South Sudan
Phone Code
+211
Capital
Juba
Population
11 Million
Native Name
South Sudan
Region
Africa
Middle Africa
Timezone
East Africa Time
UTC+03:00
On This Page
South Sudan is the world's youngest country, having declared independence from Sudan in July 2011. It covers roughly 644,000 km² in the upper Nile basin, bordered by Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic, with a population of around 11 million and Juba, on the White Nile, as its capital. All foreign nationals require a visa or entry permit, normally arranged in advance through a South Sudanese embassy or a registered local operator, and travel calls for careful planning given the current security situation.
Visa Requirements for South Sudan
All foreign nationals require a visa or entry permit to visit South Sudan. The standard route is application in advance through a South Sudanese embassy or consulate, with the visa typically issued within 1 to 3 weeks. Common requirements: a valid passport with at least six months validity beyond the planned date of entry and at least two blank pages, a passport-sized photograph, the application form, an invitation letter from a South Sudanese host or hotel booking, a yellow fever vaccination certificate (mandatory) and proof of sufficient funds. Visa fees vary by nationality, typically USD 100 to 160 for tourist visas. Visa on arrival is restricted to travellers carrying pre-approval issued by the Directorate of Nationality, Passports and Immigration (DNPI) in Juba, normally arranged by a registered local tour operator or sponsoring NGO. Business visitors and humanitarian workers typically need additional endorsements from sponsoring organisations. Travel permits are required for movement to most regions outside Juba (Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Upper Nile, Western Equatoria, Western Bahr el Ghazal and others) — these are normally arranged together with the visa through the local operator or sponsoring organisation. The South Sudanese pound (SSP) is the federal currency but the country operates as a substantially cash economy: bring clean, recent US dollar bills (older or marked notes are often refused at exchange offices) and a contingency cash float for the duration of the trip. Juba International Airport (JUB) is the principal international gateway. Before any planning, the home country's foreign ministry advisory is the authoritative reference for the current security situation.
Common Visa Types
Tourist Visa
For short-term leisure, cultural visits and family stays — typically used by independent adventure travellers visiting the Sudd wetlands, Boma and Bandingilo national parks or the Mundari cattle camps near Terekeka.
Business Visa
For meetings, commercial negotiations, oil-and-gas sector visits, and exploratory visits by investors or contractors with a South Sudanese partner.
NGO / Humanitarian Visa
For aid workers affiliated with registered NGOs, UN agencies (UNMISS, UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF, OCHA, FAO) and humanitarian partners (ICRC, MSF, Caritas, Don Bosco, Norwegian Refugee Council, World Vision and others).
Transit Visa
For travellers passing through Juba International Airport who must leave the airport between connecting flights.
Important Travel Information
South Sudan is one of the rarest travel destinations on earth for visitors willing to plan carefully with an experienced local operator. Its signature draw is scale and authenticity: the Sudd, one of the largest freshwater wetlands in the world, where the White Nile slows into a maze of channels and papyrus stands sheltering the shoebill stork and the Nile lechwe; the white-eared kob migration across Boma and Bandingilo national parks, among the largest land-mammal migrations anywhere and still largely unknown outside specialist wildlife circles; and the Mundari cattle camps near Terekeka, where pastoralists and their long-horned ankole-watusi herds gather each dawn and dusk in a ritual of ash and dung-smoke that has become an international photography reference. Beyond nature and pastoral life, South Sudan's ethnic diversity — the Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk, Toposa, Bari, Murle, Latuko and Mundari among more than sixty communities — gives the country a cultural depth matched by few others in the region, while Juba itself offers a compact introduction through its churches, riverside corniche and long-standing Italian Salesian presence. Independent travel is at present highly restricted; reputable specialist operators based in Juba, Nairobi, Addis Ababa and Kampala continue to monitor conditions and arrange programmes when circumstances allow.
Discover South Sudan
The Sudd defines South Sudan's geography more than any other feature — the White Nile loses its banks here and spreads into a maze of channels, lagoons and papyrus stands that can double in area between dry and wet season. Ramsar-listed as a wetland of international importance, it shelters a breeding population of the shoebill stork, one of the most sought-after birds by specialist birders anywhere in Africa, alongside the endemic Nile lechwe, the tiang antelope and several hundred other bird species. Boat access from Juba or nearby river towns is the only practical way in, and the experience rewards patience — long, quiet stretches of water and reed punctuated by wildlife most visitors will never have seen in this concentration.
Ways to Experience This Destination
The Sudd is the defining geographical and ecological feature of South Sudan — the vast wetland of the White Nile that covers roughly 30,000 km² in dry season and expands to over 130,000 km² in flood, making it one of the largest freshwater wetlands in the world. Listed under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance, the Sudd is home to a breeding population of the shoebill stork, the Nile lechwe (an endemic antelope), the tiang and over 400 bird species. Access is challenging — the wetland is essentially impassable without a boat or light aircraft — and is normally arranged by specialist operators from Juba.
The Boma-Jonglei landscape east of the Sudd contains the white-eared kob migration — over a million kob, tiang and Mongalla gazelle moving seasonally between Boma National Park (on the Ethiopian border) and Bandingilo National Park (between Juba and Boma), one of the largest land mammal migrations on earth and estimated by some surveys to surpass the wildebeest migration of the Serengeti. Boma National Park (22,800 km²) is one of the largest national parks in Africa; Bandingilo (10,000 km²) is the second-largest. Access is principally by light aircraft from Juba in the dry season (December to April).
The Mundari cattle camps near Terekeka, north of Juba on the White Nile, are one of the most photographed pastoralist cultures in East Africa. At dawn and dusk, the camps fill with smoke from cattle-dung fires that the Mundari believe protect their long-horned ankole-watusi cattle from insects, and the cattle and their herders are dusted with white ash for the same reason. The visit is normally arranged by a Juba-based operator with a local Mundari guide, and respect for the camp's daily rhythm and the cattle is essential. The Mundari speak a Nilotic language and maintain a deeply cattle-centred social organisation.
Juba, the capital, sits on the west bank of the White Nile and is the entry point for almost all South Sudan travel. The city has a small but interesting selection of cultural sites: the John Garang Memorial honouring the SPLM/A leader and architect of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the All Saints Anglican Cathedral, the St. Theresa Catholic Cathedral, and the Italian-founded Salesian Don Bosco school and clinic network that has shaped much of the country's educational institutional life since the 1980s. The Juba Bridge over the White Nile and the riverside cafés along the corniche are the city's main public space.
South Sudan has over 60 indigenous languages and one of the most ethnically diverse cultural landscapes in Africa. The Dinka and Nuer are the two largest groups, both Nilotic cattle-keeping peoples with long traditions of scarification, song-poetry and dance. The Shilluk along the upper White Nile maintain a centuries-old kingdom centred on the Reth (king) at Fashoda. The Toposa in the east, near the Kenyan border, are skilled metalworkers; the Bari around Juba have a strong choral tradition; the Murle and Latuko maintain distinct artistic traditions. Visits to these communities require respectful arrangement through community-recognised guides — the rewards in cultural depth are exceptional.
South Sudanese cuisine combines East African staples with the local culinary traditions: ugali or kisra (sorghum or maize porridge / flatbread) anchors most meals, with grilled river fish (Nile perch, tilapia) from the White Nile, lamb and goat in stews, and a strong tea-and-coffee tradition often served with cardamom and ginger. The Italian Salesian Don Bosco network, present in South Sudan since the 1980s, has shaped much of the institutional fabric of the country alongside the Catholic Diocese of Juba — and the Italian influence is also present in Juba's small Italian-coffee scene and the long-standing presence of Italian humanitarian NGOs (CCM, COOPI, AVSI, Sant'Egidio).
Money & Currency
South Sudanese Pound (SSP)
Currency code: SSP
Practical Money Tips
USD Is the Practical Currency in South Sudan
The South Sudanese pound (SSP) is the official currency but the US dollar is the dominant currency for significant transactions — hotels, NGO operations, and larger purchases are often USD-denominated. Bring USD in clean, preferably post-2009 series notes. Exchange on arrival at Equity Bank or KCB branches in Juba.
ATMs Exist in Juba — Unreliable Outside the Capital
Equity Bank and KCB (Kenya Commercial Bank) have branches with ATMs in Juba. ATM availability is unreliable and machines frequently run out of cash. Outside Juba, banking infrastructure is minimal. Always have sufficient cash before leaving the capital.
Card Acceptance Is Extremely Limited
Very few establishments in Juba accept international cards. Some hotels catering to diplomatic and NGO staff may have limited card facilities. Do not rely on card payments anywhere in South Sudan.
Cash-Only Country — Carry Both USD and SSP
South Sudan is essentially a cash economy. Carry USD for larger transactions and sufficient SSP for local markets, transport, and smaller purchases. SSP inflation has historically been severe — exchange only what you need for immediate use.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
Embassies in South Sudan
These foreign embassies and consulates are based here. Choose a mission to open its in-depth guide and contact details.
Key origin countries
Yes. All foreign nationals require a visa or entry permit, normally obtained in advance through a South Sudanese embassy or consulate. Processing typically takes one to three weeks, and applicants need a passport valid at least six months beyond arrival with two blank pages, a photograph, an invitation letter or hotel booking, and a mandatory yellow fever certificate.
Visa on arrival is restricted to travellers carrying pre-approval from the Directorate of Nationality, Passports and Immigration in Juba, normally arranged by a registered local tour operator or sponsoring organisation rather than obtained independently at the airport.
Yes. Travel permits are required for movement to most regions outside the capital, including Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Upper Nile and Western Bahr el Ghazal. These are normally arranged together with the visa through a local tour operator or sponsoring organisation.
Visaja keeps this page's contact details and visa guidance under continuous review — still, requirements can change at short notice, so confirm the essentials with the mission or the official government portal before you travel.