Sudan - 3 month visa

[5 Eyes]

I've just been on to the Sudanese embassy in London and they told me that I need to apply for a pre-approval before I apply for a visa to enter Sudan. They said this takes 9 weeks. They said then that they will issue a visa which will be valid for 3 months with a max 30 day stay.
I have heard before that you only get a 30 day visa for Sudan.
Does anyone know the real story on the ground.
I will be travelling from Cape Town to Cairo and am planning to do it in 35 days ( from 1st July) so I cant really afford to be waiting for a week for a visa when i get there

[nickt]

We were in Sudan in January 2007. We required the pre-approval letter before the visa was issued. The visa was for 30 days. I'm pretty sure that can be extended easily.

"My man" on the ground was excellent. He can help with the visa letter and also the logistics when you're on the ground.

His details: Midhat Mahir: midhat.sudan AT gmail.com. Tell him "hi" from Nick & Kristy!

He has contacts in Aswan, which you'll need for the ferry crossing of Lake Nasser, and his brother is in Wadi Halfa and can meet you off the ferry. Midhat himself is based in Khartoum.

Truly great service, and top man!

The Thorntree BBS has some positive things to say about him too:
Search Thorn Tree Forum - Lonely Planet

HTH,
Nick.

[nickt]

Sorry, just noticed you're going South - North. That probably makes things easier as the guys in Wadi Halfa can sort the ferry and car transport out directly.

Nick.

[hook]

Hi Nickt and 5, I'm in Addis now, going to the Sudanese embassy tomorrow to begin the visa process- I hope things go smoothly. I'll email Mr Mahir as I get closer to Khartoum- if I get into Sudan. 5, good luck with the visa and your trip. Nickt, hope to see you back in CO someday! H.

[5 Eyes]

HI Nickt

that is fantastic info and a great help.... the Johnsons should get a peace prize for setting this site up
thanks a lot and if you evedr need any help in Ireland or Slovakia or Israel give me a shout
( dont ask )

[5 Eyes]

Originally Posted by hook

Hi Nickt and 5, I'm in Addis now, going to the Sudanese embassy tomorrow to begin the visa process- I hope things go smoothly. I'll email Mr Mahir as I get closer to Khartoum- if I get into Sudan. 5, good luck with the visa and your trip. Nickt, hope to see you back in CO someday! H.

Hook, let me know how you get on as this is very relevant to us.. I am going to fill up the pre-approval letter tomorrow and send it off .
We have 16 weeks left before we hit the road

like I told nickt if you ever need any help in any of those countries give me a shout

[hook]

Hi 5, just went to the Sudan embassy today (here in Addis, Ethiopia). They were very friendy. For me, as a US citizen, I'm required to have a letter of introduction from my embassy (done in minutes at the US embassy in Addis- if there is a better passport to travel with I'd be very surprised. Kudos to the US Consular services around the world!). Sudan said they will issue me a transit visa in 10 days or less. We'll see if that's true!

[nickt]

Hi Dave,
Let me know when you're back in CO - looks like that could be a while! I actually have an F650 Dakar too - though it's at my mums house in the UK. Looks like a great trip you're having.

Ride safe,
Nick.

[5 Eyes]

Originally Posted by hook

Hi 5, just went to the Sudan embassy today (here in Addis, Ethiopia). They were very friendy. For me, as a US citizen, I'm required to have a letter of introduction from my embassy (done in minutes at the US embassy in Addis- if there is a better passport to travel with I'd be very surprised. Kudos to the US Consular services around the world!). Sudan said they will issue me a transit visa in 10 days or less. We'll see if that's true!

Hook

are you telling me there is a better passport than a charming green Irish one

stay in touch and let me know how you get on. I filled up my pre-approval froms today to try to get the Sudanese visa before I go.
Then i discovered a potential problem.. I have some israeli visit stamps on my passport and although the embassy said there is no problem with them, I dont want to arrive at a border crossing in Sudan or Egypt and find a problem, so I'm going to get a clean passport next week then try again.

Stay in touch

[mikeb8man]

Hey 5 eyes,

I know its been a while but i was wondering how obtaining you sudan visa in london went?
Was it a massive hassle?
Any info would be great
thanks
mike

[5 Eyes]

Mike

I got a clean passport and sent off the pre-approval letters to them a few weeks ago.
Haven't heard anything back yet , but I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything

[mikeb8man]

Hey 5 eyes,

Cheers for that-ill look out for your info about the sudan visa.
So am i right in saying that if i want to start the whole process to obtain the 30 day visa i need to phone the embassy in london, get the pre-approval lettes sent to me and then fill those in and send those off along with my passport...or do they not need my passport at that point...:confused1:

its just that im off to the usa for work this summer and trying to figure out how long the whole process might take (guess as long as a piece of string..right? ) and how long they will need my passport for...also any ideas on fees?
thanks alot for all your help..
mike

[hook]

Obtaining a Sudanese visa in Addis: (I moved this post here from sub-Saharan Africa. I was issued a transit visa valid for 14 days from the date of issue- PLUS 14 days to transit Sudan. They issued my visa in less than 24 hours).


Obtaining a visa for Sudan has become more difficult over the past few months. I just obtained mine today. I met a couple from Switzerland that were refused visas for Sudan, and just heard about a couple from Austria that were turned away this month. Both couples are heading to Djibouti to try and find a ferry to Port Said. Don't bother trying for a Sudanese visa in Nairobi, they don't issue them there. Cairo is said to be the easiest place to obtain a visa. I made a total of 6 trips to the embassy of Sudan here in Addis, I met a Korean fellow who needed 7 visits. Don't bother going to the embassy without the following:
1) A letter of introduction from your country's embassy. It must include your name and date of birth and CANNOT be a standard form letter without your name- ask how I know that!
2) A photocopy of your passport (page with your picture).
3) A photocopy of your passport (page showing your visa for Egypt).
4) 2 passport photos.
5) Plenty of patience.
You cannot obtain an appliction until your letter of intro has been examined and signed by an official (in 1 of 2 offices on the left side of the embassy). Expect to wait from 1-2 hours at each step, there are 3 or 4 steps. After obtaining an application, fill it out. It reads right to left, like Arabic. Filling the form out from left to right will have you putting the wrong info in the boxes. Now it's time to put the docs together:
Page 1) Application.
Page 2) Letter of intoduction.
Page 3) Photocopy of passport (with your picture).
Page 4) Photocopy of passport (with Egypt visa).
Now put 1 of the passport photos on the top left corner of the documents. Put the other photo on the back of the docs, opposite the first pic, and staple the photos/docs together (when you turn the docs over you should be able to see your picture). There is a stapler available near the visa section. If you need a photocopy made, exit the embassy, cross the street and turn left, there is a shop some 100 meters up the road. The cost of the visa ranges from $50-150usd, depending on your nationality. If you follow these instructions, you'll save weeks of running around Addis- and should have your visa within 24 hours. I met a couple who were told they didn't need an Egyptian visa to obtain their transit visa (valid for 7 days). The Korean fellow I met was told he had to have one- as was I. I would suggest you obtain one- you'll have to anyway. After giving your docs to the visa section, you can (hopefully) collect your passport/visa the next day after 1500- unless it is Saturday! The embassy is open Monday/Wednesday/Friday, 0800-1230. Though when I went there last friday morning I was told the staff were at a Mosque and wouldn't be working that day. Also, on Mondays there are often 100's of workers trying to obtain visas. Wednesday is your best bet. Good luck! Hook.

[Stephano]

For those of you heading that way, I've just received these photos from family in Sudan (taken on 29th April) of a haboob over the Nile. Enjoy.
Stephan

[discoenduro]

Stephano, amazing pictures of the sandstorm over the Nile. Holy cow!

5 (green?) Eyes, yep, waiting on your next post on your Sudan visa application. A precis of the process would be very useful as I'm also on short schedule to get from London to Sudan before the Sudanese visa expires.

Adios,
Disco