Friday November 14, 2025
Mogadishu airport immigration officers process arriving passengers under Somalia’s new e-visa system. Photo credit: Immigration & Citizenship Agency
Mogadishu (HOL) — The United Kingdom has warned its citizens to expect conflicting visa requirements across Somalia after the federal government’s new e-visa system triggered disputes with regional authorities in Somaliland and Puntland, leading to confusion at airports and border points.
In updated guidance, the UK says “you must have a visa to enter Somalia, including Somaliland.” Travellers flying to Mogadishu must apply for an e-visa before arrival, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said. But passengers heading to Hargeisa may still be asked to show the federal e-visa at check-in even though “it will not be considered valid for entry when you arrive in Hargeisa.”
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Visitors entering Hargeisa must instead buy a Somaliland-issued visa on arrival, valid for one month. The FCDO said it remains unclear whether visas on arrival are available at other entry points and urged travellers to confirm requirements with airlines, local officials or sponsoring organizations.The rollout of the federal e-visa system on Sept. 1 has intensified long-standing disputes over authority within Somalia’s federal structure. Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991, does not accept the federal e-visa and warns that anyone arriving with one will be denied entry. Aviation Minister Fu’aad Ahmed Nuuh told the BBC the federal system cannot be used to enter Somaliland “by land, air or sea.”
Puntland has also rejected the federal requirement. Several travellers, including BBC journalist Fardawsa Hanshi, reported being asked to pay $60 for a separate Puntland visa despite holding a federal Somali e-visa that had already been accepted in Mogadishu. Puntland immigration officers told travellers the electronic visa “does not work in Puntland.”
The federal government says the e-visa was introduced to modernize border control and ensure that all travellers apply for entry clearance before arriving in the country. But the disputes underscore broader political tensions between Mogadishu and federal member states over control of ports, airports and security institutions.
The FCDO also warns that passports must be valid for at least six months from the date of arrival. Travellers may be required to present a letter of invitation explaining the purpose of their visit, and entry may be refused without one.
The UK notes strict customs rules, including a ban on exporting khat. Although the drug is legal in Somalia and Somaliland, travellers found carrying it out of the country, particularly through Mogadishu and Hargeisa airports, are “likely to face criminal prosecution,” the advisory says.
The UK continues to advise against all travel to parts of Somalia because of security concerns and limited consular support.
- With files from the BBC Somali Service