Somalia’s new eVisa: What diaspora and visitors must know

Somalia has made visas mandatory for anyone entering with a foreign passport, including Somali‑origin travelers in the diaspora. The rule dovetails with a nationwide shift to a new online Electronic Visa and Travel Authorization System.

What changed and when
– Announcement: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told an audience in Mogadishu on the night of Wednesday September 17, 2025, that holders of foreign passports may not enter Somalia without a visa. Coverage was published on Thursday September 18, 2025.
– Rationale: The president framed the move as equal treatment for all foreign‑passport holders and part of a broader digitalization drive.
– Effective system rollout: Somalia’s eVisa platform became mandatory for foreign visitors beginning September 1, 2025.

Who must get a visa
– Required: All travelers using a non‑Somali passport, including ethnic Somalis in the diaspora.
– Not required: Somali passport holders do not need a visa to enter Somalia.

Official application portals
– Primary portal: etas.gov.so for new eVisa applications and tracking.
– Legacy portal notice and redirect: evisa.gov.so now points applicants to the new eTAS site.
– Immigration agency site: immigration.gov.so provides institutional information and service links.

Visa types offered via eTAS
The eVisa service is available for tourism, family visits, business, transit, permitted paid engagements, short‑term study up to six months, private medical treatment, marriage or civil partnership, and academic visits, including dependants.

Eligible countries and exemptions
According to the eTAS portal’s published policy:
– Visa‑free entry: Rwanda, Malaysia.
– Visa on arrival eligibility: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Burundi, Mauritania, Tanzania, Uganda, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Comoros.
– Additional exemptions: Travelers holding multiple‑entry visas or residence permits and holders of United Nations Laissez‑Passer may be exempt from the eTA requirement.
Important: Earlier embassy advisories that allowed broader visa on arrival, including for U.S. citizens and Somali‑origin travelers, predate the September 2025 eVisa mandate and may no longer reflect current policy. Always follow the eTAS site guidance.

Duration of permitted stay and validity
– Entry validity: Issued eTAS is a single entry. Entry must occur within 180 days of the stated arrival date.
– Length of stay: The portal instructs travelers to exit before the end of the permitted stay. Specific stay duration is defined on the issued visa rather than in a public schedule.

Passport validity and documents
– Minimum passport validity: At least six months from the date of entry and at least one blank page.
– Recommended to carry: Printed or digital copy of the approved eVisa in case of system outages.

How to apply for a Somalia eVisa

1. Go to etas.gov.so and select Apply.
2. Create an account or sign in.
3. Complete the application in stages: personal data, passport scan, selfie or passport photo, travel itinerary and proposed arrival date, accommodation details, physical address in Somalia, travel history, and security questions.
4. Review and submit.
5. Pay the application fee online.
6. Track status and download the approved PDF when issued. Note that fees are generally non‑refundable once processing begins.

How Visa on Arrival works for exempt travelers
– Eligibility: Only citizens of the countries listed under visa‑on‑arrival eligibility, or those covered by explicit exemptions on the eTAS site, can use VOA. The portal indicates that citizens of exempt countries receive free visas on arrival.
– What to bring: A passport valid for six months, a return or onward ticket, accommodation details, and supporting documents consistent with the visit purpose. Travelers should verify airline policies before boarding.

Regional variations to know about
– Somaliland has publicly stated it will continue issuing visas on arrival at Hargeisa’s Egal International Airport and does not recognize external electronic authorizations for entry into Somaliland. Travelers heading specifically to Hargeisa should confirm rules with Somaliland authorities and their airline.

Government messaging and context
– The presidency and local outlets linked the visa mandate to security, reciprocity, and modernization. Officials stressed that a person traveling on a foreign passport is subject to the same visa rules as any other foreigner.
– The shift forms part of a broader push to digitize border and identity systems, including a national ID rollout referenced in contemporaneous speeches.

Practical notes for Somali‑origin travelers
– If you are traveling with a foreign passport, assume you must apply online for an eVisa unless your nationality appears under visa‑free or visa‑on‑arrival exemptions on the eTAS site.
– Check your printed visa for your permitted stay, keep a copy on your phone, and ensure your passport has six months of validity on arrival.
– When in doubt, rely on the ICA’s official portals and contact information on the eTAS site for case‑specific confirmation.

Key official websites
– eVisa and eTAS applications and tracking: etas.gov.so and the redirect notice at evisa.gov.so.
– Immigration and Citizenship Agency information hub: immigration.gov.so.

Sources
– https://allafrica.com/stories/202509190066.html
– https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2025/Sept/202966/somali_president_foreign_passports_cannot_be_used_to_enter_somalia_without_a_visa.aspx
– https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/africa/article/2001528056/somalia-introduces-evisas-from-sept-1
– https://somalimagazine.so/somalia-launches-mandatory-e-visa-system-for-all-foreign-travelers-from-september-2025/
– https://www.radiodalsan.com/somali-president-reaffirms-importance-of-e-visa-and-national-id-mogadishu-sept-18-2025-caasimada-online-somali-president-hassan-sheikh-mohamud-on-thursday-stressed-the-mandatory-use-of/
– https://somalilandreporter.com/2025/09/10/somaliland-rejects-somalias-new-e-visa-system/