South Sudan
SSDSouth Sudan became the world's youngest nation on 9 July 2011 when it seceded from Sudan and was admitted to the United Nations, bringing total UN membership to 193 states. The landlocked country in East-Central Africa sits atop significant oil reserves that fund the majority of government revenue.
Since independence it has endured severe internal conflict, a devastating civil war (2013–2018), and recurring humanitarian crises, leaving it ranked among the world's most fragile and least-developed states. The capital Juba serves as the main commercial hub, though infrastructure across the country remains extremely limited. Naturalisation requires ten years of lawful residence and is rarely pursued by expatriates given the security environment.
- Naturalisation
- 10 years
- Tax system
- Residence Based
- Currency
- South Sudanese Pound (SSP)
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- Capital
- Juba
- Region
- africa
- Population
- 11,088,796
- Cost-of-living
- 32 /100
Passport Rank
#100
Visa-Free
39
destinations
Visa-free travel
A South Sudan passport has visa-free access to 39 destinations. See the full South Sudan passport breakdown →
Passports that enter South Sudan without a prior visa (5)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Immigrating to Canada from South Sudan
Current IRCC processing times for South Sudan nationals, by application type.
| Visitor visa (outside Canada) | No processing time available |
| Super visa | No processing time available |
| Study permit | No processing time available |
| Work permit | No processing time available |
| Sponsor a dependent child | No processing time available |
| Adopted child (citizenship) | Not enough data |
| Government-assisted refugees | 14 months |
| Privately sponsored refugees | sponsor: Not enough data / refugee: Not enough data |
Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.
As of 2026-09-22 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.
Sources & last verified
Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)
Country Details
- Capital
- Juba
- Currency
- South Sudanese Pound (SSP)
- Languages
- English, Arabic
- Population
- 11,088,796
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Naturalisation
- 10 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Tropical savanna
- GDP per capita
- $1,080
- Life expectancy
- 57.74 yrs
- Population growth
- 2.03%/yr
GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).
Indices
Cost of Living
32
Safety
18
Healthcare
15
Quality of Life
20
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 10 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juba | — | — | — | — | $30 |
| Wau | — | — | — | — | $20 |
| Malakal | — | — | — | — | $18 |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Climate
Juba
Rainfall range: 5–155 mm/month · Daylight 11.5h (winter) to 12.5h (summer)
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- Tourist
- Business
- Work
- Family
- Student
- NGO/Humanitarian
- Authority
- Directorate of Nationality, Passports & Immigration
- Official Portal
- www.gov.ss
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- Language Test
- Yes (level n/a)
- Civic Test
- No
- Oath Required
- No
- Dual Allowed
- No
- Fee
- $250
- Processing
- ~24 months
Safety
GPI Rank
#158
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Common Risks
- ⚠Checkpoint extortion by armed personnel on roads outside Juba
- ⚠Fake NGO employment or aid-worker visa offers targeting arrivals
- ⚠Currency exchange fraud exploiting SSP hyperinflation volatility
Regulators & official sources
Bodies that regulate immigration advice in South Sudan, and the official sources indexed for it by Visa Atlas. Descriptions are verbatim; each links to its source.
Department of E-Visa and Immigration Services
E-Visa and Immigration ServicesOfficial Ministry of Interior eVisa portal for South Sudan online visa applications, eligibility checks, fee table, PDF eVisa download and port-of-entry verification guidance.
Related Guides
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Visa routes
Official visa and residence routes for South Sudan, indexed from Visa Atlas. Each links to its government source. This is a licensed external index, distinct from our own curated visa guides.
Short-term / business
eVisa Exemption or Special-Fee Check
Short-term / businessOfficial South Sudan nationality lookup for travellers checking whether they need an eVisa or have special fee handling.
Multiple-Entry eVisa
Short-term / businessOfficial South Sudan eVisa table route for 3-month and 6-month multiple-entry visa classes.
Single-Entry eVisa
Short-term / businessOfficial South Sudan online entry-visa route for eligible travellers applying before travel.
Sources & last verified
Route index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-09-12. Each route links to its official government source.
Sources & last verified
- Last verified