Suriname requires most visitors to obtain a visa before arrival, either as an electronic tourist card or a traditional visa depending on nationality. Citizens of Brazil, Cuba, Dominica, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and South Korea receive visa-free entry for stays between 30 and 90 days depending on the specific bilateral agreement. The Suriname e-visa system launched in 2018 processes applications for eligible nationalities including United States, Canada, and most European Union member states. Processing typically takes three to five business days and costs between 25 and 90 USD depending on entry type and duration. The official government portal is www.embassyofsuriname.org for consular services, though visa applications route through evisa.gov.sr. Paper visa applications remain necessary for some African and Asian nationalities and require submission to a Surinamese embassy or consulate. Tourist cards purchased on arrival existed until 2017 but were discontinued.
Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport lies 45 kilometers south of Paramaribo near Zanderij. The airport receives direct flights from Amsterdam on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, from Miami on Surinam Airways, from Port of Spain on Caribbean Airlines, and from Belém and Paramaribo on Gol Linhas Aéreas. Surinam Airways historically operated Boeing 747 service but now flies Boeing 737 and Airbus A340 aircraft on long-haul routes. The drive from Pengel Airport to central Paramaribo takes 50 to 75 minutes on the East-West Highway depending on traffic conditions. Licensed taxis wait outside the terminal building and charge fixed rates of approximately 100 to 120 Surinamese dollars for the journey. Private transfer companies operate shuttle vans for 50 to 70 Surinamese dollars per person with advance booking. Public buses do not serve the airport directly. Rental car counters from Budget, Avis, and local companies operate inside the terminal but require advance reservation during peak periods.
The Surinamese dollar replaced the Surinamese guilder on January 1, 2004 at a conversion rate of 1000 guilders to 1 dollar. The Central Bank of Suriname issues banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 dollars. Coins exist in values of 1, 5, 10, 25, 100, and 250 cents. The currency floats but experiences periodic devaluation pressure. The exchange rate fluctuated from approximately 7 Surinamese dollars per United States dollar in 2015 to 14 per dollar in 2020 to rates exceeding 30 per dollar by 2023. United States dollars circulate widely and many businesses post prices in both currencies. Euro acceptance exists but remains less common than dollar acceptance.
Banks in Paramaribo include De Surinaamsche Bank founded in 1865, Hakrinbank established in 1995, and Republic Bank Suriname which entered the market in 2013. Banking hours run Monday through Friday from 07:30 to 14:00 or 15:00 depending on the institution. ATMs dispense both Surinamese dollars and United States dollars at machines operated by DSB, Hakrinbank, and Finabank. ATMs in Paramaribo accept Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, and Cirrus network cards. Daily withdrawal limits typically range from 1000 to 2000 Surinamese dollars or equivalent in United States dollars. ATMs outside Paramaribo exist only in Nieuw Nickerie, Lelydorp, and Moengo. Villages and interior locations operate on cash-only basis.
Credit card acceptance concentrates in hotels, upscale restaurants, and some supermarkets in Paramaribo. Visa enjoys wider acceptance than Mastercard. American Express and Discover cards see limited acceptance. Street vendors, markets, small restaurants, and transportation providers require cash payment. Travelers checks ceased being practical by 2010 and find almost no acceptance. Money exchange offices operate on Domineestraat and Waterkant in central Paramaribo. Hotels exchange currency but offer rates 5 to 10 percent worse than banks or exchange offices. Arriving with some United States dollar cash provides security since ATM networks occasionally experience technical interruptions lasting hours or days.
Departure tax of 50 United States dollars or equivalent Surinamese dollars applies to international flights leaving Suriname. Airlines increasingly include this fee in ticket prices but passengers should verify whether separate payment remains necessary. The tax office at Pengel Airport accepts cash payment in United States dollars, euros, or Surinamese dollars. Credit card payment for departure tax became available in 2019 but not all terminals maintain working card readers.