The news:
- Somalia has launched a new e-visa portal to simplify international travel and reduce reliance on manual immigration processes.
- The platform is expected to boost investor and business traveller confidence while strengthening border controls.
- The e-visa system builds on Somalia’s recent digital infrastructure gains, including national ID, mobile money, and 5G rollouts.
Somalia has launched a new e-visa system designed to streamline the visa application process for international travellers while reinforcing national security. The platform went live on Sunday, August 24, 2025, and is seen as a key step in the country’s ongoing digital transformation.
Developed with support from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the portal allows visitors to apply online for visas to Somalia, eliminating the need for embassy visits or in-person paperwork. Authorities say this new system is expected to not only ease entry for tourists and business professionals but also enhance screening through a secure, digitised verification process.
Speaking at the launch in Mogadishu, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said the move signals Somalia’s readiness to welcome the world under a more secure and transparent framework. “With this system, Somalia opens its doors to the world with confidence and security,” he stated.
This e-visa rollout adds to Somalia’s growing track record of digital innovation. In recent months, the country has introduced key tools that signal its ambition to modernise both public services and financial systems. In July 2025, the Central Bank of Somalia unveiled SOMQR, a unified national QR code standard aimed at harmonising mobile payments across financial institutions. A month earlier, Somalia launched its first NFC-enabled wearable payment device, allowing users to make contactless transactions with a tap of the wrist—an unprecedented move in the region.
These advances demonstrate a clear shift towards integrated digital infrastructure. With the e-visa portal now in place, Somalia is extending this digital-first mindset into travel and immigration—creating smoother pathways for visitors while maintaining rigorous border control. It’s a strategy that reflects not just openness to innovation, but a readiness to embed it into the very systems that shape national progress.
The e-visa launch is expected to make travel to Somalia more predictable and appealing for businesspeople, investors, and the Somali diaspora. It reflects a shift from reactive to proactive border management—one that facilitates entry while keeping a tighter grip on who comes in and why.
