Since September 1, 2025, Somalia has required international travelers to obtain an electronic visa (e-Visa), which must be requested online before departure.
However, the rollout of this new system clashes with Somalia’s complex institutional reality. Officially, the country is a federal republic made up of several semi-autonomous states:
- Puntland, in the northeast, is an autonomous federal state that recognizes Somali unity but runs its own institutions, including its airports and immigration services.
- Somaliland, in the northwest, self-declared independence in 1991 and operates as a de facto sovereign state, despite lacking international recognition. It has its own constitution, government, military, and issues its own visas.
Against this backdrop, Mogadishu’s decision to impose a single, centralized e-Visa system has triggered significant political tensions and created major confusion for travelers.
Puntland rejects the e-Visa: “An illegal initiative”
The Puntland government, based in Garowe, argues that introducing a centralized e-Visa system violates its constitutional powers.
Puntland’s Minister of Information, Mahmoud Aydiid Dirir, stated that visa issuance and airport management fall exclusively under regional authority. According to him, Mogadishu is acting “illegally” by enforcing a system without prior agreement.
“We condemn it. It is robbery what the Federal Government of Somalia is doing” said Mahmoud Aydiid Dirir. “Until a formal agreement is reached, the central government has no legal authority to control people landing at the country’s airports,” the minister explained.
In practice, several travelers arriving at Garowe Airport have already reported being charged an additional $60 on arrival, on top of the $64 paid online for the e-Visa. This highlights an ongoing fiscal and political standoff between Mogadishu and Puntland.
Somaliland confirms visa-on-arrival policy
On September 9, 2025, Somaliland’s Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports Development issued a statement reaffirming that the region will continue its visa-on-arrival policy, regardless of Somalia’s new electronic visa system.
“In line with current procedures, all international travelers arriving at Egal International Airport and other airports under Somaliland’s jurisdiction will continue to be granted a Visa on Arrival. This policy does not require travelers to submit electronic applications or obtain prior authorizations,” the ministry declared.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation states that “the Visa on Arrival system remains a key component of Somaliland’s efforts to facilitate seamless air travel and support economic growth in the business, tourism, and humanitarian sectors. The Government remains dedicated to ensuring air travel to Somaliland is accessible, efficient, and secure.”
The ministry also emphasizes that “no Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) or visa issued by any external authority other than the Somaliland Immigration Authority is valid for entry into the Republic of Somaliland.”
Fuad Ahmed Nuh, Somaliland’s Minister of Civil Aviation and Airport Development, added: “This reaffirmation reflects Somaliland’s steadfast commitment to open travel, regional connectivity, and passenger convenience. We welcome our international guests with clarity, consistency, and hospitality.”
