South America · UN member
Suriname: Travel Guide & Requirements
Republic of Suriname
Suriname is a country in South America with its capital in Paramaribo. It has a population of 639,850 (#168 in the world) and covers 163,820 km². The official language is Dutch. The currency is the Surinamese dollar (SRD, $).
Where is Suriname? Map of Suriname
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana.
- Region
- South America
- Coordinates
- 4° N, 56° W
- Neighbours
- 2 — see list
- Coastline
- 386 km
- Suriname
- Neighbours
- Capital
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Suriname
- Passport
Suriname's eVisa service says all visitors must have a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of departure from Suriname, with at least 1 blank page for use by the Immigration Officer, and that if it has les…
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 13 need no visa, 163 need an eTA, 21 need an eVisa. Check yours or see Suriname entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
No official requirement.
- Proof of funds
No official requirement.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement. The UK Foreign Office advises making sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
- Vaccinations
WHO's country list says proof of yellow fever vaccination is required for travellers aged 1 year or over arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission, and for travellers who transited for more than 12 …
- Arrival card
Suriname's eVisa service says you do not submit your passport for stamping before you travel: the eVisa or Entry Fee is sent to you by email in PDF format, and you should keep the copy for your reference when travelling…
- Customs allowance
No official requirement. The UK government says you must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty, and to bring US dollars or euros because you cannot exchange British pounds.
- Travel advice
Safe to visit — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
9 things to know before you travel to Suriname
- Safety: Yes — Suriname is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates Suriname Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: August to March — when daytime highs in Paramaribo are around 28–30°C.
- Money: the Surinamese dollar (SRD) — 1 US dollar is about 37.6150 SRD.
- Plugs: type C and F, 127 V / 220 V, 60 Hz — mixed voltage: check the socket before you plug in. Dual-voltage chargers (100–240 V) work everywhere.
- Emergency numbers: Police 115, Ambulance 115, Fire 115.
- Language: Dutch is official; English is also spoken.
- Driving: on the left — speed limits are 40 km/h in built-up areas and 80 km/h outside built-up areas.
- Time zone: UTC-3 in Paramaribo.
- Capital: Paramaribo. About 639,850 people live in Suriname.
Key facts
Suriname at a glance
Languages spoken: Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is the native language of Creoles and much of the younger population), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
Geography & history
About Suriname
The Spaniards first explored Suriname in the 16th century, and the English then settled it in the mid-17th century. Suriname became a Dutch colony in 1667. With the abolition of African slavery in 1863, workers were brought in from India and Java. The Netherlands granted the colony independence in 1975. Five years later, the civilian government was replaced by a military regime that soon declared Suriname a socialist republic. It continued to exert control through a succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when international pressure finally forced a democratic election. In 1990, the military overthrew the civilian leadership, but a democratically elected government -- a…
Read the full history
The Spaniards first explored Suriname in the 16th century, and the English then settled it in the mid-17th century. Suriname became a Dutch colony in 1667. With the abolition of African slavery in 1863, workers were brought in from India and Java. The Netherlands granted the colony independence in 1975. Five years later, the civilian government was replaced by a military regime that soon declared Suriname a socialist republic. It continued to exert control through a succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when international pressure finally forced a democratic election. In 1990, the military overthrew the civilian leadership, but a democratically elected government -- a four-party coalition -- returned to power in 1991. The coalition expanded to eight parties in 2005 and ruled until 2010, when voters returned former military leader Desire BOUTERSE and his opposition coalition to power. President BOUTERSE ran unopposed in 2015 and was reelected. Opposition parties campaigned hard against BOUTERSE in the run-up to the 2020 elections, and a multi-party coalition led by Chandrikapersad SANTOKHI's VHP and Ronnie Brunswijk's ABOP was installed.
Location
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana
Climate
tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain
mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
Highest point
Juliana Top 1,230 m
Natural resources
timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore
Natural hazards
flooding
National symbols
royal palm, faya lobi (flower)
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Suriname
The default speed limits in Suriname are 40 km/h in built-up areas and 80 km/h outside built-up areas. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.5‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 4040 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and citiesWHO data (2017)
- 8080 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roadsWHO data (2017)
- International Driving PermitNot a party to the IDP conventionsCheck with the embassy whether your licence is accepted
- Driving sideDrive on the leftOvertake on the right
- Alcohol limit0.5‰ blood alcohol (0.05% BAC)
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsRequired by law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)16.2 per 100,000 peopleHigher than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0) and WHO. Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Suriname safe to visit?
Yes — Suriname is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates Suriname Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page).
Updated 10 Dec 2025 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Suriname
The best time to visit Suriname is August to March, when daytime highs in Paramaribo are around 28–30°C. April to July are also a good time to go. October is the warmest month (30°C by day), January the coldest (25°C at night), and May the wettest with about 286 mm of rain.
- Jan28°C25°C
- Feb28°C25°C
- Mar28°C25°C
- Apr28°C25°C
- May28°C25°C
- Jun28°C25°C
- Jul28°C25°C
- Aug29°C25°C
- Sep30°C26°C
- Oct30°C26°C
- Nov30°C26°C
- Dec28°C25°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Suriname
Plugs & sockets
127 V / 220 V, 60 Hz · Mixed voltage: check the socket before you plug in. Dual-voltage chargers (100–240 V) work everywhere.
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Currency · 26 October 2026
Surinamese dollar exchange rates today
Suriname uses the Surinamese dollar (SRD, $). One US dollar buys 37.6150 SRD; over the last 30 days the SRD has gained 0.2% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in SRD
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Suriname ranks
How Suriname compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Suriname
57 airports and airfields — 1 large, 0 medium and 55 small, plus 1 heliports. 7 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Suriname borders 2 countries along 1,907 km of land borders. Coastline: 386 km.
Military
Surinamese armed forces
Suriname ranks #140 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking.
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Paramaribo (239,000)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
gold mining, oil, lumber, food processing, fishing
Export partners
Switzerland 49%, UAE 28%, Guyana 5%, USA 4%, France 3% (2023)
Top exports
gold, fish, refined petroleum, wood, tobacco (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Suriname
Next public holiday
Independence Day — Wednesday, 25 November 2026. Then Christmas Day (25 Dec).
Surinamese passport
Ranked #129: 37 countries visa-free, 33 with visa on arrival, 3 with an eTA and 40 with an eVisa.
Surinamese passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Suriname's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Suriname
Dial +597 before the local number. Internet domain .sr.
Climate footprint
3.0 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 4.71 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Suriname: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Suriname
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Frequently asked questions about Suriname
What do I need to travel to Suriname?
How long must my passport be valid for Suriname?
Where is Suriname?
What is the capital of Suriname?
What language is spoken in Suriname?
What currency does Suriname use?
What is the calling code of Suriname?
Which countries border Suriname?
How strong is the Surinamese passport?
What is the speed limit in Suriname?
Is Suriname safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Suriname?
What plug type does Suriname use?
How many airports does Suriname have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.