El Obeid

Passport validity requirements 

To enter Sudan, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive.  

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.  

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen. 

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

Visa requirements 

You must have a visa to enter Sudan.  

Applying for a visa 

You can apply for a visa through the Sudanese Embassy in the UK, or through the Sudanese embassy in the country you’re travelling from.  

Exit visas

If you enter Sudan on a single-entry visa, you’ll need an exit visa to leave the country, though this is not always enforced. You can get more information on exit visas from Port Sudan Airport Immigration. You may need to show proof of your sponsor and pay the exit visa fee.  

Travel permits

You will not be allowed to leave the Red Sea State without a travel permit. You need to apply for that once in country and pay a fee. The requirements for each state are different. You will have to pay different amounts and go through different processes depending on your destination.  

Previous travel to Israel 

If your passport has an Israeli visa, entry or exit stamp, you will not be allowed to enter Sudan. 

Vaccine requirements  

To enter Sudan, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination. 

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Sudan guide. 

Registering with the authorities 

You must register with the Aliens Department at the Ministry of Interior within 3 days of your arrival in Sudan. You will need 2 passport size photos and to pay a fee.  

If you do not register within 3 days of arrival, you may be fined. Some larger hotels will do this for you. Ask when you check-in. 

Children and young people 

As well as a visa, children aged 17 and under must have their father’s consent to enter and exit Sudan. Children travelling without their father need a letter giving consent for them to enter and exit Sudan, though this is not always enforced.  

You must get the letter stamped at the Sudanese Embassy in the UK before travel. 

If the father is absent, mothers or guardians must get a court order which shows they have sole custodial rights for the children.  

If the parents are divorced, you’ll need to show divorce documents. 

If the father has died, you’ll need to show the death certificate.  

Contact the Sudanese Embassy in the UK for more information. 

Customs rules 

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Sudan. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. 

Customs rules 

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Sudan. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. 

Emergency services in Sudan 

Telephone: 999 (ambulance, fire, police) 

Emergency services in Sudan have been severely impacted by the conflict and are often unresponsive.  

Contact your travel provider and insurer 

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do. 

Refunds and changes to travel 

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first. 

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including: 

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider 
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim 

Support from FCDO 

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including: 

• finding English-speaking lawyers and translators and interpreters in Sudan
• dealing with a death in Sudan 
• being arrested or imprisoned in Sudan 
• getting help if you’re a victim of crime 
• what to do if you’re in hospital 
• if you’re affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack 

Contacting FCDO 

Help abroad  

See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency. 

Help in the UK  

You can call  FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.  

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)  

Find out about call charges

Get travel advice updates  

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.  

Follow FCDO: 

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

Areas where FCDO advises against travel

FCDO advises against all travel to Sudan because of the ongoing military conflict in Khartoum and other parts of the country. This does not include the Hala’ib Triangle and the Bir Tawil Trapezoid where FCDO advises against all but essential travel.

There have been several ceasefires, but these have been regularly broken.  

Monitor travel advice and other media reports for the latest information. 

Find out more about safety and security in Sudan. 

Get help in Sudan 

The British Embassy in Khartoum is closed due to the conflict. There are no British consular staff in Sudan. Our ability to provide consular support is severely limited and we cannot provide in-person support inside Sudan. 

If you’re a British national in Sudan, you can call our 24/7 telephone helpline: +44 1908 516 666. Select option 2 for consular services for British nationals. 

Leaving Sudan 

The UK government is no longer evacuating people from Sudan.  

FCDO cannot offer advice on the safety of travelling to any potential departure point. Consider carefully whether you want to take any of the available options. 

Use your own judgement to move towards a departure point if and when you judge it is safe to do so. 

The UK government’s ability to facilitate onward travel from countries in the region is limited and you’ll be expected to cover the cost of visas, accommodation, insurance and onward travel yourself.   

Any travel options you pursue are taken at your own risk.  

FCDO cannot help non-British dependants of British nationals. 

Travel insurance  

If you choose to travel against FCDO advice, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. 

About FCDO travel advice 

FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. 

Get travel advice updates

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. 

Follow FCDO:   

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

• Travel Aware on Instagram

Laws and cultural differences  

Personal ID 

It is a legal requirement to carry photographic ID, such as a passport, with you at all times. 

Dress code 

Non-Muslim women do not have to wear a veil or cover their heads. Men and women should dress modestly and respect local customs and sensitivities. 

Ramadan  

Sudan is an Islamic country. Respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions. Make sure your actions do not cause offence, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas.

Alcohol and drug laws 

Non-Muslims are allowed to drink alcohol in Sudan, but not in the presence of Muslims. However, you may still be arrested for drinking alcohol regardless of the circumstances. 

There are severe penalties for drug trafficking. 

Using cameras in secure areas 

Due to the conflict, it is not advisable to take photographs in secure areas in Sudan. Do not take photographs or use a mobile phone camera close to: 

• government buildings 
• military installations 
• public utilities, including petrol stations 
• other sensitive areas, such as bridges and airports  

Plain-clothed public security officers operate in these areas. 

LGBT+ travellers 

Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Sudan and not tolerated in Sudanese society. This includes inviting guests into hotel rooms.   

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers. 

Relationships outside marriage 

It’s illegal to have extramarital relations and there are severe penalties. It’s illegal to live together, or to share the same hotel room, with someone of the opposite sex if you’re not married or closely related. 

Guests in hotel rooms 

It’s illegal to invite guests into your hotel room. Business meetings should take place in hotel lobbies or meeting rooms, not hotel rooms. Tourist police patrol the hotels, and British nationals have reported problems with Sudanese authorities about this. 

Technical equipment 

You might need a licence to use some technical equipment in Sudan, including: 

• satellite phones 
• listening or recording devices 
• radio transmitters 
• powerful cameras or binoculars 

Contact the Sudanese Embassy in the UK before travelling for more information. 

Money 

It’s difficult to use non-Sudanese credit or debit cards, and most banks and ATM machines will not let you withdraw cash. Bring US dollars with you to Sudan.  

You may be able to exchange US dollars dated 2006 onwards (older ones will not be exchanged), but this will be difficult due to the current conflict.  

British pounds are rarely exchanged. Only change money through banks or official exchange bureaus.