Egypt denies making visa changes for Sudanese citizens

Egypt has denied media reports in Sudan which allege that it has set new conditions for granting entry visas to Sudanese citizens. “There are no new visa requirements for Sudanese citizens,” insisted the Egyptian embassy in Khartoum. The procedures which have been followed since 2004 are still in place, it insisted.

Egypt and Sudan signed an agreement thirteen years ago regarding entry, residence, work and property ownership, in which the government in Cairo agreed to allow Sudanese citizens over the age of 45 to enter Egypt without a visa. According to the agreement, Sudanese aged between 16 and 45 years are required to obtain a visa before they can go to their northern neighbour.

Last month, however, Sudan imposed visa requirements on Egyptians aged 18 to 50. Tension between the two countries has increased recently due a dispute over the Halayeb Triangle area and Sudan’s support for Ethiopia’s Renaissance Dam on the River Nile.

Read: Egyptians require visa to enter Sudan