Sudan
Visa
We applied for visas at the consulate in Dubai. The process differs from the Netherlands: the application must be made by someone in Sudan. Once the visa application has been approved in Sudan the visa is issued in a day in Dubai. Hotels in Sudan usually referred to agencies for making the application; many travel agencies set exorbitant demands, such as providing a guide for the entire stay. We found one travel agency that has helped us tremendously. It was willing to make the application unconditionally and even without costs.
The travel agency is:
Raidan Travel & Tours
Omdurman
Contact:
Ahmed Abdelhawab
raidantravel@gmail.com
Tel +249,120,820,009
Mobile +249 91 230 1928
In Dubai We had to bring passports in the morning, ready for collection in the afternoon. The fee was AED 375 per visa. In addition the Ministry of Foreign Affairs charges € 65 per visum. This amount had been prepaid by the travel agency. A visa is valid for two months from the day of delivery.
Arrival
Suakin, from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (ferry)
Entry took 5 hours. Own entry without problems, car entry was problematic.
Practical points:
Departure
Exit to Ethiopia
No issues, except finding the right buildings. Took 1 hour and 33 SDG.
Carnet
Sudan requires a CdP.
Diesel
Diesel readily available, price € 0:33 per liter.
Insurance
Covered by TourInsure. Policy was never asked for.
Money
ATMs do not work for foreigners and you cannot pay anywhere with a credit card. The rate at exchange offices is about one third better than in banks. You must negotiate about the exchange rate and shopping around makes sense.
Other documents
Communication
Restrictions in internet access.
We applied for visas at the consulate in Dubai. The process differs from the Netherlands: the application must be made by someone in Sudan. Once the visa application has been approved in Sudan the visa is issued in a day in Dubai. Hotels in Sudan usually referred to agencies for making the application; many travel agencies set exorbitant demands, such as providing a guide for the entire stay. We found one travel agency that has helped us tremendously. It was willing to make the application unconditionally and even without costs.
The travel agency is:
Raidan Travel & Tours
Omdurman
Contact:
Ahmed Abdelhawab
raidantravel@gmail.com
Tel +249,120,820,009
Mobile +249 91 230 1928
In Dubai We had to bring passports in the morning, ready for collection in the afternoon. The fee was AED 375 per visa. In addition the Ministry of Foreign Affairs charges € 65 per visum. This amount had been prepaid by the travel agency. A visa is valid for two months from the day of delivery.
Arrival
Suakin, from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (ferry)
Entry took 5 hours. Own entry without problems, car entry was problematic.
Practical points:
- You have to leave CdP and and car registration documents in the car when you hand over the keys in Jeddah. You get the papers back when you leave the ferry for a fee of SAR 150. Only Saudi money is accepted, so make sure you have Rials;
- Exchange Sudanese pounds as soon as you are in the terminal building. Your passport is registered immediately for a fee, if you cannot pay you have to go to the police separately for registration;
- In Suakin cars are normally only allowed for transit, despite the CdP. I had to go twice to a bigwig for signature with a handwritten request supported by staff of the ferry company before the carnet was stamped. Because the visa is valid for two months, this is not seen as transit. The sequence of events was quite exciting because the cars of other overlanders we know had to be driven from Port Sudan to Ethiopia under escort, as they could not arrange the import. Handling of the Carnet costed SDG 151, the mediation to get this resolved USD 200;
- We learned later that this is less of an issue and the land borders from Egypt and Ethiopia, because the customs officers there are more used to overlanders.
Departure
Exit to Ethiopia
No issues, except finding the right buildings. Took 1 hour and 33 SDG.
Carnet
Sudan requires a CdP.
Diesel
Diesel readily available, price € 0:33 per liter.
Insurance
Covered by TourInsure. Policy was never asked for.
Money
ATMs do not work for foreigners and you cannot pay anywhere with a credit card. The rate at exchange offices is about one third better than in banks. You must negotiate about the exchange rate and shopping around makes sense.
Other documents
- Passport Registration Jan: done at immigration office in Port Sudan (19,5917N, 37,2185E). It took about an hour and SDG 220;
- Passport Registration Margriet: done at Khartoum airport (15,5924N, 32,5490E). Took fifteen minutes and 236 SDG;
- According to the immigration office eventually no road permit for our intended route was needed;
- A photo permit was obtained at the Security Office in Port Sudan (19,6146N, 37,2254E). We could pick it up after two hours for free.
Communication
Restrictions in internet access.
