Somaliland Issues New Rules on Somali E-Visa

By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter

Somalia, 9 November 2025 — The Somaliland Immigration and Border Control Department has declared that visas or travel permits issued by the Federal Government of Somalia will not be recognized at any point of entry.

A statement issued on Sunday by Immigration Commissioner Mohamed Hussein Farah ‘Hirane’ and reported by the Somaliland News Agency (SOLNA), the department said the directive is based on the state's Immigration and Border Control Law and takes immediate effect.

“Visas or travel permits issued by Somalia will not be accepted for entry into the Republic of Somaliland,” the statement said. “These documents will not be recognized at any border, and individuals carrying them will be denied entry.”

The department added that foreign nationals wishing to visit Somaliland can obtain a visa on arrival at Hargeisa Egal International Airport or Berbera International Airport after undergoing immigration checks and paying the required fees.

Visitors may also apply for entry visas through Somaliland’s embassies and consulates in Kenya, Ethiopia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Taiwan, Turkey, and Djibouti.

It further noted that individuals holding valid Somaliland entry or residence visas can enter through officially designated border crossings, subject to standard immigration inspection.

The new directive takes immediate effect and will remain in force until amended by a competent authority.

This latest decision comes just days after Somaliland announced that Somali e-Visas would not be recognized at its airports — a move that further underscores the ongoing airspace and administrative disputes between Mogadishu and Hargeisa.