Visa for Sudan

[RooFlyer]

When planning for a Done4 for next year, I was excited to realise that Sudan was classified as 'Europe/Middle East' as far as oneWorld was concerned and that I could get there and back using QR or RJ.

Sudan - more pyramids than Egypt

Australians need a visa for Sudan; I looked at the DFAT website which told me that there was a Sudanese Embassy in Canberra, with the Ambassador details updated as recently as September. On closer examination, this appears not to be the case - no phone number to be found and the Google Street view of the address shows just an ordinary house.

There seems to be conflicting advice on the web as to whether Australians can get a visa-on-arrival, or whether we need to get a visa from Jakarta. It appears that organised tours can swing a visa on arrival, but I'll be an individual traveller.

Question is - does any AFFer (Australian citizen) have experience in getting a visa for Sudan?

I've sent an e-mail to a well regarded tour operator in Sudan, but no reply yet.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

TIMATIC has the following (I plugged in a three day stay - dunno at which point it starts to make a difference):

Sudan - Destination Visa

Visa required.

Visa issuance:


Passengers with an "Entry Permit" issued by the Sudanese Ministry of Interior can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum. stay of 60 days. They can apply to extend their stay.

Nationals of Australia who can prove that they are of Sudanese origin from the father?s side can obtain a visa on arrival. Proof is a national ID number, a Sudanese ID card, an old Sudanese passport or a birth certificate.

Passengers married to a national of Sudan with a copy of their marriage certificate can obtain a visa on arrival.​

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I notice from another thread you are also planning a trip to Israel?

If so, also note the TIMATIC advcice as follows:

Important:
Admission refused to holders of passports or travel documents containing a visa or entry stamp issued by Israel.​

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks I had completely forgotten about TIMATIC; must check it for a bunch of things planned for next year. The Sudan entry permit thing I think is what tour operators can get and allows visa on arrival for their customers. I'm hoping a local tour operator might be able to get one for me.

Israel no longer stamp passports for regular entries#, so that's not a concern (but I'm hoping they won't object to my Iran visa (they won't).

# They don't stamp on land entries either, but the exit stamp from the other country (eg Jordan) is a give-away and will see you bounced from Iran, say.

 

[Cynicor]

Unrelated, but what benefit does the classification of Sudan confer with a DONE4? Is it that it keeps it to 4 rather than a DONE5 because you stay out of Africa? Or does it change purchase price etc?

 

[RooFlyer]

Yes; I want to visit Sudan and can do it on a planned Done4 next year rather than going to a Done5 (if they counted it as Africa); AND, the QR service DOH-KTR-DOH is a two class bird First and Economy. There is an exception to the usual DoneX rule that if no J cabin, you ride in the next class down. On this and similar services, you go in F and also therefore get to go to the F lounge in DOH.

...but all this rides on the damn visa question

 

[Cynicor]

Interesting, thanks. The rule for the USA was recently changed to a downgrade, not upgrade. Did that not change for Qatar and other flights? (Just checking in case you weren't aware).

 

[RooFlyer]

Am aware (regretfully), but there's a specific exception for QR F in the Middle East in the T&Cs

NOTE: For flights where First or Business Class is not offered or available, passengers may travel
in a lower class, in the applicable booking code for that lower class.
...

EXCEPTION:
For services within the Middle East, where no Business Class is offered, Business Class passengers
may book and travel in A Class on QR, subject to availability. This provision does not apply on any
flight where Business Class exists but is unavailable for booking.

 

[Cynicor]

That's great to know, thank you. Are you aware of a list of such flights? Very interesting exception...

Am aware (regretfully), but there's a specific exception for QR F in the Middle East in the T&Cs

 

[RooFlyer]

No, sorry, but I'm told by my TA that there are 'a number' of such QR flights in the region.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That's great to know, thank you. Are you aware of a list of such flights? Very interesting exception...

It's basically 'short haul', so IIRC flights like Cairo are on the list. Some destinations might not be visa friendly.

 

[RooFlyer]

Most now a bit longer, due to the Saudi etc fly ban. DOH-KRT now the long way round, abt 5.5 hrs