Paramaribo Entry Requirements
Visa, immigration, and customs information
Information last reviewed June 2024. Always verify with official government sources before traveling.
Visa Requirements
Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.
Suriname now leans on an electronic authorization platform for many countries and still grants visa-free entry to others; old-school embassy visas are the outlier.
Nationals may enter without prior approval and receive an entry stamp on arrival.
Entry is granted for tourism, business meetings, or transit. Paid work requires additional permits.
Travelers must apply online before departure. The approved eVisa is linked electronically to the passport.
Cost: Mid-range processing fee plus service charge
Print the approval sheet. Airline check-in desks will ask for it. Extension possible for a fee at the Immigration Office in Paramaribo.
Citizens of countries not eligible for eVisa must obtain a sticker visa from a Surinamese embassy.
Applicants need invitation letter or hotel voucher, bank statement, yellow-fever certificate, and return ticket.
Arrival Process
Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport is the main way into Paramaribo. Smaller numbers arrive by ferry from Guyana or Albina, Saint-Laurent du Maroni river crossing.
Documents to Have Ready
Tips for Smooth Entry
Customs & Duty-Free
Paramaribo customs enforces strict rules on narcotics, protected species, and large sums of cash.
Prohibited Items
- Narcotic drugs, zero tolerance policy
- Fresh meat and dairy, foot-and-mouth disease controls
- Loose soil or plant matter, agricultural quarantine
Restricted Items
- Firearms, police import permit required in advance
- Endangered wildlife souvenirs, CITES paperwork mandatory
Health Requirements
Suriname requires proof of yellow-fever vaccination for travelers arriving from endemic zones and recommends routine vaccines for all.
Required Vaccinations
- Yellow fever, if arriving from Brazil, French Guiana, Peru, Colombia, Angola, etc.
Recommended Vaccinations
- Hepatitis A
- Typhoid
- DTP (Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis)
- MMR
- Hepatitis B for long stays
Health Insurance
Not mandatory. But medical evacuation to Miami or Georgetown is expensive. Complete travel insurance covering Paramaribo hospitals is strongly advised.
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Important Contacts
Essential resources for your trip.
Special Situations
Additional requirements for specific circumstances.
Carry unabridged birth certificate. If only one parent is present, a notarized consent letter from the absent parent is recommended to exit Suriname smoothly.
Obtain import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture 10 days prior. Rabies vaccination certificate (injection at least 30 days before travel) and health certificate from accredited vet mandatory.
Apply at the Immigration Office on Klipstenstraat, Paramaribo, before the 90th day. Bring bank statement, local sponsor letter, and two passport photos. Processing takes up to two weeks.
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