South Sudan has officially dismissed reports claiming it introduced a new visa policy granting visa-free entry exclusively to citizens of Tanzania and Egypt, asserting that no such decision has been approved by the government. The clarification follows widespread speculation sparked by information published on the country's official Department of E-Visa and Immigration Services website, where Tanzania and Egypt were listed as the only countries exempt from visa requirements before the eligibility page was later removed.
Government Denial and Official Statement
In a statement issued on Monday as reported by TRT, South Sudan's Ministry of Interior rejected the reports, insisting that the government had not adopted any policy restricting visa-free entry to only two countries. The ministry described the claims as “false, misleading, and without any official legal or administrative basis.” It further explained that it had not issued “any directive, policy decision, or statutory instrument” introducing changes to the country's immigration system. The ministry also stated it had not “promulgated any increasing or restricting visa-free entry exclusively to the nationals of Egypt and Tanzania” and had not approved the visa fee schedule that circulated online.
Details of the Removed Eligibility List
Before it was taken down, the visa eligibility page indicated that travellers from nearly every African country, apart from six nations, would pay $100 for a single-entry visa, $200 for a three-month multiple-entry visa, and $350 for a six-month multiple-entry visa. The list also proposed reduced visa charges for citizens of Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Rwanda, Sudan, and Kenya. Under that schedule, nationals of those countries would have paid $50 for a single-entry visa, $125 for a three-month multiple-entry visa, and $250 for a six-month multiple-entry visa. Meanwhile, Tanzania and Egypt were marked as “exempted,” suggesting their citizens could enter South Sudan without obtaining a visa.
Government Distances Itself from Online Information
South Sudan's government said the information published on the immigration website did not represent official policy and urged the public to disregard the reports. The ministry maintained that no changes had been made to the country's visa regime and reaffirmed that any future amendments to immigration rules would only be announced through official government channels. The now-removed eligibility schedule had covered 207 countries and territories before it was taken offline.
Context and Similar Policies in Other Countries
This incident comes amid broader discussions about visa policies in Africa. For example, the United Arab Emirates recently published updated entry guidelines confirming that citizens from at least 70 countries can enter the nation without a pre-arranged visa, facilitating smoother access for international visitors. However, South Sudan's government has made it clear that its current visa policy remains unchanged, and most foreign visitors are still required to obtain a visa before travelling to the country.
