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Last Updated:
November 13, 2007 11:28
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Still Valid: November 15, 2007 23:37 EST |
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1. RECENT UPDATES The level of Travel Warning in this report has not changed. A minor editorial change has been made to Section 2. See our Current Issues page for more information on flooding in Sudan, mostly in the east of the country and in parts of the capital, Khartoum. BACK TO TOP 2. WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Sudan
There is an ongoing security threat to Westerners and Western interests in A rebel group that has been operating in the Regional Warning
OFFICIAL WARNING: Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada advises against all travel to West Darfur. We strongly recommend all Canadians to leave Regional Warning
OFFICIAL WARNING: Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada advises against all travel to The area to the south of Although the border between You are also advised against all travel to Malakal, Regional Warning
OFFICIAL WARNING: Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada advises against non-essential travel to southern OFFICIAL REGISTRATION RECOMMENDATION: We offer a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that we can contact and assist you in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home. Registration can be done on-line or by contacting a Canadian government office abroad. For more information, see our FAQs on Registration of Canadians Abroad. BACK TO TOP 3. SAFETY AND SECURITY It is the responsibility of individual travellers to make informed travel choices. The Government of Canada takes very seriously the safety and security of Canadians abroad and provides credible and timely advice in its Country Travel Reports. Situations vary from country to country, and there may be constraints on government resources, which can limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide assistance, particularly in countries where the potential for violent conflict or political instability are high. In the event of a crisis situation that requires evacuation, the Government of Canada’s policy is to provide safe transportation to the closest safe location. Canada will assist Canadians in leaving a country as a last resort, when all means of commercial or personal transportation have been exhausted. This service is provided on a cost-recovery basis. Onward travel is at the individual’s personal expense. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. The purpose of this Travel Report is to provide Canadians with up-to-date information to enable them to make well-informed decisions. For national security reasons, individuals from diplomatic missions or international organizations could be subject to random body searches and searches of personal effects by Sudanese authorities. In recent months, a number of anti-Western and anti-UN demonstrations took place in Canadians in the oil development region (including While the incidence of crime in Demonstrations can occur in Banditry is increasing throughout western Landmines may be laid in rural areas in many parts of the country. According to the UN, at least 11,000 kilometres of road are suspected to be mined or blocked by landmines. The The only regular surface access to Commercial overland expeditions occasionally traverse All foreign citizens must register with the Aliens' Registration Office, Ministry of the Interior (located west of the Presidential Palace) within three days of arrival in Tourist facilities are limited. The locations frequented by tourists are the archeological sites of BACK TO TOP 4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS The following information on entry and exit requirements has been confirmed with the Sudanese authorities and was valid on March 28, 2007. However, entry and exit requirements are subject to change. It is the sole prerogative of each country to determine who is allowed to enter. All countries have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. To obtain information on specific entry requirements, contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the country or countries to be visited. Violations of entry and exit requirements may result in serious penalties. Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Office of Protocol provides contact details for the Embassy of the Republic of Sudan, where you can obtain further information on entry and exit requirements. All Canadians travelling to Sudan, including southern Sudan (which is not advised), must be in possession of a visa and a valid canadian passport. The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the expected date of return. Allow at least one month between application and the intended date of travel. Visas are not granted automatically to prospective travellers. Any traveller to Sudan with a stamp from Israel in his/her passport will automatically be denied entry. Canadian citizens of Sudanese origin are strongly advised to use only their Canadian passport when travelling in and out of Sudan. Use of Sudanese documents could result in problems in departing the country. Tourist Visa: Required Business Visa: Required Student Visa: Required Transit Visa: Required Travellers should arrive at Khartoum's international airport at least two hours, but preferably three hours, before departure. Departure formalities are complicated and there is no board to indicate departure and arrival times. There is a departure tax of US$20, payable only in U.S. dollars, and change is often not available. Currency exchange facilities cannot be relied upon to be open. A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (CCC) is not a travel document. Airlines are known to refuse boarding to dual national Canadian passengers returning to Canada, travelling on a passport that requires a visa to enter Canada, regardless of whether the passenger presents a valid CCC as proof of Canadian citizenship. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document for the purpose of international travel. It proves your admissibility to enter Canada. Selling, altering, or allowing another person to use your passport is a criminal offence. It could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment if convicted. It could also lead to the denial of future passport services. Special and diplomatic passport holders should verify visa requirements for this and other countries, as they may differ from those that apply to regular passport holders. Any adult travelling with children may be required to show evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights. Foreign and Canadian authorities may also require evidence that the adult has the consent of the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court to travel with the children. Some countries may not permit children to enter or, in some cases, leave the country without proper documentation such as a letter of consent or a court order. Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, many countries do not recognize them. Attempting to enter as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials. For more information, contact the foreign government office accredited to Canada. BACK TO TOP 5. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CONTACTS You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information at the following address: Sudan - KHARTOUM, Embassy of Canada Address: 29 Africa Road, Block 56, Khartoum 1 Postal Address: P.O. Box 10503, Khartoum, 1 Tel.: 249 183 56 36 70 / 249 183 56 36 73 Fax: 249 183 56 36 71 E-Mail: khrtm@international.gc.ca The Embassy of Canada in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, has consular responsibility for Sudan. The address is as follows: Ethiopia - ADDIS ABABA, Embassy of Canada Address: Old Airport Area, Nefas Silk Lafto Sub City, Kebele 04, House No.122, Addis Ababa Postal Address: P.O. Box 1130, Addis Ababa, Tel.: 251 (0) 11-371-3022 Fax: 251 (0) 11-371-3033 E-Mail: addis@international.gc.ca Internet: http://www.ethiopia.gc.ca For emergency assistance after hours, you may call the Embassy of Canada in Khartoum and follow the instructions. You may also call the Department in Ottawa at 613-996-8885. It is not possible to call collect from Sudan to Canada. BACK TO TOP 6. LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS You are subject to local laws. A serious violation may lead to a jail or death sentence. The sentence will be served in local prisons. Canadians arrested or detained have the right to contact the responsible Canadian government office (embassy, high commission, etc.) listed in Section 5 above. Arresting officials have a responsibility to assist you in doing so. Canadian consular officials can provide a list of local lawyers upon request. The procedures required in legal proceedings or police investigations may be different from the procedures in force in the Canadian legal system. Canadians wishing to undertake such proceedings can expect to face long delays and additional efforts in order to resolve their case. The Government of Canada cannot intervene in ongoing legal proceedings in other countries, unless requested to do so by local authorities. Such requests are rare. By Western standards, Sudan is a traditional, conservative society. Islamic practices and beliefs are closely adhered to in the country's customs, laws, and regulations. Women should dress conservatively (i.e. no short skirts, bare arms, or low necklines); neither men nor women should wear shorts in public and they should be extremely discreet when swimming. Public displays of affection between members of the opposite sex are frowned upon; overtly homosexual behaviour will render an individual liable to immediate arrest, possibly imprisonment, even the death penalty. Religious proselytization is also frowned upon and may lead to arrest. Islamic Sharia Law is applied in the states of Northern Sudan and in Khartoum. It is prohibited to import or consume alcohol (even in private) in these areas and to import magazines or books of a sexually explicit nature. Bags are routinely searched upon arrival and departure at the Khartoum airport. A permit for photography is required. Even with a permit, it is strictly prohibited to photograph airports, military areas, bridges, drainage stations, broadcast stations, public utilities, slum areas, or beggars. It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving. The work week is Saturday to Thursday; some offices may also be closed on Saturday. Working hours are typically 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. BACK TO TOP 7. LOCAL TRAVEL AND CURRENCY Road conditions are poor. Many roads are sand tracks. A four-wheel-drive vehicle is required for overland travel except on the Khartoum-Kassala-Port Sudan, Khartoum-Atbara, and Khartoum-Obeid highways. Only experienced and fully equipped travellers should undertake desert travel; basic equipment should include a shovel, metal ramps for heavy sand, a Global Positioning System (GPS), and spare fuel and water supplies. Roadblocks are common. Travellers should have their identity and vehicle documents readily available. Unpredictable local driving habits, pedestrians, and roaming animals pose risks. Taxis are available in urban centres but are generally old and uncomfortable. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended. Public transportation is limited outside of major urban areas. A weekly train service operates between Wadi Halfa and Khartoum. Trains are dilapidated, but service is punctual. Only top-of-the-line buses should be used; most other buses are irregularly scheduled, poorly maintained and very badly driven. Fatal accidents involving buses are routine. Sudan Airways runs air services between most cities, mostly on aged Antonovs; however, aircraft may not meet international standards and there are serious maintenance concerns even on the more modern aircraft. A Sudan Airways Boeing 737 crashed in July 2003, killing 115 passengers. There have been crashes involving Sudan Airways and other carriers operating within Sudan, involving loss of life. A number of air transport options are now available for internal travel, but their safety records vary. Canadians should be extremely cautious and carefully evaluate implications for their security and safety before deciding to undertake internal air travel. The currency is the Sudanese Pound (SDG). The Sudanese Pound is non-convertible outside the country and its export is prohibited. Visitors should carry sufficient funds in U.S. dollars, euros or pounds sterling to cover their expenses for the duration of their stay and should assume that they will have to pay for all international flights booked in Sudan in U.S. dollars, euros, or pounds sterling cash. Transferring U.S. or Canadian dollars to Sudan is impossible. Credit cards are no longer accepted in Sudan. Hotel bills must be paid in cash. Traveller's cheques are not accepted. There are no ABMs. You should bring U.S. dollars, euros, or pounds sterling. BACK TO TOP 8. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE The rainy season reaches its peak in July and August. Some roads may become impassable during this period due to flooding. Travellers should keep informed of regional weather forecasts and plan accordingly. BACK TO TOP 9. TRAVEL MEDICINE PROGRAM The Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) report on disease outbreaks that occur throughout the world. For the latest travel health advisories and related information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Travel Medicine Program Web site. The Public Health Agency of Canada continues to closely monitor and report on occurrences of avian influenza A (H5N1), or "bird flu", in humans and in birds. Further information on avian influenza A (H5N1) and recommendations for travellers can be found on the Public Health Agency of Canada's Travel Medicine Web site as well as on the World Health Organization's Web site. For more information, see our Current Issues on Avian Influenza. The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or physician six to eight weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and/or preventive medication and advise you on precautions to avoid disease. Travellers are reminded to ensure that their routine (childhood) immunizations (e.g., tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and measles) are up to date. Standards of medical care may differ from those in Canada. Treatment may be expensive, and payment in advance may be required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance prior to departure. Prescription medications should be kept in the original container and packed in carry-on luggage. The Public Health Agency of Canada also recommends that travellers who become sick or feel unwell on their return to Canada seek a medical assessment with their personal physician. Travellers should inform their physician that they have been travelling or living outside of Canada. BACK TO TOP 10. ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION Medical facilities are well below Western standards (e.g. it is not advisable to have surgery). Emergency medical evacuation can also be difficult; air ambulances are usually not available at on short notice. You should ensure your health plan coverage includes Sudan; many policies do not. BACK TO TOP 11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Returning to Canada Traveller's Checklist Health and Travel Insurance: Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs. Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage. Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell your travel agent, a friend or relative, and/or travelling companion how to contact your insurer. Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you return to Canada. Always submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions received abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes. See Canada's Health Portal. Cancelling a scheduled trip abroad could cost you money. Before cancelling a scheduled trip, you should discuss the matter with your travel agent, your travel insurer, or the airline. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. Adoption: Provincial and territorial authorities in Canada are responsible for authorizing international adoptions. If you are thinking of adopting a child from another country, you must first obtain information about the adoption regulations of the province or territory in which the child will reside. While adoption is a provincial/territorial responsibility, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for allowing an adopted child entry into Canada. Entry can be refused if the child does not hold the appropriate immigrant visa. A visa may be denied, even if the adoption has already been completed. For more information contact CIC at 1 888 242-2100 (in Canada only), check the CIC Web site or contact your provincial or territorial government. BACK TO TOP 12. ANNEX N/A BACK TO TOP |
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