Suriname

🇸🇷

Phone Code

+597

Capital

Paramaribo

Population

600,000

Native Name

Suriname

Region

Americas

South America

Timezone

Suriname Time

UTC-03:00

On This Page

Money & CurrencyVisa OverviewVisa TypesImportant NotesTravel GuideEmbassies abroadEmbassies in country

Suriname stands as South America's most culturally diverse and least-visited nation, a Dutch-speaking tropical jewel where mosque minarets rise beside Hindu temples, colonial wooden architecture lines UNESCO-listed streets, and 93% pristine Amazon rainforest harbors jaguars, giant river otters, and eight monkey species. This former Dutch Guiana blends Javanese gamelan music with Hindi film songs and Afro-Caribbean rhythms, serves roti and pom alongside Indonesian nasi goreng, and maintains living Maroon cultures descended from escaped slaves who created autonomous rainforest kingdoms centuries ago.

Suriname Visa & Immigration System

Suriname requires most visitors to obtain either an e-visa in advance or a tourist card on arrival. The UK Foreign Office confirms that most European, American, and Caribbean nationals can purchase a tourist card on arrival at Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport for $25-50 USD (prices vary by nationality), valid for stays up to 90 days. The US State Department notes that e-visas can be obtained online prior to travel through Suriname's e-visa portal, typically processed within 3-5 business days. According to the German Foreign Office, passports must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended departure date, and proof of yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for all travelers arriving from or transiting through endemic countries. The Canadian government advises that overland entry from Guyana or French Guiana requires advance e-visa application, as tourist cards on arrival are only available at the international airport. Extensions beyond 90 days can be requested at Suriname's Immigration Office in Paramaribo.

Common Visa Types

Tourist Card on Arrival

Up to 90 days ($25-50 USD, varies by nationality)

Tourism, short-term visits

E-Visa

Up to 90 days (apply online in advance)

Tourism, business, family visits

Business Visa

Up to 90 days (requires invitation letter)

Commercial activities, meetings, conferences

Extension Permit

Variable (apply at Immigration Office Paramaribo)

Extending stay beyond initial 90 days

Essential Information for Suriname Travelers

The UK Foreign Office confirms tourist cards on arrival ($25-50 USD) for most nationalities at Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport, valid 90 days; e-visa required for overland entry.

Yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for ALL travelers; proof must be presented at immigration regardless of origin country.

The US State Department notes that passports must be valid for at least 6 months beyond intended departure date with blank pages for entry stamps.

Travel Overview

Suriname offers adventurous travelers an extraordinarily rich yet challenging destination. This is South America's smallest independent country, yet it harbors biodiversity rivaling the Amazon heartland, cultural diversity unmatched anywhere on the continent, and a genuine sense of discovery absent from neighboring tourist hotspots. Infrastructure is basic outside Paramaribo, English proficiency varies, and independent travel requires patience and flexibility. Yet Suriname rewards those willing to venture beyond comfort zones: multi-day river expeditions deep into pristine rainforest, encounters with indigenous and Maroon communities maintaining traditional lifestyles, birdwatching rivaling anywhere in the neotropics, and a capital city whose wooden architecture and multicultural atmosphere feel genuinely unique in South America.

Discover Suriname

Paramaribo, Suriname's capital and only significant city, earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 2002 for its remarkably preserved Dutch colonial wooden architecture. The historic inner city showcases hundreds of elegant wooden buildings with jalousie windows, ornate gables, and expansive verandas lining wide boulevards—a tropical version of Amsterdam frozen in the 18th century. Fort Zeelandia, dating to 1667, anchors the waterfront as Suriname's oldest structure and now houses the national museum. The towering white St. Peter and Paul Cathedral stands as the tallest wooden structure in the Western Hemisphere, while the adjacent Arya Dewaker Hindu temple and Keizerstraat Mosque demonstrate Suriname's extraordinary religious harmony. According to the UK Foreign Office, Paramaribo offers the continent's most diverse culinary scene: roti shops serve Indian cuisine, warungs offer Indonesian nasi goreng, Chinese restaurants line Main Street, and kreol eateries dish up pom (Afro-Surinamese chicken casserole) and bakabana (fried plantains). The Central Market explodes with tropical produce, spices, and the cacophony of Sranan Tongo, Dutch, Hindi, and Javanese conversations. Palm Garden and Independence Square provide green respite, while the Waterkant waterfront promenade comes alive for evening strolls. Paramaribo feels genuinely unlike anywhere else—a Caribbean-feeling, Dutch-speaking, multicultural city in South America.

Ways to Experience This Destination

Rainforest Expedition & Ecotourism

Multi-day jungle trips to Central Suriname Nature Reserve, Upper Suriname River, or Brownsberg Nature Park. Stay in eco-lodges or camp in hammocks. Spot jaguars, giant otters, monkeys, and hundreds of bird species. Requires moderate fitness and tolerance for basic conditions.

Cultural Immersion & Village Stays

Visit Maroon and indigenous communities along interior rivers. Experience traditional woodcarving, music, fishing, and community life. Requires cultural sensitivity, advance arrangements through ethical operators, and comfort with very basic conditions.

Colonial Heritage & Urban Exploration

Explore Paramaribo's UNESCO-listed wooden architecture, diverse religious sites, museums, and multicultural cuisine. Combine with day trips to plantations, nature parks, and nearby Commewijne district. Accessible and comfortable.

Wildlife Photography & Birding

Target Suriname's 740+ bird species, eight monkey species, sea turtles, caimans, and elusive jaguars. Focus on Galibi turtle nesting, Brownsberg birding hotspots, Peperpot wetlands, and rainforest reserves.

States & Regions in Suriname

Explore different regions and their cities.

Hosted missions

Embassies in Suriname

These foreign embassies and consulates are based here. Choose a mission to open its in-depth guide and contact details.

All countries by continent

Suriname offers determined travelers one of South America's most rewarding yet challenging destinations—where pristine rainforest harbors incredible wildlife, multicultural communities maintain extraordinary traditions, and colonial Paramaribo enchants with Dutch tropical charm. This is authentic adventure travel for those willing to embrace the unknown.

Check Suriname Visa Requirements