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I'd be interested in what the current process is for North Sudan as we're looking at visit the pyramids in Meroe toward the end of this month.

Edited by: emd_two on Feb 1, 2013 2:18 AM

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We traveled that way last August. We got ours in Nairobi. It cost 400ksh each. Very easy, we collected it that same afternoon. We got a two week visa with a two month period of validity (ie we had 2 months to get there). Most nationalities need a letter of invitation from their embassy. The embassies in Nairobi are all very used to giving them but charge differing amounts. We got our Egypt visa on the ferry ($15). We didn't need it to get the Sudan visa in Nairobi.

We are from the UK and we did meet an American who wasn't finding it so easy (though to be fair I think he was trying to fake his letter of introduction ...). Other europeans and south africans applying at the same time as us didn't have a problem.

Friends of ours got their Sudan visa in Addis - it took 3 days. I think they did need the Egypt visa first and the only other thing different as I recall was that they needed to pay in birr but show evidence that they had converted hard currency to the value of the birr visa fee. An ATM receipt wasn't good enough so they had to go and change USD specially. I think it was also a bit more expensive but can't recall to be honest.

If you are still to go through Nairobi I'd get it there - bureaucracy is easier in Kenya! But it's also perfectly possible in Addis.

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Hi CBG,

We're currently in Addis doing exactly the same thing as you guys. We're staying at Wims Holland House, near La Gare station. Apparently Egypt visa is best to get first as it shows onward travel and we visited the Egyptian embassy today. It was 310birr per person (Brits using single entry tourist visas.) The only hiccup was that the ethiopian government want proof of origin of fees. They want to see that your money comes from somewhere legit. The lady at the Egyptian embassy told us that a bank machine transaction receipt with each of our names on would be fine, but we couldn't find a machine that was issuing receipts!

Instead we changed US$20 (=c.347birr) at the Ethiopia Commercial bank and obtained receipts which we wrote our names and passport numbers on. Back at the Egypt embassy we filled in forms gave two passport photos and we collect them wednesday afternoon. (They issue visa in three days: day one you hand them in during the morning 9am to 12am, day three you collect in the afternoon, 3pm-4pm strictly.)

Egypt in progress we stopped by Sudan, (down from Mexico Square on the left) and enquired about what we'd need. The chap there reckons we need US$100 (in US$ NO BIRR) per person plus two photos and a letter of invitation from a sponsor in Sudan. He said this letter was obtainable for free from hotels in Sudan. With that in mind I've just e-mailed a dozen of them in Khartoum. We'll see what happens. He also said a letter from the British embassy was not required. We don't necessarily believe him but we're willing to try and save the £45GBP each for the priviledge of a letter that does no more than our passports.

Despite the sign outside the embassy, it is open 9-5 every day for visas excluding 1-3 lunch break I think. (we arrived at three as it opened again today.)

Further, I don't know how you guys are leaving Africa but we heard yesterday that Libya are issuing transit visas now... (I know of two guys on bikes who traveled through last week) that means passage to Tunis and the cheap cheap ferry to Italy for around 450 euros (two people and a big 4x4.)

Exciting times I know,

It'd be good to hear from you

Ian

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Thank you all for your great feedback. This is very encouraging. Our trip should start in late May in Cape Town.

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I just went to the Sudan embassy in Addis today to apply for a transit visa (traveling to Egypt overland via Addis/Khartoum/Wadi Halfa). They were very nice, but told me that they are now required to get an approval/visa ID number from the Foreign Affairs office in Khartoum before issuing any transit visas (I have a US passport, not sure if this applies to other nationalities, but it seemed that way). They told me that the best way to arrange this is to contact a hotel or tour agency in Khartoum. Once (if) the hotel sponsors you and you obtain approval, the consulate in Addis will issue the transit visa same day (you need to bring 2 passport photos, 2 copies of passport). I told them that I can show proof of my onward flight out of Cairo in lieu of an Egyptian visa (which I plan to obtain on the ferry), and they said that was acceptable. I spoke with a hotel in Khartoum via telephone and am now waiting to hear back about the approval process.

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Thank you, this is good info. Let us know how it went as I am assuming you have gone forward.

Thanks