GoSuriname Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

The agreement between the Chinese government and the Surinamese government on mutual exemption of visas for holders of diplomatic, official, and service ordinary passports and ordinary passport holders has come into effect on May 1, 2021. After the agreement comes into effect, citizens of both countries who hold valid passports and enter, exit or transit through the other country for no more than 30 days from the date of entry are exempt from visa application. If you wish to stay in Suriname 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 of the country, you should use the website before entering the country（ https://suriname.vfsevisa.com/suriname/online/home/index ）Advance processing of relevant visas.

Chinese travelers who intend to enter the country without a visa on their personal passport must pay the entry fee in advance through the website（ https://suriname.vfsevisa.com/suriname/online/home/entry-fee ）Print and bring payment receipts for inspection upon entry by the Soviet side. When arranging your itinerary, please promptly inquire with the relevant departments in Suriname about the latest policies.

Customs epidemic prevention and control

Suriname prohibits the entry of fish, meat products, coffee, rice, and fruits and vegetables, and only allows a small amount of food for personal consumption. If bringing plants into the country, a permit from the relevant authorities in Suriname must be provided. Personal items such as cameras, mobile phones, and computers are not subject to taxation. If the total amount of gifts purchased by each passenger exceeds $500, they must declare to the customs department.

Each passenger can carry 4 liters of wine, 1 liter of Baijiu or 8 liters of beer, one cigarette (200 cigarettes) or 20 cigars or 200 cigars or 500 grams of tobacco duty-free. If each person carries more than $10000 in cash, they must declare it to the South China Sea Customs, otherwise they will be fined or confiscated.

Suriname is an area at risk of yellow fever transmission, and the World Health Organization has listed it as a "recommended country for yellow fever vaccination". Chinese citizens should undergo necessary medical examinations and vaccinations before traveling to Suriname, and carry the International Travel Health Check Certificate and the International Certificate of Vaccination or Preventive Measures (commonly known as the Yellow Book) with them.

Residency and Naturalization

If you need to stay in Suriname for more than 90 days, you must apply for and obtain a short-term residence permit and visa through the Embassy of Suriname in China at least 3 months before going to Suriname. After arriving in the Soviet Union, applicants can apply for a residence permit with a maximum duration of no more than 2 years. Individuals who have legally resided in Suriname for more than 5 years are eligible to apply for permanent residency.

Suriname does not recognize dual citizenship. Born in Suriname, one of the parents was a Surinamese citizen at the time of birth, and the individual acquired Surinamese citizenship. Foreign citizens applying for Surinamese citizenship mainly include the following situations:

1、 Foreigners who have obtained the right of permanent residence in Suriname.

2、 A foreigner married to a citizen of Suriname.

3、 Born in Suriname, both parents were foreigners at the time of birth and obtained the right of residence in Suriname. I can apply for naturalization when I am 18 years old.

The risk level of Suriname is yellow (medium risk).                            

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds Chinese citizens in Suriname to closely monitor the local security situation, be vigilant, strengthen prevention, and pay attention to 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.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and overseas embassies and consulates will continue to closely monitor changes in the overseas security situation, dynamically adjust relevant risk assessments, and release and update corresponding security reminders in real time on platforms such as the China Consular Service Network. Please continue to pay attention.

public security

Since 2016, due to the impact of the economic situation, the social security situation in Suriname has deteriorated, with frequent cases of theft and robbery. Personnel coming to Jiangsu should raise their awareness of safety precautions, carefully choose their residence and office locations, and take safety precautions. If necessary, they can hire security guards from local security companies. Please do not keep a large amount of cash at home or in the office. You can carry a small amount of cash with you when going out for emergencies. In case of accidents, please report to the police in a timely manner. We should raise our awareness of prevention and pay attention to our own safety. It is recommended to keep important information such as passports and certificates on our own.

natural disaster

Suriname has a tropical rainforest climate with an annual rainfall of over 2000 millimeters and an average annual temperature of 23-27 degrees Celsius. There are four seasons in a year: February to April is the dry season, April to August is the rainy season, August to November is the dry season, and November to February of the following year is the dry season. Suriname is located outside the hurricane zone and has no major natural disasters.

FDA

Suriname is a tropical country with a humid and hot climate, making it easy for items and food to spoil and mold. Pay attention to food hygiene in daily life and do not eat spoiled or expired food. Pay attention to preventing mosquito bites, beware of diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, Zika, and chikungunya fever, and closely monitor the embassy website and local government's reminders.

Urgent Help

Chinese citizens in Suriname should seek help from local police in a timely manner in case of emergency, and if necessary, contact the Chinese Embassy in Suriname.

Bandit police phone number:+ 597431417+ 597433911+ 5978885302.

Alarm hotline:+597115 or+597471111.

Fire alarm hotline:+ 597473333.

Emergency phone number:+ 597112.

Chinese Embassy in Suriname:+5978605165

air traffic

Suriname International Airport is Paramaribo International Airport, located approximately 60 kilometers south of the city center of Paramaribo. Normally, it takes 1 hour to travel from the city center to the airport. The main means of transportation to and from the airport are by taxi or self driving, and there are no civil aviation shuttle buses available. There are no direct flights between China and the Soviet Union, and transfers must be made through the Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, and other destinations.

land transport

Suriname does not have railways, and major cities rely mainly on small buses and taxis for transportation. Suriname adopts a left-hand traffic system for transportation. Due to narrow roads, numerous intersections, and few traffic signals, accidents may occur. Please familiarize yourself with and follow traffic rules in advance to drive safely.

water communication

Most of the inland tourism transportation in Suriname is small wooden boats, which are relatively simple and can accommodate more than 10 people. There are no cruise ship tourism projects.

Urban transportation

The main modes of transportation in the city are small buses and taxis, and there is no subway. The condition of small buses is generally poor, with no route markings, crowded passengers, and not very safe. Most tourists drive or take taxis when they go out. There are few dedicated bicycle or pedestrian walkways in the city, so walking on the road requires extra caution.

major city

1、 Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname, is a political, economic, cultural center and major trading port with a population of approximately 260000.

2、 In daily terms, it is the second largest city in Suriname, adjacent to Guyana, and the main producer of rice in Suriname, with a population of about 50000.

Commodity prices

Suriname is rich in natural resources, with a forest coverage rate of over 90%. Its aluminum reserves rank ninth in the world, and its oil and gold reserves are considerable. It also has abundant hydropower resources. The national economy mainly relies on mining, processing and manufacturing, and agriculture. The main crops in Suriname are rice, vegetables, and tropical fruits.

Suriname's main food, daily necessities, and electrical products rely on imports, and the overall price level is higher than that of China. In supermarkets run by local overseas Chinese, it is convenient to buy Chinese made clothing, food, daily necessities, etc.

The currency of Suriname is the Surinamese dollar, and the midpoint exchange rate between the US dollar and the Surinamese dollar is 1:37.35 (as of November 2, 2023). Staying in hotels, dining or shopping in Suriname does not require payment of consumption tax.

Insurance Medical

The city of Paramaribo in Suriname has a wide range of medical facilities, from large formal hospitals to small private clinics, but the medical conditions are poor and the overall medical level is backward. It can treat common diseases, but many critically ill patients need to be transferred to the Netherlands or the United States for treatment. The management of Suriname's healthcare system is relatively standardized, with hospitals and pharmacies separated. Doctors prescribe medication for patients, and patients use the prescription to buy medicine at pharmacies. All drugs are imported, and their prices are relatively expensive. Suriname has medical insurance business, and some qualified insurance companies carry out medical insurance business. Those who purchase medical insurance can basically cover the medical expenses in Suriname. Suriname has no compulsory provision that foreigners must purchase medical insurance.

Customs taboos

Suriname is a multi-ethnic, multi religious (including Catholicism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, etc.), multicultural country. Different races, cultures, and customs are mutually tolerant and respectful. In terms of dressing, I usually dress casually and wear formal attire for formal occasions. In terms of diet, we should respect the food culture of various ethnic groups, avoid making noise in restaurants, and most restaurants prohibit smoking. In terms of etiquette, similar to other European and American countries, women's age is generally not asked. When friends meet, they shake hands and greet each other. The most commonly used titles are "Mr.", "Mrs.", "Mrs.", or "Mrs.", and it is customary to add administrative or academic titles before addressing each other.

Communications Power

The international area code for Suriname is 00597. To make a call to Suriname from within the country, you should dial 00597+landline number or 00597+mobile number. Suriname's mobile communication is mainly operated by the National Telecommunications Company, which has nationwide network communication coverage, including 4G network signal coverage in major cities including the capital. Chinese citizens can apply for local mobile phone cards, and the network standard is compatible with mainstream brand mobile phones; It is also possible to activate the international roaming function of domestic mobile phone cards, but the internet speed is slower.

The voltage in Suriname is 110V, 60Hz, and American standard sockets are usually used.

Common contact phone numbers