Hundreds of Sudanese Students in Oman Stranded After Visa Delays Block University Entry to Egypt

A growing crisis is unfolding among Sudanese students in Oman, many of whom have been unable to travel to Egypt to begin their university studies for the 2024–2025 academic year due to prolonged visa delays.

According to student representatives, around 230 Sudanese students accepted into Egyptian universities have been waiting for months for their entry visas, despite the academic year officially starting on September 20. Some institutions, including Kafr El Sheikh and Benha Universities, have already set exam dates for mid-October, while others such as Cairo University and Ain Shams have closed registration deadlines, Sudan Tribune reported.

Criticism of Egyptian Embassy and Security Delays

The students directed sharp criticism at the Egyptian Embassy in Muscat, accusing it of delaying visa issuance and security approvals, even though the Sudanese Embassy in Cairo previously confirmed that its endorsement letters were recognized as sufficient security clearance.

Students expressed frustration that their applications were not being accepted directly by the Egyptian mission, but instead required submission through the Sudanese Embassy, a procedure they described as discriminatory and applied only to Sudanese nationals.

Complaints of Poor Treatment at Embassies

Several students reported mistreatment at both the Sudanese and Egyptian embassies, alleging they were sometimes denied entry to reception areas or expelled in a humiliating manner.
They voiced disappointment with the Sudanese Embassy, which they said failed to act decisively or engage directly with Egyptian authorities to resolve the crisis. “The ambassador keeps citing meetings and offers no tangible progress,” one student said.

Limited Efforts by Sudanese Embassy

In response, the Sudanese Embassy in Oman stated that it had contacted the Egyptian mission in Muscat as early as late August to request facilitation of student visa procedures, but no official reply has been received.

Embassy representative Ahmed Abdel Basit told Sudan Tribune that the Egyptian side requested an Excel list of students’ names last week to cross-check with data from Egyptian authorities.

Efforts to Expedite Coordination with Cairo

The Sudanese Embassy said it had coordinated with its counterpart in Cairo to press for urgent resolution and had forwarded the students’ lists to Egypt’s Foreign Ministry and the General Administration for International Students.

It added that the case is now a top priority, amid growing pressure from students and families who fear losing an entire academic year.

Overloaded Visa System

Embassy officials confirmed that the number of pending visa requests had soared from 224 to over 500, including not only students but also patients and property owners. The Egyptian Embassy, however, reportedly processes only 15 applications per week, worsening the backlog and delaying any potential resolution.

Hope for Imminent Resolution

According to Abdel Basit, the issue was raised by Sudan’s Foreign Ministry during the recent visit of the Egyptian Foreign Minister to Port Sudan, where assurances were given that the matter would be resolved “immediately.”

For now, students remain in limbo — their academic year slipping away as bureaucratic hurdles continue to separate them from their classrooms.