suriname business visa for indian citizens

Indian citizens who want to travel to Suriname and do non-business related activities can obtain a business visa.

Suriname is a South American country with a tropical climate, located at the northern point of the continent on the Atlantic coast of South America, across from the Guyanas. Suriname is famous for its wild and pristine nature, beautiful landscapes with rivers, waterfalls and rainforests.

Well, the whole process of getting business visa for Suriname is not that blatant but not that difficult either. Let’s start with the basics: first you have to pick an Embassy from India which will grant you your visa and then after you’ll have to travel to Suriname.

If you are an Indian citizen, and you want to work in Suriname, you need a business visa. This is the only type of visa that will allow you to work in Suriname. You can apply for your business visa when you are already in Suriname, or before you arrive. If you apply before arriving, you will need to fill out some paperwork at the embassy and pay your fee before being able to get your visa stamped into your passport. If this is not possible for some reason (for example, if the embassy is closed), then it’s best to apply when you’re already in Suriname.

Once your business visa has been issued, it will be valid for a year from its date of issue, or until your passport expires (whichever comes first).

Suriname is a country in South America that shares borders with Brazil and French Guiana. It has a population of 538,000 people and is one of the smallest countries in South America. Suriname’s economy is largely dependent on bauxite mining and alumina production, as well as gold, diamond and petroleum extraction.

There are many reasons why you should consider investing in Suriname or doing business with individuals from Suriname. For example, if you’re an Indian citizen looking for visa-free entry into Suriname, there are several types of visas for Indians to enter the country:

Business Visa – This type of visa allows you to stay in the country for up to 90 days per year (no extensions). You’ll need to apply for this visa in advance before traveling; there is no option to apply while you’re already in the country. The process takes approximately 30 days and costs $100 USD plus taxes (roughly Rs 7500 INR).

Tourist Visa – This type of visa allows you to stay in the country for up to 90 days per year (no extensions). You’ll need to apply for this visa in advance before traveling; there is no option to apply while you’re already in the country

Suriname Visa Requirements

• Your passport’s bio page. The passport must be valid for at least another six months.
• Your travel itinerary (not your flight ticket)
• Proof of accommodation in Suriname (hotel reservation, booking, letter of invitation, etc)
• A passport-size picture with the following requirements:
  • Dimensions: 3×4 cm
  • White background
  • No shadows, glare, or over/under exposure
  • You must be facing ahead
  • Your entire face has to be visible
  • If you wear prescription glasses, they cannot cover your face. Sunglasses, glasses with thick rims, or tinted glasses are not allowed.
  • If you wear religious headgear, make sure it does not cover your face. Other types of headgear (hats, headbands, etc) are not allowed.
• For Suriname Business Visa:
  • Reference letter from the business partner in Suriname
  • Extract/Certificate of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry (issued within 6 months)
• Invitation letter from the relevant entity. If you are applying for a visa for volunteer work, commercial activities, etc.
• Recent Medical Report or Health certificate. (Issued within 3 months)
• Police certificate from your country. (Proving you have “good conduct”)
• Proof of financial solvency. (eg. bank statements)
• Valid travel health insurance.
• For Suriname Study Visa:
  • A Reference Letter
  • Letter of acceptance
  • Letter of scholarship (if applicable)
• For Suriname Work Visa:
  • Employment invitation letter in English
  • Reference letter (from the new employer and previous employer)
  • The company’s resume from the Chamber of Commerce
  • The company’s business license
  • Copies of diplomas and certificates
  • Work contract with job description and requirements
  • Your CV
• For Family Reunion Visa:
  • Marriage certificate for spouses
  • Birth certificate or other documents which prove familial relation
  • Statement of your Guarantor/Sponsor in Suriname
• For minors:
  • Authorization from the parent(s) as well as a copy of the family book or birth certificate if:
    • The minor is travelling alone
    • The minor is travelling with only one of the parents (consent from the other parent)
  • If the minor is adopted/under legal guardianship: A copy of the judicial decision

Several of the documents, such as birth/marriage certificates, have to be legalized before submission.

How to Apply for a Suriname Visa?

You have to apply for a Suriname visa online. It is the Surinamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs that decides whether to issue your visa or not, but they have outsourced visa application submissions to a visa application agency. The application process is as follows:

• Register at the Suriname visa application website here. Answer all the questions and enter all the information that is required.
• Collect the required documents. Make electronic copies of them and attach them on the Suriname visa online application system. See the required documents for a Suriname Visa under “Suriname Visa Requirements”
• Pay the Suriname Visa fee (electronically). Please note that you must also pay a service fee. See “Suriname Visa Fees” below for more.
• Wait for the visa to be processed.
• You will receive your visa by email. You must print it and show it to the Immigration Officers at the entry point in Suriname.

Applying for a Suriname Tourist Card

The application for a Suriname Tourist Card is the same as for a visa. You have to register on the online application platform, attach the required documents, and pay a fee (USD 40 plus a USD 14 service fee). However, the difference between the Visa and the Tourist Card is that you need fewer documents. For a Suriname Tourist Card, you only have to submit:

• A copy of your passport’s bio-page
• Your flight ticket or itinerary
• A picture with 3 cm x 4 cm dimensions and a white background

After you submit the application, you will receive your Tourist Card in your email within approximately 72 hours. You have to print it out and show it to the Immigration Officers at the airport in Suriname along with your passport.

How to Receive the Suriname Visa or Tourist Card?

You will receive the Suriname visa or Tourist Card on your email address. You can also download it on the visa application website as a PDF file. You have to print it and show it to the Immigration officers.

What Is the Processing Time for a Suriname Visa?

A Suriname visa application is processed within 72 hours. It can take longer if it is during the holidays. However, if it takes longer than 5 days, you should contact the visa agency that is handling your application.

What Is the Duration of a Suriname Visa?

A Suriname visa can be issued for the following durations:

• Suriname Tourist Visa: Two months (single or multiple-entry); Twelve months (multiple-entry)
• Suriname Business Visa: Two months; two years; five years (Multiple-entry)
• Suriname Transit Visa: Three days
• Suriname Tourist Card: 90 days

Types of Work Visas in Suriname

There are only two types of work permits in Suriname — the Foreign Nationals Work Permit and the Gold Sector Foreign Nationals Work Permit. The latter applies only to workers employed in the gold mining industry, while the former applies to all other international employees.

Certain workers may not need a work visa at all. Since the nation is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), skilled nationals from other countries within CARICOM may live and work in-country without a permit. Other circumstances in which an international employee does not need a work permit include:

• When their spouse is a citizen.
• When they were born in-country, immigrated elsewhere, and re-migrated to the place of their origin.
• When they have refugee status.
• When they will be a country servant.

International workers must apply for a residence permit to qualify for a work permit.

Conclusion

If you are traveling to Suriname for business purposes, then you need to apply for a business visa. This can be submitted at the Suriname Embassy in New Delhi, India or any other of the Suriname Embassies located in other countries around the world. This process cannot be done online or by mail and there is no short term business visa available to travelers.