GoSouth Sudan Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

According to the Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of South Sudan on Mutual Exemption of Visa Requirements for Personnel Holding Diplomatic, Official, and Special Passports, Chinese citizens holding valid diplomatic, official, or special ordinary passports are exempt from visa requirements if they stay in South Sudan for no more than 30 days; Chinese citizens holding the above-mentioned passport who intend to stay in South Sudan for more than 30 days or engage in activities such as work, study, settlement, news reporting, etc. that require prior approval from the competent authorities in South Sudan should apply for a visa before entering the country.

Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports who travel to South Sudan for business, investment, civil organization activities, or research or study purposes should apply for visas at the South Sudan Embassy in China in advance. Foreign travelers who have not obtained an electronic visa will face penalties such as fines or deportation. After entering South Sudan, if the stay period exceeds 3 days, you need to register with the Immigration and Aliens Administration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of South Sudan within 3 days with your passport and valid visa.

Customs epidemic prevention and control

Before going to South Sudan, one should undergo a physical examination at the local foreign-related health and quarantine department in China, receive vaccinations against yellow fever and cholera, and obtain corresponding vaccination certificates or records. When departing, it is necessary to bring the "Health Check Certificate" and "International Vaccination Certificate" (commonly known as the "Yellow Book") for airport entry inspection.

Customs staff at the South Airport randomly inspect the luggage carried by ordinary passengers entering and leaving the country. Only after the inspection is confirmed to be correct can it be released, and it is prohibited to carry prohibited items. Please comply with the relevant laws and regulations of South Sudan when entering and leaving the country, and demonstrate a good image of Chinese citizens.

Residency and Naturalization

Foreign citizens in South Sudan must hold a valid passport and visa to register at the Immigration Department of the South Ministry of Interior; Foreign migrant workers in the South are required to apply for a work permit, and the South Ministry of the Interior only issues residence permits to foreign workers who hold a work permit.

Foreign citizens who marry South Sudanese citizens and have lived and worked continuously in South Sudan for at least 5 years may apply to acquire South Sudanese citizenship; Foreign citizens who have lived and worked continuously in South Sudan for at least 10 years may apply to acquire South Sudanese citizenship.

The risk level of South Sudan is orange (high risk), as follows:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds Chinese citizens to travel to South Sudan with caution in the near future. Local personnel and institutions have closely monitored the development of the situation, maintained high vigilance, strengthened security precautions and emergency preparations, and ensured personal and property safety. In case of emergency, please report to the police in a timely manner and contact the Chinese embassy or consulate in the local area.

public security

South Sudan has experienced years of war, with small-scale conflicts occurring in various regions. Civilian firearms are rampant, and the public security situation is generally poor. Road ambushes and heinous crimes occur frequently. In July 2016, there was a large-scale armed conflict in the capital Juba, and employees of Chinese funded enterprises and overseas Chinese were temporarily evacuated in the south. After the signing of the "Agreement to Resolve the Conflict in South Sudan and Revitalize the Country" in 2018, the overall stability of the country was achieved. However, in February 2024, the crude oil pipeline passing through Sudan in South Sudan malfunctioned, causing a serious impact on the South's economy and significantly deteriorating social security in Juba city; In November, intense gunfights erupted in the center of Juba, affecting the factories of Chinese funded enterprises in the south. In January 2025, in retaliation for the killing of South Sudanese citizens in Sudan, demonstrations erupted in many parts of South Sudan, with protesters smashing, looting, and burning Sudanese owned shops, resulting in significant casualties. Personnel coming to the south should strengthen safety precautions, remain vigilant, enhance self-protection awareness, avoid going out at night, and avoid going to areas with high security issues and conflicts.

natural disaster

The climate in South Sudan is divided into dry season (approximately November to April of the following year) and rainy season (approximately May to October). During the dry season, precipitation sharply decreases, leading to frequent locust plagues and fires; During the rainy season, there is a large amount of precipitation, which makes the Nile River coastal areas prone to floods and disasters such as landslides and mudslides.

Between 1972 and 2011, South Sudan experienced a total of 67 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.0 or above on the Richter scale, including 17 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.0 or above. The state with the highest number of earthquakes is Central Equatoria, with a total of 42, accounting for 63% of the total number of earthquakes. In 1990, an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale occurred in Equatorial State. In early July 2016, a low-intensity earthquake occurred in Central Equatoria State, with significant tremors felt. At 5:35 pm on October 31, 2023, a 5.0-magnitude earthquake occurred 62 kilometers southeast of the capital Juba, and at 8:55 pm on November 13, a 4.9-magnitude earthquake occurred on the border between South Sudan and Uganda, with significant tremors felt in Juba.

FDA

South Sudan is located in the tropics, where there are many tropical infectious diseases, mainly malaria, cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery, etc. Other infectious diseases include schistosomiasis, sleeping sickness, brucellosis, schistosomiasis, Ebola, elephantiasis, and leprosy. The public health conditions in South Sudan are extremely poor, with a shortage of medical care and medication. The maternal and infant mortality rates are among the highest in the world. It is recommended that people coming to the south bring their own medication for treating malaria, repelling mosquitoes and insects, as well as personal medication and mosquito nets. After entering the country, if you feel unwell, such as fever, muscle and joint pain, you should go to the local hospital for examination and treatment as soon as possible. Malaria and typhoid fever are highly prevalent in southern China. If they cannot be diagnosed in a timely manner, it is recommended to adopt exclusion method and take self prepared antimalarial drugs first. During the southern rainy season, there are many mosquitoes and flies, so special attention should be paid to mosquito and epidemic prevention measures. It is recommended to regularly organize the spraying of mosquito killing agents in places where conditions permit.

South Sudan experiences high temperatures throughout the year, and various pathogenic microorganisms multiply rapidly. Food is prone to spoilage and can easily lead to food poisoning. Foods that are prone to spoilage and deterioration are mainly cold meat, cold dishes, leftover rice, and meat products, which should be stored at low temperatures and consumed as soon as possible. Cross contamination between raw and cooked foods, failure to refrigerate raw materials in a timely manner, and incomplete cooking of ingredients during the cooking process are important causes of intestinal diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever. Please pay attention to cooking hygiene.

Urgent Help

The emergency hotline for South Sudan is 112.

In case of emergency situations such as infringement, fire or traffic accidents that require seeking help from the police, you can call the South Sudan emergency hotline, or report to nearby patrol police, jurisdictional police stations, and security points. The patrol police or duty police will notify relevant departments to handle the situation on site. When a traffic accident occurs and waiting for the police to arrive, maintain a calm and friendly attitude, and do not engage in direct conflicts with locals.

When encountering accidents and requiring assistance, you can contact the Chinese Embassy in South Sudan. The embassy's consular assistance hotline is 00211-912386015, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Global Consular Protection and Service Emergency Hotline (24-hour) is 0086-10-12308 or 0086-10-65612308.

air traffic

Juba, the capital of South Sudan, is a hub for South Airlines, providing domestic and international civil aviation, cargo, and commercial charter services. At present, there are international flights from Juba to Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, Dubai, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Kampala, the capital of Uganda, Cairo, the capital of Egypt, and Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. Major cities and towns in China have simple airports that operate domestic air routes.

The main international routes of Juba International Airport are as follows:

1. Juba Nairobi route

2. Juba Addis Ababa route

3. Juba Khartoum route

4. Juba Dubai route

5. Juba Kampala route

6. Juba Cairo route

7. Juba Kigali route

land transport

There are long-distance buses between the states of South Sudan, but the vehicles are outdated and the roads are mostly dirt roads with poor road conditions. During the rainy season, many roads are impassable. The cross-border road from Juba to Nimule (a border city near Uganda) is currently the main channel for the import and export of goods in the south.

water communication

South Sudan is a landlocked country, and the Nile River is the only waterway within its borders. Inland waterway transportation can travel north from Juba and directly reach Khartoum, Sudan. Currently unable to navigate.

Urban transportation

There is no public transportation system in the capital of South Sudan, Juba, and only various private vans are used to carry passengers back and forth. The condition of the vehicles is poor and accidents occur frequently. Local people often choose personal operated motorcycles known as "Boda Boda" as their mode of transportation within the city.

major city

Juba: the capital of South Sudan, the location of the central government, and also the capital of Central Equatoria State. The population is about 500000, with an average altitude of 457 meters. It is 1198 kilometers away from the Sudanese capital Khartoum and about 180 kilometers away from the Ugandan border. The Nile River flows through the east side of the city.

Wau: The second largest city in South Sudan, the capital of Western Ghazal State, located on the banks of the Jur River, with a population of approximately 140000. Wau is a distribution center for agricultural and livestock products in the north, south, and northwest regions, and an important transportation hub.

Commodity prices

South Sudan is rich in natural resources, including oil, iron, copper, zinc, chromium, tungsten, mica, gold, silver, and other minerals. It also produces Arabic gum, honey, mangoes, papaya, bananas, and more. South Sudan is a landlocked country with a highly single economic structure and backward development level. Its main consumer goods are completely dependent on imports, and the prices of building materials and daily necessities are relatively high. Although South China produces crude oil, it does not have refineries, and both gasoline and diesel need to be imported. There are many supermarkets opened by Chinese in Juba, the capital.

The economic situation in South Sudan is sluggish, and the currency (South Sudanese Pound, SSP) continues to depreciate, with the exchange rate against the US dollar dropping from 1:3 in the early days of the country's establishment in 2011 to 1:5000 in January 2025.

Insurance Medical

The medical conditions and capabilities of hospitals in various southern regions are very limited. Juba, the capital city, now mainly has public Juba teaching hospitals, ASPEN hospitals operated by foreigners, Ugandan hospitals, as well as Chinese hospitals such as Yiliantang, Friendship Hospital and Peace Hospital. There is a Wawu Hospital established by overseas Chinese in Wawu City, the capital of Western Ghajar River State. The Chinese aid medical team to South Sudan also provides medical services to Chinese citizens, stationed at Juba Teaching Hospital, with contact information at 00211-915651485.

Customs taboos

South Sudan has diverse religions, with Christianity and traditional fetishism being the main ones, and 18% of the population believes in Islam. The lives of ordinary people still maintain the primitive clan society or tribal traditions, and their residences are mostly pointed thatched huts.

Be careful and cautious when taking photos in South Sudan. Sensitive locations such as Juba International Airport, Nile Bridge, and Jalan (former leader of South Sudan) Square are prohibited from taking photos. There are many sensitive areas in Juba city, so try to avoid taking photos in public places as much as possible.

Communications Power

The time zone in South Sudan is UTC+2 (Central African Time)

South Sudan country code: 00211

There is no fixed telephone in South Sudan, and communication can only be through mobile phones or the Internet. At present, the international roaming service of China Mobile SIM cards can be used in South Sudan, while China Unicom and China Telecom SIM cards cannot be used in South Sudan. There are local network companies such as ZAIN and MTN that provide network services, but the internet speed is slow and the cost is expensive.

There is no municipal water supply in Juba, and some areas have unstable municipal power supply. Each unit needs to bring its own generator to generate electricity, dig wells to pump water, or use water tankers to collect river water for sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection before use. The local voltage is 220V, and the electrical plug system is a British three-phase plug. Local Chinese funded units can install domestic standard power sockets and directly use domestic electrical appliances.

When dialing a local number in the south, there is no need to dial the 00211 area code, you need to add 0 before the 9-digit phone number.

contact information

Chinese Embassy in South Sudan

Address: Independence Road, Juba City, adjacent to Juba Beijing Hotel

Phone: 00211-912386015

Email: consulate_juba@mfa.gov.cn

website: http://ss.chineseembassy.org

Embassy of South Sudan in China

Address: No. 60, Zone F, Jingrun Water Garden, No. 18 Xiaoyun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing

Phone: 010-64649921/010-64649925

Fax: 010-64649928