Suriname is located in South America and it is probably the smallest country on the continent. Like every country in the world, Suriname can offer different things to its visitors such as beautiful tourist attractions, tropical weather, beautiful wildlife, and much more.
Nevertheless, to travel to Suriname you may require to apply for a Suriname visa.
Read this article until the end to find out everything you need to know about Suriname visas.
Do you need a visa to Suriname?
In order to be able to travel to Suriname, chances are that you may require a Suriname visa. However, there are also countries that are visa-exempt.
Visa-exempt countries for 90 days:
- Japan
- Hong-Kong
- And Russia
Visa-exempt countries for 30 days:
- Serbia
- Philippines
- South Korea
- Malaysia
There are also the following countries that do not need a visa to Suriname if you are traveling for diplomacy or official services:
- China
- Chile
- Colombia
- Cuba
- Costa Rica
- Ecuador
- Haiti
- Indonesia
- India
- Japan
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
We recommend that before planning your travel to Suriname to contact the nearest embassy or consulate for more information regarding whether your country is visa-exempt or not.
Is it possible to obtain a visa on arrival in Suriname?
Applying for a visa on arrival in Suriname was possible until October 2019, however, now the rules have changed and you must apply for a Suriname visa only online.
Nevertheless, there are some individuals who have the option to apply for a visa on arrival. Applying for a visa on arrival will be provided only if:
- You are traveling for diplomatic or official services
- You have a letter of invitation from the official authorities of Suriname
- You are traveling to Surinam because you are on duty
What are the Suriname visa requirements?
Once applying for a visa to Suriname you will be required to submit the following documents:
- A copy of your passport personal information page
- Itinerary of your trip
- Accommodation evidence
- A biometric photograph
If you are traveling for business purposes you have to submit these documents:
- Letter of reference from the company you plan to do business at
- Department of Labor and Industry Certification
- A letter of invitation
- Health certificate
- Certificate of police clearance
- Bank statements
- Health insurance
If you are traveling to study in Suriname then you need:
- Letter of reference
- Acceptance letter
- Scholarship evidence if you have been offered such
If you are traveling to Suriname to work there then you need the following:
- Letter of invitation from your employer
- Letter of reference
- A letter stating the personal details of the company you are going to work at as well as whether that company is registered or not
- Business license of the company
- Evidence of your educational background (certificates or diploma)
- A copy of your contract stating the job position
- Your resume
Documents required for family reunion visa:
- Certificate of marriage
- Certificate of birth or any paper that proves the relationship
- Sponsor’s statement
If you are a minor:
- A letter of approval from a parent or legal guardian
- In cases when the child is adopted you will need a judicial decision copy
Applying for a Suriname visa
Luckily, a Suriname visa application process can easily be done online. You won’t have to bother yourself going from place to place just to apply for a visa.
While the Surinamese Foreign ministry is responsible for deciding whether or not to grant your visa, they have decided to outsource the application requests to an application company.
The steps to take are:
- Go to the online visa application website
- Gather every necessary document that Is required for the application and upload them
- Pay the visa fee
- Be patient for the visa to process through
- Once it’s ready the visa will be sent to you via email and you can print it
Suriname visa validity
A Suriname visa validity will depend on the type of Suriname visa you apply for.
Below you can find for how long each type of Suriname visa is valid for:
- The Suriname tourist visa is valid for at least 2 months for single entry and 12 months for multiple entries
- A business visa can be valid for 2 months up to 5 years, depending on your purposes of travel
- A transit visa is only valid for 3 days
- The tourist card is valid for 90 days
Suriname tourist card application
The process for obtaining a tourist card to Suriname is similar to that of obtaining a regular visa. You must complete an online request, upload the necessary documentation, and pay fees.
The distinction between a Visa and a Tourist Card would be that the tourist permit needs less paperwork.
You only need to apply the following documents to obtain a Suriname Tourist Card:
- Copy of your passport personal information page
- Itinerary of your trip
- A biometric photo
Suriname visa photo requirements
Each type of Suriname visa will require you to submit a passport size picture known also as a biometric photograph which will be used to identify the holder of the visa.
This visa photo must comply with the following requirements:
- The size must be 35mm x 45mm
- The photo must be in color
- Keep your head straight
- Make sure the background of the photo is white
- Resolution in DPI should be 600
- Glasses are allowed if they do not obscure your eyes
- Headcovers are only allowed for religious reasons
- Do not smile and keep your eyes open and mouth closed when taking the visa photo
