Somalia visa and entry requirementsElectronic Visa (eTAS)
- Fee
- Not published
- Processing
- —
- Validity
- 180 days
- Entries
- single
Somalia visa and entry requirements
Somalia's Immigration and Citizenship Agency says that from 1 September 2025 all foreign nationals wishing to travel to Somalia must apply online for their entry authorisation in advance of their journey, rather than on arrival, through the official portal at etas.gov.so. Its eTAS portal, in an archived copy, says holders of passports from Rwanda and Malaysia are granted visa-free entry, and those from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Burundi, Mauritania, Tanzania, Uganda, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt and Comoros are eligible for visas on arrival. The UK government says the eVisa is not considered valid for entry at Hargeisa, where you must buy a single-entry visa on arrival.
Every fact on this page verified on or after: Sep 26, 2026· How this site works
Check requirements for your passport
Requirements differ by nationality. Select your passport above, or scan the full table below.
Visas & entry authorisations
Entry requirements
Passport validity
The UK Foreign Office says that to enter Somalia, including Somaliland, your passport must have an expiry date at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
Vaccinations
Conditional- Yellow fever (ICVP) — Not an entry requirement: WHO's country list gives Somalia's country requirement at entry as no, and the US CDC says the vaccine is not required. Both say vaccination is generally not recommended for travel to the regions of Bakool, Banaadir, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Lower and Middle Juba and Lower and Middle Shabelle, and the CDC says it is not recommended for other areas.
- Malaria prophylaxis — The US CDC recommends that travellers going to Somalia take prescription medicine to prevent malaria, and to keep taking the rest of the pills after returning home if a doctor prescribed antimalarial medicine.
Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: cdn.who.int (opens in a new tab)
Travel insurance
Not officially statedNo official source we could read states a travel insurance requirement for Somalia. The UK government advises adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad, evacuation by air ambulance and repatriation.
Verified Oct 4, 2026 · Source: gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Onward or return ticket
Not officially statedNo official source we could read states an onward-ticket requirement for Somalia. The US State Department says travellers arriving without an onward ticket and/or clear reason for travel may be refused entry.
Verified Oct 4, 2026 · Source: travel.state.gov (opens in a new tab) · archived copy May 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Proof of funds
Not officially statedNo official source we could read states a proof-of-funds requirement or amount for Somalia.
Verified Oct 7, 2026 · Source: immigration.gov.so (opens in a new tab)
Customs & currency
The UK government says that in Somaliland you must declare cash or travellers cheques if the value is 10,000 US dollars or more. No official source we could read states a threshold for the rest of Somalia.
- The UK government says the drinking and sale of alcohol is banned in Somalia.
- The UK government says khat is a legal drug in Somalia but it is an offence to take it out of the country, that officials regularly search bags at Hargeisa and Mogadishu airports, and that anyone found in possession of khat is likely to face criminal prosecution.
Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Country in a nutshell
- Currency
- Somali shilling (SOS, Sh.So.)
- Cards & payments
- The UK government says credit cards are not widely accepted in Somalia and it is not possible to get currency advances using a credit card, and that the US dollar is the main currency for exchanging. Canada says US dollars are widely accepted and that ATMs are available in major cities, usually in hotels, malls and other secure areas.
- Safety — High risk
- The UK government advises against all travel to Somalia, including Somaliland, except the regions of Awdal, Maroodijeh and Sahil, where it advises against all but essential travel; Canada advises avoiding all travel. The UK says terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Somalia, including Somaliland, and that there is a high threat of kidnapping throughout Somalia, including in Somaliland.Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: gov.uk (opens in a new tab) · archived copy Aug 25, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Power plugs
- C · 220V 50Hz
- Emergency numbers
- Police: 888 · Ambulance: 999 · Fire: 555
- Languages
- Somali, Arabic
- Time zone
- UTC+3
- Tap water
- not for drinking. Use bottled
Best time to visit
No official source we could read gives seasonal guidance for visitors. The UK government says the main rainy season in Somalia takes place between April and June, followed by lesser rains in October and November.
Tips & warnings
The UK government advises against all travel to Somalia, including Somaliland, except the regions of Awdal, Maroodijeh and Sahil, where it advises against all but essential travel; Canada advises avoiding all travel to Somalia. The UK says travelling by road in Somalia is dangerous and that you should get advice from a security firm or a sponsoring organisation.
The UK government says that if you are travelling to Hargeisa International Airport you may be asked to present the Somali eVisa to board your flight, but it will not be considered valid for entry in Hargeisa; you must buy a single-entry visa on arrival there, valid for one month.
The Immigration and Citizenship Agency says that from 1 September 2025 all foreign nationals wishing to travel to Somalia must apply for their entry authorisation online, in advance of their journey. It encourages visitors to apply well ahead of their planned travel dates, to rely only on the official platform at etas.gov.so, and to keep a copy of their approved authorisation for presentation on arrival.
The UK government says credit cards are not widely accepted in Somalia and the US dollar is the main currency for exchanging, and that in Hargeisa you can withdraw US dollars from ATMs using international credit and debit cards.
Visa requirements by nationality
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cabo Verde
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Costa Rica
Côte d'Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czechia
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
North Korea
North Macedonia
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Republic of the Congo
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
São Tomé and Príncipe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Africa
South Korea
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
ZimbabweStay lengths are for ordinary tourist visits. Click a nationality for its full guide.
No official page we read states the rule for 1 nationalities, so the table leaves them out: Israel.
Neighboring countries
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Somalia?
Somalia's Immigration and Citizenship Agency says that since 1 September 2025 all foreign nationals wishing to travel to Somalia must apply for their entry authorisation online, before departure rather than on arrival, through etas.gov.so. Its eTAS portal, in an archived copy, lists exceptions: Rwanda and Malaysia (visa-free entry) and Djibouti, Ethiopia, Burundi, Mauritania, Tanzania, Uganda, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt and Comoros (visas on arrival). No official source we could read publishes the eVisa fee.
Is it safe to travel to Somalia?
The UK government advises against all travel to Somalia, including Somaliland, except the regions of Awdal, Maroodijeh and Sahil, where it advises against all but essential travel, and says terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks; Canada advises avoiding all travel to Somalia. The UK says it can offer only limited consular support.
Is Somaliland's visa different from Somalia's?
The UK government tells people travelling on a full British citizen passport that if they are travelling to Hargeisa International Airport they may be asked to present the Somali eVisa to board your flight, but it will not be considered valid for entry in Hargeisa; they must buy a single-entry visa on arrival at Hargeisa International Airport, valid for one month.
Can I pay for the Somali visa on arrival in cash?
No official source we could read states a fee. The eTAS portal, in an archived copy, says citizens of countries exempted from eTAS will get a free visa on arrival; for everyone else, the Immigration and Citizenship Agency says that since 1 September 2025 all foreign nationals must apply for their entry authorisation online before travelling.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate for Somalia?
No. WHO's country list gives Somalia's country requirement at entry as no, and the US CDC says the vaccine is not required for entry.
Sources & verification
Every fact on this page is compiled from and periodically re-checked against these official sources:
- Australian Government (Smartraveller) — Somalia travel advice: health (opens in a new tab)
- Federal Parliament of Somalia — Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia (2026), article 5 (opens in a new tab)
- Government of Canada — Travel advice and advisories for Somalia (opens in a new tab)
- IEC World Plugs (International Electrotechnical Commission) — plug types, voltage and frequency by location (opens in a new tab)
- Immigration and Citizenship Agency of Somalia — launch of the Electronic Travel Authorisation System (E-Visa/ETAS) (opens in a new tab)
- Immigration and Citizenship Agency of Somalia — Our services: visa services and their requirements (no funds requirement listed) (opens in a new tab)
- Somalia E-Visa/ETAS portal (Immigration and Citizenship Agency) — Countries Exempted from eTAS (archived 1 December 2025) (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Department of State — Somalia international travel information (opens in a new tab)
- UK FCDO — Somalia travel advice: entry requirements (opens in a new tab)
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — Somalia safety and security (opens in a new tab)
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — Somalia travel advice (opens in a new tab)
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — Somalia travel advice (health) (opens in a new tab)
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — Somalia travel advice: getting help (opens in a new tab)
- United Nations — Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 13(2) (opens in a new tab)
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Travelers' health: Somalia (opens in a new tab)
- WHO — International Travel and Health: country list of vaccination requirements (2022, revised 2023) (opens in a new tab)
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us, with the official source