How to Get a Suriname Visa in Cayenne, French Guyana

This one felt good, I won’t deny that. The reason being that in 2011 it was a big hassle and stress the first time I got my Suriname Visa, I wrote about that before in the Suriname Visa struggle post and the aftermath that explains how to get a Suriname Visa in Caracas, Venezuela. I finally got my visa that time and was able to check out Paramaribo only on my budget and timeframe.

I still got to check out the best backpacking spots in Paramaribo though, but something begged me to go back to Suriname and by 2014 it was time. I also wanted to take my girlfriend there, as she had travelled all over South America but not yet to the Guyanas.

So in 2014 after some more travelling and World Cup watching in Brazil, we headed from the city of Oiapoque across the border into French Guyana. We arrived into St. Georges de L’Oyapock and proceeded to go directly to the capital city, Cayenne. It is in Cayenne that the main Suriname Consulate is and it is here that you get the visa (you can also get the visa in St. Laurent du Maroni). Here’s my overview from my Cayenne visa application.

Where is the Suriname Consulate in Cayenne, French Guyana?
The Suriname Consulate in Cayenne, French Guyana is ridiculously easy to find. It is in the city centre (Cayenne is small) on Avenue Leonard Heder, near the Old City and Palm Tree Park (Place des Palmistes). The Consulate is close to the corner where Avenue Leonard Heder meets Rue F.Arago.

What are the Opening Times of the Suriname Consulate in Cayenne, French Guyana?
It’s open from 9am – 2pm Monday to Friday, though understandably, this could always change so check it just before you head there.

What Nationalities Do Not Need A Visa for Suriname?
If you come from these countries, you can get your visa on arrival at any land, sea or air border with no fee and no application needed (just your normal arrival card):
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bonaire, Brazil, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Hong Kong, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Montserrat, Philippines, South Korea, Saba, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago

* You will notice that a few of these countries are Dutch colonies past or present

* All Other Nationalities Need a Visa or a Tourist Card

What Nationalities Can Get a Tourist Card for Suriname?
As of 2011 (after my first visit to Suriname) it is now easier to get into Suriname, thanks to a new “Tourist Card” scheme, as an alternative to a visa. However this is not for overland backpackers – PLEASE NOTE – A Tourist Card can be easily got on arrival if you fly into Suriname and are from one of these countries:

1.Belgium 2.Bolivia 3.Canada 4.Chile 5.Cuba 6.Denmark 7.Germany 8.Estonia 9.Finland 10.France 11.Greece 12.Hungary 13.Iceland 14.Italy 15.Latvia 16.Liechtenstein 17.Lithuania 18. Luxemburg

19. Malta 20. The Netherlands 21. Norway 22. Austria 23.Panama 24. Paraguay 25. Peru 26. Portugal 27.Singapore 28. Slovenia 29. Slovakia 30. Spain 31. Czech Republic 32. Uruguay 33. Venezuela 34. United Kingdom 35. United States of America 36. Sweden 37. Switzerland

Here is some information on the tourist card scheme. I have a United Kingdom passport and also an Irish passport, however I needed a double entry visa for Suriname so the Tourist Card option wasn’t for me – I went for the full multiple entry visa option and for that reason visited the embassy in Cayenne.

How to get your Visa
My advice is to turn up when the Consulate opens and make sure you have all the things you need to get your visa ready, these are:
– A filled in application form (get it inside)
– Your passport (with free pages and 6 months validity)
– Cash in Euros (you can also pay on visa card)
– A photocopy of your passport
– A passport sized photograph

What Types of Visa Can You Get?
OK we are not talking working visas here I’m only writing about tourist visas and this leaves you with two main options:
1. A single entry tourist card
2. A multiple entry visa
So I went for the multiple entry visa so that we could head from Suriname into Guyana and back into Suriname.

How much does the Suriname Visa cost?
I got the multiple entry visa and it was 40 Euros. You can pay in cash but also on Visa card. If you just want the single entry tourist card it costs only 20 Euros. A full list of prices is above – I took that photo in June 2014.

How easy is the process?
OK I won’t lie – it was easy. Certainly compared to the Suriname Visa issues I had in Caracas three years earlier. I got the visa within about 5 hours on one day. This is not always the case though – busy periods may take a day or two and please factor in holidays, weekends etc. Here’s my easy timetable of events:

– 9.30 am – inside the Suriname Consulate I handed in my passport, full visa application, payment, passport photocopy and passport photo. Given a receipt and told to check back at 1.30pm to see if it was ready. If not – it would be the following day.
– 1.30 pm – arrived back in the Suriname Consulate and collected my visa. A multiple entry visa!

So what are you all waiting for??? Head to French Guyana and get your visa for Suriname. Here are some of my posts from Suriname:
– Sugar Cane Trail Suriname
– Top Sights in Paramaribo
– French Guyana to Suriname border
– Guesthouse Amice, Paramaribo
– Etienne’s Unique Apartments, Paramaribo

Safe travels!