit South Sudan for the purpose of study, training, and research. Students in this category can apply for South Sudan Study Visa and have a high chance of obtaining the visa if they possess all the necessary requirements listed in the checklist.
South Sudan Visiting Family and Friends Visa
Until your visa’s validity expires, you are permitted to enter South Sudan on a Visit Relatives and Friends visa to see family or friends who are there legally.
South Sudan Visa Extension
It should be well noted that if anyone meets and satisfies the requirements and they happen to get the visa, they are given validity according to the purpose of the visit. You are not allowed to stay in the country after the stipulated number of days has expired.
But lucky enough, you can extend your South Sudan visa via application at the South Sudan Ministry of Interior, Directorate of Nationality, Passports, and Immigration. This must be done days before the expiration of your current visa.
