Buying property in Sudan from abroad

Last checked 2026-10-03

Since the war began in April 2023, land offices and court records have been damaged in several states, and normal property transactions have been severely disrupted. We don't recommend buying property in Sudan from abroad until registries are working normally again.

If you already own property

  • Keep certified copies of your title documents and any registry records outside Sudan.
  • Photograph the property and record its location if you can do so safely.
  • Be wary of anyone offering to buy or "manage" property in a conflict area: forged documents and sales by people who do not own the land are a known risk.

If you still want to buy

  • Use a Sudanese lawyer you choose yourself, and confirm the title against the official land registration system, not only documents from the seller.
  • In rural areas, land may also be held under customary systems managed by traditional authorities, alongside the government register.

Selling or letting from abroad

Many people abroad own property in Sudan: a house they built, family land, or a home they inherited. You can usually sell it or let it out without travelling, but owners who live abroad are also a common target for fraud. These are the general steps. The rules, taxes and forms in Sudan are for a lawyer there to confirm. In Sudan, land registries and courts may not be working normally, so expect every check to take longer, and read the risks above before you agree anything.

Selling from abroad

  1. Confirm the property is registered in your name. If it belonged to a relative who has died, the estate usually has to be settled and the title transferred to the heirs before anyone can sell it.
  2. Hire your own lawyer in Sudan, not one introduced by the buyer or an agent.
  3. Get a current official search of the title, so you know what the buyer's lawyer will see.
  4. If someone will sign for you, give them a power of attorney limited to this one property and this one sale, with an end date. Ask your lawyer how it must be signed and authenticated (before a notary, by apostille or through the embassy) and whether it must be registered.
  5. Ask your lawyer which taxes and fees fall on the seller, such as tax on the gain and transfer or stamp duties, and whether any tax clearance is needed before the transfer.
  6. Have the buyer pay into your lawyer's client account or your own bank account, never to a relative or agent personally.
  7. Ask your bank and lawyer how to move the money abroad, and keep the paperwork that shows where it came from.

Letting it out from abroad

  • Use a written tenancy agreement and keep a copy yourself.
  • Choose a manager or agent you can check up on, and agree in writing what they collect, what they charge and when they pay you.
  • Ask about tax on rent. Many countries tax rent earned there even when the owner lives abroad, and some make tenants withhold tax from rent paid to owners abroad.
  • Have someone you trust visit regularly, and check the title register now and then. Forged sales of absent owners' property are common.

Warning signs for owners abroad

  • An agent or relative asking for a general power of attorney over everything you own.
  • A buyer who wants to pay in cash, or to pay someone other than you or your lawyer.
  • Pressure to sign before your own lawyer has seen the documents.
  • Someone else listing or showing your property without your knowledge.

Own a home in Sudan? List it for sale or rent yourself, free.

Common questions

Can I buy land in Sudan now?

Transactions are severely disrupted by the war that began in 2023, and some land and court records have been damaged. Buying from abroad carries a very high risk until registries work normally.

Were land records destroyed?

Some court and land offices have been damaged; in places such as Zalingei, officials reported that most land records were kept safe and many are computerised. Check the specific registry through a lawyer.

How can I protect property I already own in Sudan?

Keep certified copies of your title and registry documents outside the country, and be wary of offers to buy or manage your property from people you cannot verify.

Can I sell my property in Sudan while living abroad?

Usually, yes. Most sales from abroad go through a local lawyer and a representative holding a power of attorney limited to the one sale. Ask a lawyer in Sudan how that power of attorney must be signed and registered.

Do I pay tax when I sell property in Sudan?

Often. Many countries tax the gain on a property sale and charge transfer or stamp duties, including for owners who live abroad. Ask a lawyer or tax adviser in Sudan what applies before you agree a price.

Can I list my own property on ResidentFinder?

Yes. Owners can list a home for sale or for rent themselves, without an agent, and listing is free. Buyers and renters contact you directly through ResidentFinder.

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Sources

This guide is general information, not legal advice, and is not definitive. Laws, fees and procedures change; confirm every step with a licensed lawyer in the country before you pay anything.