PassportSouth Africa

Somalia: do South Africans need a visa?

South Africans need to apply online for an e-visa before travel to Somalia. You can stay up to 30 days per visit, and you can apply to extend.

e-Visa required before travel. Since 1 September 2025 all foreign visitors must apply online before travelling, through the Immigration and Citizenship Agency's eTAS portal at etas.gov.so. Somaliland does not accept this e-Visa (see below).1234

Before you travel

Purpose of visit

All visits, including by infants and children, need an approved visa or entry permit before travel. You may be asked on arrival for a letter of invitation explaining the reason for your visit.37

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Passport validity

At least 6 months after the date you arrive, with at least 1 blank page.34

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

How to apply

Apply online at https://etas.gov.so (Immigration and Citizenship Agency, ICA). The older evisa.gov.so site now redirects users to eTAS and is only for tracking old applications. Help: visa.dept@immigration.gov.so, +252 613339998; technical support: support@etas.gov.so. Fees and processing time are not published on the pages reached; check inside the portal before paying.12

Confirmed on an official government source

Where South Africans apply

Online through etas.gov.so. No South Africa-specific embassy route confirmed. Somalia has a mission in Pretoria per Wikipedia; its visa service was not checked.18

Not yet confirmed by an official source

Travel insurance

Not published by official sources

Return or onward ticket

Not published by official sources

Proof of funds

The Immigration and Citizenship Agency says visitors must have enough funds for their stay. No amount is published.9

Confirmed on an official government source

Accommodation or invitation

You may need to show a letter of invitation on arrival outlining the reason for your visit.3

Not yet confirmed by an official source

Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

Somalia does not require a yellow fever certificate per the US State Department. If staying longer than 4 weeks, proof of polio vaccination may be required when leaving. For South Africa: Somalia is classed by WHO as low potential for yellow fever exposure and is exempt from South Africa's certificate requirement, so no certificate is needed to return to SA from Somalia (unless you also transited a risk country for more than 12 hours).410

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Arrival forms

Not published by official sources

Extending your stay and overstaying

The Immigration and Citizenship Agency lists visa extensions as a service. Process and fees not published.1

Not yet confirmed by an official source

Transit

Not published by official sources

Travelling with children

Infants and children also need an approved visa or entry permit before travel.6

Not yet confirmed by an official source

What changed

4 June 2026UK FCDO travel advice updated: against all travel to Somalia including Somaliland, except Awdal, Maroodijeh and Sahil (all but essential travel).
11 November 2025Hackers breached the federal e-visa system; leaked data includes applicants' names, photos, dates and places of birth, email and home addresses.
1 September 2025Online visa before travel became mandatory for all foreign visitors (system launched 28 August 2025).

Sources

Official

The destination's own government

  1. 1Immigration and Citizenship Agency, Federal Republic of Somalia immigration.gov.so
  2. 2Immigration and Citizenship Agency, Federal Republic of Somalia (legacy e-visa site) evisa.gov.so
  3. 9Immigration and Citizenship Agency, Federal Republic of Somalia immigration.gov.so

Other government

Official advice from other governments

  1. 3UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office gov.uk
  2. 4US Department of State travel.state.gov
  3. 10DIRCO, South African High Commission Canberra dirco.gov.za

Reference

Used to find official sources, never the final word

  1. 6Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  2. 7Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  3. 8Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org

Last researched 5 October 2026. Rules change; confirm with the embassy before you book.