Sudan Approves New Measures for Voluntary Return From Egypt

New travel measures for Sudanese citizens returning from Egypt have been approved by Sudanese authorities, including the issuance of free emergency travel documents and the acceptance of expired passports for those travelling through organised voluntary return convoys.

According to the Voluntary Return Committee, Sudan's Interior Ministry has authorised the Sudanese Embassy in Cairo to issue free emergency travel documents to citizens joining Lajnat al-Amal convoys departing from Egyptian governorates. Travellers will also be permitted to return using either a valid or expired passport, provided they possess the original document.

The Sudanese Consul in Aswan said the measures are intended to simplify and accelerate the return process, noting growing demand from Sudanese citizens seeking to travel back home. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 538,000 Sudanese returned from Egypt between January 2024 and February 2026, accounting for around 87% of all returns from neighbouring countries during that period.

Voluntary return operations began in July 2024 with weekly train services from Cairo's Ramses Station to Aswan, before continuing into Sudan. While early journeys did not require passports, later procedures introduced through a dedicated online platform required either a passport or an emergency travel document. The committee also announced that a specialised Sudanese police team will be deployed to Cairo to support monitoring, documentation and convoy operations.