Sudan–Pakistan Visa Waiver Is Diplomats-Only; Ordinary Travellers Still Need Visas

Pakistan and Sudan have signed an agreement letting holders of diplomatic and official passports travel between the two countries without visas. Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Sudan's Interior Minister, Lt. Gen. Babiker Samra Mustafa Ali, signed the deal in Islamabad on Saturday, according to a statement from Pakistan's interior ministry.

Key facts

• Who is covered: holders of diplomatic and official passports only
• What changes: visa-free travel between Pakistan and Sudan for those passport holders
• Signed: on Saturday in Islamabad by the two interior ministers
• Effective date: not stated in the announcement
• Ordinary tourists and other travellers: not covered by the agreement

What does the agreement cover?

The arrangement is limited to diplomatic and official passports. Naqvi said the agreement would "further facilitate high-level engagements" and the exchange of official delegations between the two countries, and that it would open up new opportunities for bilateral cooperation. Both ministers welcomed the deal as a step towards stronger relations between Islamabad and Khartoum.

No start date, application procedure or permitted length of stay has been announced, and the agreement makes no change for ordinary passport holders travelling between Pakistan and Sudan.

Who signed it and when?

The signing took place in Islamabad on Saturday, following talks between the two interior ministers and senior officials. Pakistan's interior ministry issued a statement on the agreement. Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had met Sudan's visiting interior minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad on 6 November 2026.

What else was agreed?

The two sides agreed to expand cooperation in internal security, police training, civil registration and other areas, and decided to pursue a memorandum of understanding on combating cybercrime, with Sudan interested in drawing on Pakistan's experience in tackling online offenses. Naqvi said Pakistan is ready to extend all possible cooperation to Sudan in peacebuilding and reconstruction.

Naqvi also offered professional training for Sudanese police officers and assistance to Sudanese nationals seeking medical treatment in Pakistan. He said Pakistan's National Database and Registration Authority had supported the issuance of 36 million citizenship cards, nine million national identity cards, 18 million birth certificates and 500,000 death certificates in Sudan.

What about visa problems for Sudanese wives of Pakistani citizens?

The talks raised visa difficulties faced by Sudanese women married to Pakistani citizens. Naqvi directed officials to resolve those issues, but no timeline or specific measures were given.

What this means for travellers

Travellers holding diplomatic or official passports from Pakistan or Sudan should note the new visa-free arrangement once it takes effect; no implementation date has been published yet. Anyone travelling on an ordinary passport is unaffected and must follow existing visa rules, which the agreement does not change.

No further details on the agreement's implementation have been announced.