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Byevisa » Somalia Visitor Visa

A visa is required. We cannot assist in processing this document, but we provide instructions on how to apply.

All About the Visa for Somalia

If you are contemplating a trip to Somalia, you can read this page to find out everything you need to know about travelling to this country in East Africa, whether you plan to visit the old city of Mogadishu or the famous cave paintings of Laas Geel.

Unlike some countries that have different categories of entry conditions that vary according to the visitor’s nationality, the government in Somalia keeps things very simple by having the same policies for all tourists visiting the country.

All visitors to this East African country, regardless of your nationality, must obtain a visa. This means there are no visa-free countries to Somalia.

However, you will be pleased to know that the government offers a Visa on Arrival (VoA). As such, you won’t need to spend time and money going to an embassy or consulate and waiting in a queue to apply for a travel permit.

Please note that a VoA can only be issued at designated entry points. If you are not planning on entering the country at one of these locations, you may need to make prior arrangements to obtain an entry permit before travelling to the country.

Read on to find out all the requirements and conditions to visit this African country, including which ports of entry can issue a VoA and what documents you must bring with you to be granted this document!

What Is the Difference Between a Somalia Visa on Arrival vs an Embassy Visa?

First of all, let’s see what the difference is between getting a VoA and an embassy visa. In terms of the document itself, there isn’t much difference between the two, as they are both Single Entry permits that grant tourists entry into the country. However, the number of days granted does vary, as you get 30 days with a VoA and up to 90 days with an embassy visa.

The only other difference is the way in which you obtain the travel permit. Most visitors opt for the convenience of a VoA. This permit is issued directly after you arrive in the country at the immigration desks at the airport. Even if you have to queue for a while, this remains the quickest and most convenient way to get your travel permit.

On the other hand, the embassy visa is issued by a diplomatic mission of Somalia. In this case, you will need to make an appointment at the embassy several weeks before your planned departure date. The advantage of this option is, although it requires some pre-planning and time to visit the embassy, you will have your entry permit before actually traveling to the country, so you may choose this for peace of mind.

Somalia Visa Application Process

As we mentioned, the process of getting a travel permit is fairly straightforward, as you can get it when you arrive in the country. However, there are a few things you should be aware of.

VoA

As you probably know, the VoA is issued at the immigration desks upon arrival in the country. However, not all ports of entry are set up to issue visas. Here is the list of entry points that can issue a VoA:

  • Bosaso Airport in Bosaso
  • Garowe Airport in Garowe
  • Abdullahi Yusuf Airport in Galkayo
  • Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu
  • Kismayo Airport in Kismayo

Embassy Visa

If you wish to obtain your permit before travelling, you should know that not all embassies can issue travel documents. As such, you should always check with the embassy directly or look for the information on their website if they have one. The Somalia embassies that issue visas most regularly are the ones in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Nairobi, Kenya.

Here is the list of Somalia diplomatic missions for your reference:

Africa

Algeria – Algiers
Burundi – Bujumbura
Djibouti – Djibouti City
Egypt – Cairo
Ethiopia – Addis Ababa
Kenya – Nairobi
Libya- Tripoli
Rwanda – Kigali
South Africa – Pretoria
South Sudan – Juba
Sudan – Khartoum
Tanzania – Dar es Salaam
Uganda – Kampala
Zambia – Lusaka

Asia

China – Beijing
India – New Delhi
Indonesia – Jakarta
Iraq – Baghdad
Kuwait – Kuwait City
Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur
Oman – Muscat
Pakistan – Islamabad
Qatar – Doha
Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Jeddah
Syria – Damascus
Turkey – Ankara
United Arab Emirates – Abu Dhabi, Dubai
Yemen – San‘a’, Aden

Americas

Canada – Ottawa
United States – Washington, D.C.

Europe

Belgium – Brussels
France – Paris
Germany – Berlin
Italy – Rome
Russia – Moscow
Serbia – Belgrade
The United Kingdom – London

Somalia Visa Requirements and Eligibility

Unlike most other countries worldwide, Somalia has adopted the same entry policies for all nationalities visiting the country.

Check Visa Eligibility

Equally, though, the policies, requirements, and conditions will vary depending on the purpose of your trip. While those visiting for tourism are eligible for a VoA, if you are visiting for other reasons, like to work or study in the country, you will have to follow different procedures.

Furthermore, all visitors to this country must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months from their arrival date in the country and with 2 blank pages for the entry and exit stamps.

In addition, you should be aware of the fact that entering the country from Somaliland may involve some complications in terms of visas. Read on to find out more.
Somaliland

If you are planning on entering the country from Somaliland, you should be aware that this territory doesn’t consider itself part of Somalia and, as such, they issue their own visa. A Somaliland visa will not be officially recognised in other parts of Somalia and vice-versa. Therefore, if you intend to visit Somaliland during your stay, you will need to get a separate Somaliland travel permit.

Somalia Application Form and Documents

Regardless of whether you are applying for an embassy visa or for a VoA, you will need to present the following documents:

  • A completed and signed application form.
  • 2 recent passport-size photographs.
  • USD cash to pay for the fee.
  • Confirmation of return or onward travel bookings.
  • Confirmation of accommodation bookings or letter of invitation if staying with a host.

Application Form

The application form is usually a 3-page document, divided into 2 parts. The first part is related to your personal details, the second is about your trip. Here’s the information you will be asked to provide:

1) Personal Details

Given names
Family names
Gender
Date and place of birth
Type of passport
Passport number
Nationality
Issue date
Expiry date
Marital status
Name of spouse, if applicable
Nationality of spouse
Their place of birth
Their date of birth
Current address of spouse
Field of employment
Current occupation

Employer

Employer’s contact info
Your permanent home address
Your email address
Your telephone number

2) Travel Information

  • Details of any previous visits to the country
  • Details of any previous stays in Africa
  • Reasons for visa application
  • Places to be visited
  • Details of any children accompanying you

Somalia Visa Status Check

It’s likely you will be getting your travel document directly at the airport when you arrive, so you won’t need to worry about waiting times.

In the event you decide to apply for a travel permit from an embassy in advance, you will need to wait several working days for your document to be processed. In this case, you can check the status of your application by contacting the embassy directly.

How Much Does a Somalia Visa Cost?

The rate for a Single Entry permit valid for 30 days is 60 USD, regardless of your nationality or the length of your stay.

The VoA must be paid in US dollars and in cash at the immigration desk, so it’s essential you have 60 USD in cash on you when you arrive.

Often you will find currency exchange facilities at airports. However, we recommend not relying on these and using them just in case of emergency, as it can occur that they run out of the currency you need. The best thing to do is to exchange cash in your country before you leave.

More Somalia Visa Questions and Information

There you have it: everything you need to know about getting a visa for Somalia. Still have a question? Use the handy FAQ section below to find your answer.

The standard VoA for tourism grants visitors a stay of up to 30 days. If you wish to stay longer, you should visit one of the immigration offices in the country and apply for a visa extension.

On the other hand, it’s possible to get a travel document valid for 90 days when you apply at an embassy before travelling.

Since the visa is issued on arrival, you won’t need to apply prior to your trip. Nonetheless, you should look into all the documents you need to bring with you in advance, so you can be certain you won’t be missing anything when the time comes to travel to Somalia.
The official government website offers an overview of the visa policies of the country, among other things. However, you can find all the most relevant information for those wishing to visit Somalia for tourism, right here on this page.
No, you won’t need to print the permit, as it will be given to you at the border. However, we do recommend you print a copy of your return flight tickets and your hotel bookings to show at the immigration desk.
The tourist permit for this country is issued upon arrival at designated ports of entry. However, you may need to queue for a while before your document is issued.
If your travel permit is denied, the best thing to do is to find out from the border authorities what you can do to be granted a visa. To minimise the risk of this situation occurring, make sure you have all the required documents and fulfill the entry criteria before departing.
To enter the country, all visitors must have a passport valid for at least 6 months and with 2 blank pages. If you realize your passport does not fulfill these requirements, you must renew your passport before travelling to this country.
Since all nationalities follow the same rules when it comes to visiting this African nation, you don’t need to worry about what policies apply to each of your passports. Simply pick one and use that same one throughout your trip.
British citizens are eligible for a VoA for Somalia. This means that you can get your travel document as you arrive in the country. Be sure to check out the ‘Forms and Documents’ section above to find out what you must bring with you.
Yes, there is. Just like all other nationalities worldwide, US citizens need a visa to visit Somalia. The good news is that you can obtain your permit upon arrival at the airport in the following cities: Bosaso, Garowe, Galkayo, Mogadishu, and Kismayo.
If you are curious about what your travel permit will look like, here is an example of a Somalia VoA:
Before setting off on your trip, you may wish to read up on the country further. We use this section to include links to relevant resources you may be interested in.
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