Mogadishu, 4 November 2025 — The Somali Immigration and Citizenship Agency (HSJ) has announced a temporary suspension of the issuance of long-stay visas from its regional branches, effective 5 November 2025, as part of an institutional review and reform process aimed at improving visa management procedures.
In an official circular signed by Director General Eng. Mustafa Sheikh Ali Dhuxulow, the agency said the decision is part of ongoing efforts to restructure and modernize its visa issuance framework to ensure compliance with the Somali Immigration Law No. 06 of 2023 and the Immigration Regulations enacted under Decree No. 146 of 2024.
According to the statement, all applications for long-stay visas will now be processed exclusively at the agency’s headquarters in Mogadishu until new operational guidelines are finalized.
The review will introduce updated instructions and technical procedures designed to strengthen service delivery, standardize regional operations, and enhance the integrity of Somalia’s immigration system.
The Immigration and Citizenship Agency emphasized that the suspension is temporary and forms part of broader institutional reforms to align Somalia’s immigration services with international standards and improve transparency and efficiency in visa processing.