Somali President Hassan Sheikh announces new visa rules for foreign passport holders

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at a past event. (Villa Somalia)

By Abdirahman Khalif
Thursday, September 18, 2025

He said that no Somali citizen is able to travel to another country using a Somali passport without first applying for a visa, and therefore, the same principle should apply to foreigners and to Somalis who use foreign passports.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has announced that anyone who seeks to enter Somalia with a foreign passport will now be required to obtain a visa. The decision also applies to Somalis who carry passports issued by other countries.

The announcement was made on Wednesday night in Mogadishu during an event that showcased the achievements of the federal cabinet over the past three years.

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The President used the occasion to emphasise the importance of equal treatment in international travel regulations. He said that no Somali citizen is able to travel to another country using a Somali passport without first applying for a visa, and therefore, the same principle should apply to foreigners and to Somalis who use foreign passports.

“You cannot enter another country with a Somali passport without a visa. In the same way, a foreigner or a Somali citizen with a foreign passport cannot enter our country without a visa,” President Hassan said.

He explained that Somali citizens who hold Somali passports do not need visas to return to their country. He clarified that this exemption does not apply to those who use foreign passports, and he noted that all travellers using documents issued by other governments must comply with visa regulations before travelling to Somalia.

“A person with a foreign passport, whether Somali or white, is the same,” the President said. “I ask you, is there a Somali passport that allows you to go to any foreign country without a visa? The answer is no. Likewise, you cannot enter Somalia without a visa on a foreign passport.”

The statement came less than three weeks after the official introduction of Somalia’s new electronic visa system.

The Immigration and Citizenship Agency launched the E-Visa and Electronic Travel Authorisation System on September 1, 2025.

The new system requires all foreigners, as well as Somali nationals who use foreign passports, to apply for visas before arrival. The system is managed through the government’s online portal at evisa.gov.so.

The Immigration and Citizenship Agency has said that the move is part of a wider plan to modernise immigration procedures, strengthen border security, improve the transparency of government revenues, and reduce dependence on paper documentation.

The agency stated that the digital system is designed to process applications in advance, simplify record-keeping, and give the government better oversight of those who enter the country.

The government has also outlined some exemptions under the new regulations. The rules do not apply to holders of diplomatic passports, United Nations Laissez-Passer passports, travellers who already have multiple-entry visas or Somali residency permits, and citizens of countries that have signed visa-free agreements with Somalia.

Since the rollout of the E-Visa system, there have been reports of confusion among members of the Somali diaspora. Some travellers said that they applied for visas online but were later denied boarding because of questions over the type of passport they were using.

Others reported that they were charged extra fees upon arrival despite having already completed the application process.

The new policy has raised questions about its impact on Somalis living abroad, many of whom travel frequently to visit relatives or to conduct business. Critics argue that applying the same requirement to Somali citizens who use foreign passports places an additional burden on the diaspora community.