How to Apply for a Sudan Visa in Milwaukee

The African nation of Sudan is a hidden gem, with huge deserts, hospitable people, and twice as many pyramids than Egypt.  However, few tourists from the Milwaukee area visit the country: continuing armed conflict with neighboring countries, domestic unrest, and terrorism have kept Sudan off most travelers’ itineraries in recent years.

Located in Northeast Africa, Sudan borders the Red Sea, the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, and South Sudan.  The White Nile and the Blue Nile merge at the capital city of Khartoum to create the River Nile, the world’s longest river.

The area known as Sudan has been inhabited for several millennia.  From 780 B.C. through 350 A.D., it made up part of the Kingdom of Kush (which also included part of Egypt).  Over time, Egypt took political control of Sudan and introduced cultural influences that remain today.  By 1896, the United Kingdom and Egypt were exercising joint control of Sudan until the new Republic of the Sudan achieved independence in 1956.  Arab Muslims dominated the northern part of Sudan, while African Christians and other groups dominated the south.  Sudan was the largest country in Africa until South Sudan seceded in 2011.  Today Sudan covers more than 720,000 square miles, making it the third largest African nation.  Official languages are Arabic and English.

Sudan ranks among the poorest countries in the world and one of the most fragile states.  More than 97% of pre-2011 Sudan’s revenues came from oil fields located in the present South Sudan, which were lost when the countries separated.  Political and military conflicts have further hampered Sudan’s economic prospects. “Sudan’s domestic market currently offers little opportunity for growth,” the U.S. Department of Commerce stated recently (https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/sudan-market-overview). “Unemployment is approximately 40 percent and low household incomes leave most Sudanese struggling to afford basic commodities, including food and fuel.”

However, the country does offer some opportunities for U.S. businesses, the Commerce Department continued.  Agriculture and mineral commodities are the main economic drivers. “Sudan’s vast amount of arable land and geographic proximity to the Persian Gulf economies position it to be a potential ‘breadbasket’ for the region,” although logistical challenges remain. “Extractive industries offer differing opportunities and challenges, with gold a key export,” the department continued.  New investments from Milwaukee-based companies could improve the country’s infrastructure, thereby boosting its output of minerals, oil and natural gas.  

At the same time, Sudan offers little formal tourism infrastructure.  Accommodations are limited and few hotels offer online reservations, so many travelers stay with families or at small guest houses.  Tourism contributed about 2.4% to Sudan’s GDP, a percentage that decreased as violence increased in the 2020s.

Khartoum, the largest city in Sudan, is also the economic and administrative capital of the country.  Khartoum and the second largest city, neighboring Omdurman, combined create the dominant urban center in Sudan.  Founded in 1821 by Egyptian planners, Khartoum was selected as the national capital after Sudan’s 1956 independence.  Museums include the National Museum of Sudan (largest in the country, with two excavated Egyptian temples) and the Republican Palace Museum.  Other popular tourist sites include the National Botanical Garden and the Great Mosque.  Khartoum’s largest open-air market is Souq al Arabi, while Afra Mall offers Western-style shopping with a supermarket, retail stores, coffee shops, cinemas, and a bowling alley.  Omdurman is known for its Twirling Dervishes shows and Souq Omdurman, considered the single largest market in Africa.

Sudan’s natural and historic treasures will likely by the main draw for Milwaukee area visitors.  The country contains three UNESCO World Heritage sites: the archaeological sites of the Island of Meroe, between the Nile and Atbara rivers; Gebel Barkal and the sites of the Napatan Region, with ancient tombs and pyramids; and the Red Sea’s Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay.  Leading national parks include Dinder (a preserve for 27 large mammals such as cheetahs, antelopes, and buffalo), Radom (giraffes and elephants), and the swampy Sudd Wetlands.  Suakin Archipelago National Park is a marine protected reserve with colorful tropical fish and coral gardens that draw snorkelers and scuba divers.  Diving is also a popular draw at Port Sudan near the Suez Canal.

Sudan also has more than 200 pyramids – more than any other country in the world – plus many other sites that capture African history.  Meroe, the one-time center of the Napata Kingdom, features numerous Kush pyramids and various ruins that reflect the Nubian cities that once lined the River Nile.  Naqa is home to such ancient treasures as the Temple of Amun, the Roman Kiosk, and Apedemek’s worship house.  Suakin is known for gilded mosques and religious structures carved from coral.  Kerma features a massive adobe house of worship, burial complexes, and statues of Nubian deities.

Sudan Visa Requirements

Citizens of the United States and other countries are required to obtain a visa to visit Sudan.  The main requirements for entry are holding a valid passport and a current visa.  Also, proof of yellow fever vaccination (i.e., WHO yellow card) is required for those arriving from a country with high risk of yellow fever transmission.  For all visitors, yellow fever and cholera vaccinations are highly recommended but not mandatory.  A negative HIV/AIDS test is required for those seeking a work or resident visa.

The country is also under a “do not travel” advisory from the U.S. State Department due to ongoing armed conflict, civil unrest, and terrorism.  The U.S. Embassy in Khartoum closed in 2023 amidst escalating violence.  For more information about the advisory and general passport requirements, visit https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Sudan.html.

Sudan offers several types of visas, including visit/tourist, tourist/family, and business/work/humanitarian (https://sudanembassy.org/entry-visa/).  The primary requirement for a visa is that your passport be valid for at least six months from your date of entry and contain at least two blank pages.  If your passport does not meet these requirements, you will need to renew your travel document before applying.

The Republic of the Sudan does not currently offer an electronic visa (or e-Visa) option, nor the ability to obtain a visa upon arrival.  Visitors from the Milwaukee area will need to contact Sudan’s embassy in Washington, D.C., in person or apply by mail.  The republic also has a consulate in New York City, but it does not issue visas.

Applying for a Visa through the Embassy

U.S. citizens and those from other countries residing in the Milwaukee area can obtain visas from the Sudan Embassy in Washington, D.C. by using forms found at https://www.sudanembassy.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/updated_visa_form-1.pdf.  Print off an application form for each member of your party, fill out the various fields, and sign it.

You can appear in person at the Washington, D.C. embassy, mail your application package to the embassy, or use a courier service such as Visa Supply to handle your documents.  Requirements for the tourist visa are:

  • Passport valid for at least six months beyond the date you would enter Sudan.
  • Signed paper application for each person, printed from the link above.
  • One passport-style photo attached to the application form.
  • Document identifying a Sudanese sponsor; a letter from a Sudanese hotel confirming your reservation; or a letter from a travel agency in Sudan detailing your trip.
  • Health Insurance. Although not required for the visa, we recommend purchasing international medical insurance to cover accidents, injuries, and illnesses while traveling in Sudan.  International medical insurance from GeoBlue can be purchased from Visa Supply online through the following link: ⇒ Order Now.

Requirements for the business/humanitarian visa also include a valid passport and photograph.  For a business visitor, you must include a letter from the organization sponsoring your trip which details purpose and length of trip, financial information, and references.  Those who plan to do humanitarian work must first obtain a certificate from Sudan’s Humanitarian Aid Commission.

Fees for either type of visa are $154 for each visitor (including children).  The fee is payable by U.S. Postal Service money order, company check, or cashier’s check, payable to the Embassy of Sudan.  Walk-in customers may also pay in cash.  However, credit and debit cards and personal checks are not accepted.  The visa is good for up to six months after you enter Sudan.

You can apply for a visa in person at the Washington, D.C. embassy during their walk-in hours, (10 a.m. through 2 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays).  If you either return to pick up the visa in person when it is ready (usually 7-10 business days), or provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope from Express Mail, Priority Mail, FedEx, and UPS.  The embassy will use this envelope to mail your documents and visa.

If you decide to mail your application and supporting documentation, you will need to provide a return envelope with a tracking number using Express Mail, Priority Mail, FedEx, or UPS.  The turnaround-time is also 7-10 business days plus mailing time.  Mail your application, passport, and other documents to:

Embassy of the Republic of Sudan
2210 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20008

 

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

Visa Supply can help you complete your application for any of these visas and answer your questions about visiting Sudan.  We also provide courier services to deliver your application and pick up your visa from the embassy in Washington, D.C.  Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the government of Sudan.  Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans. 

If you live in Milwaukee or anywhere in the state of Wisconsin and have difficulty applying for a Sudan visa, or require assistance with any part of the visa process, please give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company.  We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Sudan visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents. 

We provide the following Sudan visa services for our customers in Milwaukee:

  • Sudan Tourist Visa
  • Sudan Business Visa
  • Sudan Work Visa
  • Sudan Diplomatic / Official Visa
  • Sudan Hotel Accommodations