Canada visa for Sudanese passport holders

Yes. Sudanese passport holders need a Canadian visitor visa. Sudan appears in its own right on the Canadian government list of countries whose citizens need a visa, separately from South Sudan, and it carries no note offering conditional eTA eligibility.

Quick facts

Visa required

Visa required: Yes, a visitor visa
eTA instead: No, Sudan carries no eTA note
Where you apply: Online to IRCC, before travelling
Biometrics: Usually required, in person
Arriving by land or sea: Still needs the visa
South Sudan: A separate entry, also visa-required

Entry requirements

A valid Sudanese passport.
A Canadian visitor visa applied for and approved before travel.
Biometrics, normally collected in person at a visa application centre as part of the application.
Evidence of the purpose of the visit, of funds, and of ties supporting your return.
Time for the application and for reaching a biometrics appointment, which for applicants outside Sudan depends on where they legally reside.

How to apply

Work from the Canadian government list rather than a summary. Sudan and South Sudan are listed separately, and both require a visa, so the common confusion between the two does not change the answer here even though it changes the answer on other routes.

The application is made online to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Biometrics are normally required and given in person, so appointment availability rather than form-filling sets the timeline.

The visa authorises travel to a port of entry. A border services officer decides admission and the length of stay, which matters before booking non-refundable onward travel.

Good to know

Sudan and South Sudan appear as separate entries on the Canadian list, and on this route the distinction is harmless because both require a visa. It is worth naming only because the same confusion changes the answer elsewhere, where two similarly named countries sit on opposite sides of a list.
An eTA is not a lighter or cheaper visa. It is the authorisation for travellers who are already visa-exempt, so a visa-required national cannot choose it instead, and applying for one wastes the fee.
The requirement follows the passport rather than the mode of arrival. Canada waives the eTA for visa-exempt travellers arriving by land or sea, which is sometimes misread as a general exception; a visitor visa is needed whichever way you arrive.
For applicants living outside Sudan, consular jurisdiction follows legal residence. Establish which visa application centre serves you before planning around any appointment date.

Frequently asked questions

Do Sudanese citizens need a visa for Canada?

Yes. Sudan appears on the Canadian government list of countries whose citizens need a visitor visa, with no note offering conditional eTA eligibility.

Is Sudan the same as South Sudan on the Canadian list?

No, they are separate entries. Both require a visitor visa, so the confusion does not change the answer on this route.

Can Sudanese travellers use an eTA instead?

No. The eTA is for visa-exempt travellers. A visa-required national travels on a visitor visa.

Do Sudanese need a visa to enter Canada by car from the United States?

Yes. The requirement follows the passport, not the mode of arrival.

How long does the application take?

It varies, and biometrics are usually needed in person, so the appointment is often the slowest step. Treat it as an advance application.

Related pages

Other passports for Canada

Sources

Every fact on this page was checked against the official sources below on 8 September 2026.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, "Find out if you need a visa to travel to Canada": Sudan appears under the heading "Travellers who need a visa" as its own entry, listed separately from South Sudan, and carries no accompanying eTA note. Read 2026-09-08. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/entry-requirements-country.html
IRCC, eTA eligibility: the eTA is the authorisation used by visa-exempt travellers, and visa-required travellers travel with a visitor visa instead. Read 2026-09-08. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/eligibility.html

Entry rules change without notice and the official source is always the authority. Confirm with the embassy or immigration portal before you book.

Do Sudanese passport holders need a visa for Canada?