Last checked against the official source: 29 August 2026
The German Embassy in Khartoum is closed because of the security situation, and its visa section is currently closed. Its official page nonetheless remains the single most important reference for Sudanese applicants, because it is the only one publishing the document list for family reunification for Sudanese nationals in detail. For the other visa categories — study, work or Schengen — the page refers you expressly to the German embassies in Cairo or Addis Ababa.
The mission’s position today
- Status
- The German Embassy in Khartoum is closed because of the security situation, and the visa section is currently closed.
- Head of mission
- Ambassador Thomas Terstegen.
- Postal address
- Riverside — German Embassy Khartoum, P.O. Box 970, Khartoum, Sudan.
- Jurisdiction
- Sudan — the embassy is responsible for your application if your habitual residence is in Sudan, normally measured as six months or more.
- Consular services
- All consular services are provided except the issuing of German identity cards.
- ⚠️ Cost of contact
- The embassy notes that telephone or fax contact over satellite (Satcom) carries higher charges.
- Accessibility
- The visitors’ entrance and access to the passport and visa office are barrier-free; the main entrance is partly barrier-free and the stairs make access somewhat harder.
- Where the other categories are
- Guidance for study, work and Schengen is on the sites of the German Embassy Cairo or the German Embassy Addis Ababa.
Cairo confirms its competence for Sudan — and this closure is the reason
This is one of the rare cases where two official pages intersect and each confirms the other: the page of the German Embassy in Cairo states that its jurisdiction extends to residents of Sudan — and the reason it gives expressly is the closure of the Khartoum embassy. The Cairo consular section’s remit also covers the legalisation of Sudanese documents.
In practice: if you are in Sudan and need a visa for a purpose other than family reunification, your nearest route is Cairo — with the competence confirmed in writing before any travel or fee.
Family reunification for Sudanese nationals: the documents as the embassy publishes them
The following list is taken from the official guidance for the family reunification visa for Sudanese nationals, and the documents are submitted in person when the application is made:
- The application form, completed through VIDEXThe national visa application form completed in full through the VIDEX system. Formal gaps here are a recurring cause of refusal.
- A recent biometric photograph on a light backgroundMeasuring 3.5 × 4.5 cm, and it must show the features of the face from the tip of the chin to the hairline and from both the right and left sides.
- A valid passportOr another valid travel document valid for at least three months beyond the end of the planned trip, with a copy of the data page and of all visas and entry stamps — original and one copy.
- An extract from the Sudanese national register and the birth certificateOriginal and one copy of each — the birth certificate if available.
- Civil status documents where they existBaptism certificate, or a divorce certificate or recognition of divorce in Germany, or a death certificate — original and one copy of each.
- Proof of German at level A1A recognised certificate issued no more than one year previously. The test is taken with one of the accredited providers, and the basic skills can be acquired in several ways including online courses. For the exemptions where proof is not required, consult the guidance sheet of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
- If the spouse is entitled to protection in GermanyA notification from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees recognising the family member, including notification that the recognition as a refugee or person entitled to protection is final — one copy.
- If the party in Germany is not a German nationalProof of their residence status and a copy of their passport, together with an extended registration certificate (Erweiterte Meldebescheinigung) — original and one copy.
- Proof of income and housing for the party in GermanyOne copy of each payslip for the last three months, and a copy of the tenancy agreement.
- Two rules that void a file if ignoredEvery document not issued in German must be accompanied by a German translation from a translator accredited in Germany or accredited by the German Embassy in Cairo or by the University of Khartoum, and one copy of the translation is submitted. And laminated documents are not accepted — a small detail that ruins whole files.
Note: applications not accompanied by all required documents may be refused. And with remonstration abolished worldwide as of 1 July 2025, all that remains after a refusal is an action before the Administrative Court in Berlin, in German and with court costs, or a fresh application. Completing the file the first time is everything here.
Official sources
Status, address and jurisdiction — German Embassy Khartoum · Guidance for the family reunification visa for Sudanese nationals · The Cairo embassy’s jurisdiction extending to Sudan
Please note: this page is general guidance, not legal advice, and it is not an official page of the mission. Visa decisions are assessed individually, and the information here is taken from the official website on the verification date recorded above.
Frequently asked questions
Is the German Embassy in Khartoum open?
No. The official page states that the German Embassy in Khartoum is closed because of the security situation and that the visa section is currently closed.
Where do Sudanese file for a study, work or Schengen visa?
The Khartoum page refers expressly to the sites of the German Embassy in Cairo or the German Embassy in Addis Ababa for guidance on those categories. Cairo states from its side that its jurisdiction extends to residents of Sudan because of the closure of the Khartoum embassy.
What level of German is required for family reunification from Sudan?
Level A1 with a recognised certificate issued no more than one year previously, taken with one of the accredited providers. There are exemptions where no proof is required, set out in the guidance sheet of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
Who may translate my documents into German?
A translator accredited in Germany, or one accredited by the German Embassy in Cairo or by the University of Khartoum. One copy of the translation is submitted with every document not issued in German.
Are laminated documents accepted?
No. The official guidance states that laminated documents will not be accepted. It is a small detail that ruins whole files, so check it before your appointment.
What does “habitual residence in Sudan” mean?
The official page states that the embassy is responsible for your application if your habitual residence is in Sudan, normally measured as six months or more.
What financial documents are required from the party in Germany?
One copy of each payslip for the last three months and a copy of the tenancy agreement, together with an extended registration certificate and proof of residence status if that person is not a German national.