South Sudan Entry Requirements

South Sudan Entry Requirements

Visa, immigration, and customs information

Important Notice Entry requirements can change at any time. Always verify current requirements with official government sources before traveling.
Step off the plane at Juba International Airport and the red-earthed apron greets you with a blast of dry desert air laced with jet-fuel and the steady drone of turboprops. Inside, travelers shuffle toward dim immigration booths beneath lazy ceiling fans. Officers stamp passports with a dull, rhythmic thud while flickering fluorescent tubes throw long shadows across yellowed walls. Whether you rode the early-morning Kenya Airways flight from Nairobi or the UN-chartered shuttle from Entebbe, the drill is identical: valid passport, approved visa or e-visa, proof of yellow-fever vaccination, onward or return tickets. The pace is deliberate, not rushed. Expect to hand over crisp US-dollar cash for the visa-on-arrival fee, feel the warm paper of the entry card pressed into your palm, and catch the sharp mix of Kiswahili and Juba Arabic as officers steer you toward the final luggage belt.

Visa Requirements

Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.

Visa-Free Entry
90 days

Citizens of the East African Community may enter without a visa

Includes
Kenya Uganda Tanzania Rwanda Burundi Democratic Republic of the Congo

Entry granted at any land border or airport. Passport must be valid for at least six months

Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA/eVisa)
30 days single-entry or 90 days multiple-entry

Nationals of African Union member states not listed above, plus selected others, may obtain an e-visa online

Includes
South Africa Nigeria Ghana Egypt Ethiopia Sudan Zimbabwe Zambia Mozambique
How to Apply: Apply at the South Sudan eVisa portal. Upload passport bio-page, yellow-fever certificate, and hotel booking or invitation letter. Processing takes 2, 5 working days.
Cost: USD 100 for single-entry, USD 200 for multiple-entry

Print the approval letter. It must be presented on arrival

Visa Required
30 days single-entry

Passport holders from Europe, North America, Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East must obtain a visa in advance from a South Sudan embassy or on arrival

How to Apply: Apply in person or by courier at the nearest embassy (Kampala, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Washington DC, London). On-arrival visas are issued at Juba International Airport only.

Fee is payable in crisp USD cash. Credit cards are not accepted

Arrival Process

Whether you arrive on the UNMISS flight from Khartoum or the RwandAir service from Kigali, the sequence at Juba International Airport follows the same rhythm: disembark onto the shimmering tarmac, queue in the open-air corridor, and enter the low-slung terminal where ceiling fans push warm air seasoned with dust and fresh popcorn from the kiosk next to baggage claim.

1
Health screening
After deplaning, an officer in khaki fatigues checks yellow-fever certificates while the scent of disinfectant lingers in the cramped booth. Temperature guns beep softly against foreheads.
2
Immigration counter
Hand over passport, e-visa approval or visa sticker, and arrival card. Feel the soft thud of the entry stamp and the faint ink smell on your fingertips as the officer waves you forward.
3
Baggage claim
Luggage trundles out on a single rubber belt that squeaks rhythmically. Porters in blue overalls call out destinations while the heat of the concrete floor seeps through shoe soles.
4
Customs inspection
Select green channel if you have nothing to declare. Officers in plain clothes occasionally ask to inspect bags, their flashlights glinting off brass belt buckles.

Documents to Have Ready

Passport
Must be valid for at least six months and contain at least two blank pages
Visa or e-Visa approval letter
Original and a printed copy carried separately
Yellow-fever vaccination certificate
Issued at least ten days before travel. Digital certificates are accepted
Onward or return ticket
Printed or electronic itinerary shown to airline and immigration

Tips for Smooth Entry

Bring exact change in US dollars for visa fees. Notes must be post-2013 and unmarked
Pack a pen to fill out the arrival card while waiting in line. Forms are scarce at the counter
Label luggage clearly; single-letter airport codes are often misread, causing delays

Customs & Duty-Free

South Sudan customs regulations focus on preventing illicit arms, counterfeit currency, and undeclared electronics from entering or leaving the country. Officers at Juba airport use handheld scanners that emit a low-pitched whirr while the scent of paraffin from nearby generators drifts through the open doorways.

Alcohol
1 litre of spirits or 2 litres of wine
Must be over 18; bottles will be opened and sniffed at the counter
Tobacco
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g loose tobacco
Commercial quantities attract duty
Currency
USD 10,000 or equivalent must be declared on arrival
Declaration forms available just after immigration
Gifts/Goods
USD 500 value per adult for personal items
New electronics and jewellery may be questioned

Prohibited Items

  • Narcotics and pornography, immediate arrest
  • Military uniforms or camouflage clothing, confiscation
  • Counterfeit currency, seizure and prosecution

Restricted Items

  • Satellite phones, require Ministry of Information permit
  • Drones, require Civil Aviation Authority approval

Health Requirements

Entry into South Sudan requires proof of yellow-fever vaccination. Additional inoculations and malaria prophylaxis are strongly advised given the year-round humid heat that nurtures mosquitoes.

Required Vaccinations

  • Yellow fever

Recommended Vaccinations

  • Hepatitis An and B
  • Typhoid
  • Meningococcal meningitis
  • Polio booster
  • Cholera

Health Insurance

Travel health insurance covering emergency evacuation and hospital treatment in Nairobi or Kampala is essential. Local facilities are basic and payment is required upfront.

Current Health Requirements: As of May 2024, COVID-19 tests and certificates are no longer required. But airlines may still request a negative PCR taken within 72 hours.

Protect Your Trip with Travel Insurance

Comprehensive coverage for medical emergencies, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and 24/7 emergency assistance. Many countries recommend or require travel insurance.

Get a Quote from World Nomads
Read our complete South Sudan Travel Insurance Guide →

Important Contacts

Essential resources for your trip.

Embassy/Consulate
Find your country's embassy or consulate
Check your government's travel advisory website
Immigration Authority
South Sudan Directorate of Nationality, Passports and Immigration, eVisa portal
For visa applications and official information
Emergency
Emergency services number
Police 777, ambulance 777, fire 777

Special Situations

Additional requirements for specific circumstances.

Traveling with Children

Carry unabridged birth certificates. If only one parent travels, bring a notarized consent letter from the absent parent plus copies of their passports

Traveling with Pets

Obtain an import permit from the Ministry of Animal Resources at least 30 days in advance. Pets need a rabies vaccination certificate issued within 30 days and a veterinary health certificate

Extended Stays

Apply for a residence permit at the Directorate of Immigration in Juba before your 30-day visa expires. Bring passport photos, police clearance, and proof of employment or business registration

Know What to Pack

Climate-specific clothing, travel documents, electronics, and gear, with shopping links for every item.

View South Sudan Packing List →