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South Sudan

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
1,331
Top destination, 2023
Germany
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
354
UK visas issued, 2025
275
NationalitySSISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<SSSOUTH<SUDAN<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
SS0<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of South Sudan need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomVisa requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongVisa requiredImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from South Sudan move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. Germany341
  2. Canada335
  3. United States180
  4. Japan122
  5. Australia67
  6. Belgium63
  7. Sweden52
  8. France50
  9. Norway46
  10. Netherlands39
  11. Luxembourg12
  12. South Korea8
  13. Switzerland5
  14. Finland4
  15. New Zealand3

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

6921,38420112014201720202023
6921,38420112014201720202023
Data table
20111
201247
2013336
2014382
2015786
2016795
20171,140
20181,028
20191,384
2020751
20211,233
20221,306
20231,331
Share going to the top destination
25.6%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in South Sudan who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Sudan1,507,976
  2. Uganda923,658
  3. Ethiopia443,743
  4. Kenya114,885
  5. ZR103,594
  6. Egypt37,915
  7. United Arab Emirates14,900
  8. Australia9,693
  9. Central African Republic2,388
  10. Qatar2,172
  11. Libya2,004
  12. Kuwait1,999

Living abroad by year

1.58M3.17M19901995200020052010201520202024
1.58M3.17M19902000201020202024
Data table
1990479,199
1995266,027
2000283,331
2005211,198
2010321,713
2015853,845
20202,374,400
20243,168,836
Living abroad, 2024
3,168,836
Change since 2000
+1018.4%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
47.6%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of South Sudan by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. G271
  2. F156
  3. O153
  4. B1/B250
  5. K123
  6. A121
  7. B120
  8. G414
  9. A211
  10. B29

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

419838201720182019202020212022202320242025
41983820172019202120232025
Data table
2017388
2018693
2019674
2020254
2021271
2022581
2023838
2024720
2025354
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. IR136
  2. IR57
  3. GV17
  4. IR26
  5. GV23
  6. CR12
  7. FX2
  8. DV1
Immigrant visas, FY2025
64
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
2
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in South Sudan who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of South Sudan with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

951902015201620172018201920202021202220232024
95190201520172019202120232024
Data table
2015130
2016120
2017160
2018190
2019190
2020120
202170
2022100
2023100
2024170
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Refugees and asylees100
  2. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens60
  3. Family-sponsored preferences10
  4. Diversity visa lottery10
Green cards, FY2024 (born in South Sudan)
170
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in South Sudan)
160
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
610
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of South Sudan (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in South Sudan (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Visitor123
  2. Work70
  3. Study47
  4. Family23
  5. Other12

Visas issued by year

1913812013201520172019202120232025
19138120132016201920222025
Data table
2013244
2014174
2015248
2016219
2017252
2018226
2019245
202082
2021122
2022381
2023317
2024297
2025275
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
10
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of South Sudan, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
20250056350
20240005450
20230053250
20220003750
20210001500
20200001000
20190002550
20180001750
20170001100
2016000750
2015000500
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of South Sudan, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

112012–132021–222025–26
112012–132021–222025–26
Data table
2012–131
2015–161
2021–221
2025–261
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Specialist Skills1
Granted, 2025–26
1
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of South Sudan living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

39772012201420162018202220242025
39772012201420162018202220242025
Data table
20124
201311
20149
201512
201628
201741
201847
201942
202247
202350
202456
202577
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Student22
  2. Designated Activities18
  3. Dependent14
  4. Long-Term Resident9
  5. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services4
  6. Permanent Resident4
  7. Instructor3
  8. Trainee2
  9. Spouse or Child of Japanese National1
Residents, December 2025
77
In work-related statuses
7
Share in work-related statuses
9.1%
Students
22
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of South Sudan in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Other reasons768
  2. Family76
  3. Education56
  4. Work22
First permits by country
  1. Germany352
  2. France288
  3. Italy69
  4. Sweden61
  5. Norway46
  6. Netherlands24
  7. Greece21
  8. Portugal15
  9. Ireland7
  10. Belgium6
  11. Finland6
  12. Iceland6
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. EU Blue Card1
  2. Other paid activities21
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
0
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
86
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
351
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
5
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
5,084
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
343
Changed status into work, 2025
8
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
1
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of South Sudan in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark2025201100
Sweden2025900006921
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland2025716
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in South Sudan

Countries with an embassy or consulate in South Sudan, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Canada1——
China1——
Egypt1——
Eritrea1——
Ethiopia1——
France1——
Germany1——
India1——
Japan1——
Kenya1——
Netherlands1——
Norway1——
South Africa1——
Türkiye1——
United Kingdom1——
Countries
15
Missions
15
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by South Sudan, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

6341,2672014201720202023
6341,2672014201720202023
Data table
20142
20151,139
20161,083
2017634
20181,267
201980
202087
2021135
2022267
20231,175
Remittances received, 2023
US$1,175 million
Share of GDP, 2015
9.5%
Average cost of sending US$200 to South Sudan, 2023
6.5%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more