Somalia’s New E-Visa Rule Leaves Hargeisa-Bound Travelers Stranded Abroad

HARGEISA, Somalia  — October 22, 2025 — A growing number of travelers heading to Hargeisa have been stranded at international airports after airlines began enforcing Somalia’s new electronic visa requirement, triggering a wave of confusion and highlighting the deepening rift between Somalia’s federal government and the self-declared Republic of Somaliland.

The Somali federal government introduced an online visa system earlier this month, requiring all foreign travelers to obtain an e-visa before boarding flights to any city in Somalia — including those in Somaliland, which claims independence and has long operated its own immigration controls.

Passengers traveling from the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Ethiopia have reported being denied boarding after failing to present Somali-issued visas, even when flying to Hargeisa, where Somalia's jurisdiction is not recognized by local authorities.

“I was told I couldn’t board without a Somali visa, even though I was traveling to Somaliland,” said Abdirahman Mohamed, a traveler from Dubai. “I tried to explain that Somaliland issues its own visas on arrival, but they didn’t accept that.”

Several travelers interviewed by local media said they were delayed for days while attempting to navigate Somalia’s online visa portal, which reportedly experienced outages and errors. Some passengers eventually obtained e-visas but were still required to pay additional entry fees upon arrival in Hargeisa, where immigration officers dismissed the Somali visas as invalid.

Somaliland’s government has formally rejected the federal e-visa requirement. Officials in Hargeisa reaffirmed that visas will continue to be issued on arrival at Egal International Airport, in line with existing policy.

“This is a clear violation of Somaliland’s sovereignty,” said Ismail Warsame, a senior official in Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “We are not part of Somalia, and any attempt to impose external visa controls is unacceptable.”

Political leaders in Somaliland, including opposition figures, have called for the creation of a separate digital visa system to protect travelers from future disruptions.

“The public is being caught in a political crossfire,” said Mahmoud Hashi Abdi, head of the opposition KAAH party. “It’s time for Somaliland to modernize its own visa system and assert full control over its borders.”

The standoff has caused headaches for airlines flying to Somaliland, many of which now face conflicting guidance. Several carriers have opted to follow Somalia’s directives to avoid potential penalties, leaving them at odds with Somaliland’s entry policies.

Diplomatic observers say the clash highlights the fragile relationship between Mogadishu and the regions that seek greater autonomy — or even full independence. Puntland, another semi-autonomous region in the northeast, has also rejected the e-visa rollout, calling it unconstitutional and accusing federal authorities of overreach.

International governments have begun to take notice. The German Foreign Office recently issued updated travel advice for its citizens, distinguishing between visa requirements for Somalia and Somaliland, and urging travelers to consult local authorities before booking trips.

GAROWE ONLINE