Which documents and health checks are needed for arrival in South Sudan?

Travellers generally need a valid passport, the required visa and a valid yellow-fever certificate for travellers aged nine months or older. Visa eligibility and passport requirements vary by nationality; malaria precautions and other health measures should be checked shortly before travel.

When must a foreign visitor or worker complete police registration after arrival in South Sudan?

Current travel guidance states that local police registration is required for a stay of at least five days. Carry a colour copy of the passport and follow the instructions of the relevant South Sudan National Police station.

Where can a person seeking asylum or protection register after arrival in South Sudan?

A person can make an oral or written claim to the Commission for Refugee Affairs, UNHCR or Immigration. The Commission for Refugee Affairs conducts refugee registration and Refugee Status Determination, which can lead to an Asylum Seeker Certificate or refugee identity document.

What assistance can a Sudan-linked refugee or returnee receive during arrival in South Sudan?

Sudan-linked refugees and asylum-seekers currently register for assistance at Maban, Jamjang or Aweil, while Joda Border Reception Center and Renk Transit Center provide documented reception functions such as screening, referrals, temporary shelter, food, water and medical support. Returnees may receive document checks, protection and health screening, referrals and Onward Transportation Assistance, but transport, cash, relocation and final-destination services depend on eligibility, resources and security.

Why can arrival support differ between Juba and border areas in South Sudan?

Juba provides airport, ministry and urban police services, while Upper Nile and other border areas depend more on transit centers, humanitarian partners and local authorities. Security, road conditions, funding and local capacity can change which shelter, health, transport and registration services are available.

Arrival in South Sudan

Arrival in South Sudan combines entry checks, health documents, possible police registration and practical arrangements for accommodation, transport and essential services. Foreign visitors and workers usually need a visa, while refugees, asylum-seekers and returnees use separate assistance and registration pathways. Juba and border areas differ sharply in security, services and available support.

Tip

Treat arrival in South Sudan as a risk-managed plan, not as access to a single public settlement service. Secure the correct entry permission and health documents, confirm accommodation or humanitarian support in advance, and check security and transport conditions immediately before moving. If you are arriving from Sudan, use the currently designated registration locations and do not pay for UNHCR or partner services.

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Entry normally takes place through Juba International Airport (JIA) or a designated land crossing. Visitors and workers should verify passport-specific visa rules, fees, validity, permitted entry points and work-permit requirements before travel. An eVisa uses an online application and card payment; the Department of E-Visa and Immigration Service states that the PDF should arrive within 72 hours. Print or save the PDF. At the port of entry, an officer verifies the documents and stamps the passport, with portal guidance indicating about five minutes for this check. UK passport guidance requires a passport valid for at least six months after arrival and at least two blank pages, but other nationalities may have different rules. Visa extensions are handled in person at the Ministry of Interior on Airport Road in Juba, and no reliable universal fee schedule is available. Travellers aged nine months or older need a valid yellow-fever certificate. A pre-travel health check at least eight weeks before departure is recommended because malaria risk is high and cholera, yellow fever and mpox remain relevant. Land crossings from the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Uganda may also apply temperature or travel-history checks connected with Ebola-related measures. Health measures can change shortly before travel. The latest UK travel advice warns against all travel because of armed conflict, crime, checkpoints, landmines and unexploded ordnance. Avoid night movement. From April to November, heavy rain can make roads outside Juba impassable, especially in Unity, Warrap, Jonglei and Upper Nile. Flights, airports and roads can close with little notice. Keep original identity and travel documents secure, carry colour copies of the passport, and use only designated crossings. Clean, unmarked US-dollar notes dated 2017 or later are useful because cards and ATMs are limited. Public transport, including boda-bodas, can be unsafe, and transport and accommodation costs vary by state and distance. A foreign visitor or worker may need local police registration when staying for at least five days. The South Sudan National Police may request photo identification, and no nationwide arrival card or municipal registration system has been evidenced. South Sudan has no nationwide one-stop arrival office, universal welcome benefit or public settlement service. A private host, hotel or employer normally needs to arrange ordinary accommodation. Health facilities are very limited, there is no public emergency medical number, private ambulances are scarce and clinics may require registration. Serious cases may need medical evacuation to Nairobi or Kampala. People seeking asylum can make an oral or written claim to the Commission for Refugee Affairs (CRA), UNHCR or Immigration. The CRA handles refugee matters and Refugee Status Determination (RSD), which is the formal process for deciding whether a person qualifies for refugee protection. Registration can lead to an Asylum Seeker Certificate; a recognized refugee receives a refugee identity document, and a prima-facie process may apply during a mass influx. An appeal pathway is available. Keep passports, national identity documents, refugee documents, travel permits and expired identity papers. Sudan-linked new arrivals currently register for assistance at Maban, Jamjang or Aweil, not at Gorom settlement or the Juba Reception Center unless the arrangement is reconfirmed locally. Joda Border Reception Center and Renk Transit Center provide documented registration, protection monitoring, health and vulnerability screening, referrals, temporary shelter, water and sanitation, food, medical help and essential non-food items. Capacity, transport and services depend on security and funding. UNHCR and partner services are free; a demand for payment is an exploitation warning and should be reported. South Sudanese returnees follow a separate process coordinated by the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), UNHCR, IOM and partners. They may receive identity checks, protection and health screening, referrals, transport or cash support. Onward Transportation Assistance (OTA) can support movement from a border or transit site toward an intended destination, but it is based on eligibility, resources and security and does not guarantee transport, camp placement or final-destination services. Refugees and asylum-seekers may be moved to existing settlements, while returnees may receive support toward an area of origin when services are available. Juba mainly provides airport, ministry and urban police services; Upper Nile contains the Joda-Renk border and transit corridor; Maban, Jamjang and Aweil currently serve as registration and assistance locations for Sudan-linked arrivals. Local security, road access and service availability can differ substantially between states and counties.