Trip checklist: Somalia

For South African passport holders. Last checked 5 October 2026.

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Visa requirement

South Africans need to apply online for an e-visa before travel to Somalia.

Permitted stay

You can stay up to 30 days per visit, and you can apply to extend.

Before you go

• 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.

• Passport validity

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

• 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.

• 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.

• Proof of funds

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

• Accommodation or invitation

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

• 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).

• Extending your stay and overstaying

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

• Travelling with children

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

• Confirm with the embassy

  Rules change. Check the official source before you book.

Where to apply

• Immigration and Citizenship Agency, Federal Republic of Somalia https://immigration.gov.so
• Immigration and Citizenship Agency, Federal Republic of Somalia (legacy e-visa site) https://evisa.gov.so

Research sources

1. 1. Immigration and Citizenship Agency, Federal Republic of Somalia (Official, immigration.gov.so) https://immigration.gov.so
2. 2. Immigration and Citizenship Agency, Federal Republic of Somalia (legacy e-visa site) (Official, evisa.gov.so) https://evisa.gov.so
3. 3. Immigration and Citizenship Agency, Federal Republic of Somalia (Official, immigration.gov.so) https://immigration.gov.so/visa
4. 4. UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Other government, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/somalia/entry-requirements
5. 5. US Department of State (Other government, travel.state.gov) https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Somalia.html
6. 6. DIRCO, South African High Commission Canberra (Other government, dirco.gov.za) https://dirco.gov.za/canberra/yellow-fever/
7. 7. Wikipedia (Reference, en.wikipedia.org) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Somalia
8. 8. Wikipedia (Reference, en.wikipedia.org) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_South_African_citizens
9. 9. Wikipedia (Reference, en.wikipedia.org) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diplomatic_missions_in_South_Africa

From doineedavisa.co.za/somalia. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.