1. W sekcji o kosztach: link do “Somalia eTA Cost for UK Citizens in GBP” lub “Somalia eTA cost-fees-processing-time”.
2. W sekcji o ważności/pobycie 30 dni: link do “How Long Is the Somalia eTA Valid For”.
3. W sekcji o sprawdzaniu statusu: link do “How to Check Your Somalia eTA Status”.
4. W sekcji o odrzuceniu/ponownym składaniu wniosku (FAQ lub akapit o błędach): link do “Somalia eTA Application Denied”.
5. W sekcji o Hargeisa/Somaliland: link do “eTA Somalia Hargeisa Somaliland”.
Wstawiam naturalne anchors w treści.
To apply for a Somalia eTA in 2026, create an account at evisa.gov.so, verify your email, complete the online form, upload your passport scan and digital photo, pay the non-refundable fee by card, and wait 7 to 20 business days for the approved PDF.
The Somalia eTA (eTAS), launched on 1 September 2025 by the Federal Government of Somalia, replaced the visa-on-arrival system. The process is 100% online through the portal at evisa.gov.so, with no embassy visit required. All foreign nationals, including babies and children, must obtain an eTA before departure; on-arrival authorisation is no longer available and entry will be denied without a valid eTA.
Before starting your Somalia eTA registration, confirm your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date and has at least one blank page. Prepare a digital passport scan and clear photograph in JPEG or PNG format. Standard processing time ranges from 7 to 20 business days; apply at least four weeks before your intended travel date. This guide was last reviewed in September 2026; always verify current requirements on evisa.gov.so before submitting.
What You Need Before Starting Your Somalia eTA Application
Introduced on 1 September 2025 by the Federal Government of Somalia under the Immigration and Citizenship Agency (ICA), the eTAS replaced visa-on-arrival and is mandatory for all foreign nationals before departure. The Somalia eTA requires the following documents and conditions before you access the portal:
- Passport validity: Your passport must remain valid for at least 6 months after your date of arrival in Somalia and contain at least 1 blank page. Entry can be denied if you present a passport reported lost or stolen.
- Permitted travel purposes: The Somalia eTA covers tourism (including visiting family and friends), business, transit, short-term study (up to 6 months), private medical treatment, marriage or civil partnership, and academic visits.
- Sponsor letter (Warqad Dammaanad): Non-Somali origin applicants visiting family must obtain a formal sponsor letter from a recognised sponsor organization in Somalia, including financial guarantees, and select that organization from the list during the online application.
- Accommodation and itinerary details: You will need the contact details for your accommodation in Somalia and a return ticket or travel itinerary.
Certain travellers are exempt from the Somalia eTA requirement: holders of multiple-entry visas issued before 1 September 2025, visa-exempt foreign nationals, and Somalia residence or work permit holders.
UK travellers should also be aware that, per gov.uk, an ongoing eVisa system data breach has compromised home addresses. Exercise caution when submitting personal data through the portal and monitor travel advice for updates. The Somalian Embassy in London is available as a contact point for entry-requirement questions, as listed on the GOV.UK foreign travel advice page for Somalia.
Step 1 – Create Your Account on the eTA Portal
The Somalia eTA application begins with account registration at evisa.gov.so, requiring a valid email and secure password. The portal moved from visa.gov.so to evisa.gov.so in early 2025.
Enter registration details
Provide your full name, a valid email address, and a password on the evisa.gov.so sign-up page. The Somalia eTA portal sends a one-time passcode (OTP) to this address to activate the account before any application can be started.
Verify email via OTP
Enter the code received in your inbox to confirm the email address and unlock the application dashboard.
Log in and navigate the dashboard
After first login, the dashboard displays options to start a new application, resume an incomplete draft, or track a submitted request.
Save and resume
The Somalia eTA portal supports save-and-resume, so incomplete forms remain accessible if you close your browser. Be aware of session timeouts: if your session expires, you must re-authenticate with your credentials to continue.
Step 2 – Complete the Application Form
Enter personal details, passport data, travel dates, arrival airport, and accommodation address, selecting the correct trip purpose from the available categories.
The Somalia eTA form requires the applicant to select a trip purpose from permitted categories: tourism, business, transit, short-term study (up to 6 months), private medical treatment, or academic visit. In the Somalia eTA form, the trip purpose field determines which supplementary documents are required.
Non-Somali origin applicants visiting family must additionally select a Sponsor Organization from the official list and provide a formal sponsor letter (Warqad Dammaanad) containing financial guarantees. The standard Somalia eTA is a single-entry permit with a 180-day entry window from the specified arrival date.
Accepted Entry Checkpoints – Airports That Process the eTA
The Somalia eTA is accepted at Aden Adde International Airport (MGQ) in Mogadishu plus Baidoa, Bosaso (BSA), Galkacyo, Garowe, and Kismayo international airports. Hargeisa International Airport (HGA) does not accept the Somalia eTA; a separate Somaliland visa is required for entry through that airport.
Step 3 – Upload Required Documents
Upload a passport scan and digital photo in JPEG or PNG within specified file-size limits to avoid the most common rejection cause in the Somalia eTA application.
The portal accepts JPEG or PNG files for both the passport scan and the digital photograph. The uploaded passport must remain valid for at least 6 months after the date of arrival in Somalia and contain at least 1 blank page.
| Document | Format | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Passport scan (bio page) | JPEG / PNG | Clear digital scan; no glare, reflections, or cropped edges |
| Digital photograph | JPEG / PNG | Selfie or passport-style photo; plain background; no filters |
Common upload failures stem from blurred images, glare on the passport page, head coverings (except religious), and applied photo filters. If the Somalia eTA portal rejects an upload during validation, re-scan the document at a higher resolution and retry. Both files must attach successfully before the application can advance to the review stage.
Step 4 – Review, Verify, and Submit
Before submitting, cross-check all entered data against your passport on the summary page. Post-submission corrections are limited; a name typo may require a full reapplication.
The most frequent verification-stage errors to scan for before finalising your Somalia eTA application:
- Name typos – compare every character against your passport bio page; even a single misplaced letter can trigger a mismatch.
- Date discrepancies – confirm date of birth, passport issue date, and passport expiry match exactly.
- Passport number errors – verify the alphanumeric string has no transposed or omitted digits.
- Travel date alignment – ensure your stated arrival date falls within the 180-day entry validity window from issuance.
Once you click submit, the portal issues an application reference number displayed on screen and sent in a confirmation email. Save this number immediately; it is the sole identifier for tracking your Somalia eTA status afterward. The fee is non-refundable once submitted, and the standard processing window is 7 to 20 business days. No edit is possible after the transaction clears without filing a new application.
Step 5 – Pay the Fee and Wait for Approval
The government eTA fee is payable by Visa or Mastercard; the fee is non-refundable, and standard processing takes 7 to 20 business days. Payment is charged in USD; UK applicants should account for currency conversion charges and foreign transaction fees imposed by their card issuer.
The government base fee component is approximately £49.00 GBP (per VisaHQ data, July 2026); applying through a third-party agency raises the total to £127.00 GBP, including a £65.00 service fee and £13.00 VAT at 20%. A separate agency listed fees starting from €99 EUR as of September 2025. Verify the current government fee directly on evisa.gov.so before paying, as direct-portal pricing may differ. For a full breakdown of costs and processing times, see our guide to the Somalia eTA fees and processing times.
| Route | Cost | Source Year |
|---|---|---|
| Government fee component (estimate) | £49.00 GBP | July 2026 |
| Third-party agency total | £127.00 GBP | July 2026 |
| Third-party starting price (EUR) | from €99 | September 2025 |
Accepted payment methods are credit card and debit card. The Somalia eTA fee is non-refundable once submitted, regardless of outcome. Standard processing ranges from 7 to 20 business days; apply at least 4 weeks before your intended travel date. If payment fails, retry with an alternative card within the portal session before contacting your bank.
Step 6 – Receive, Download, and Track Your eTA
Download the approved eTA PDF from your email, print a colour copy, and track your status using your reference number.
Once processing is complete, the Somalia eTA approval arrives by email. If it does not appear within 7 to 20 business days, check your spam folder. The eTA document clearly states both start and end dates of validity on the PDF itself.
Print a colour copy of the approved Somalia eTA and save the PDF offline on your phone. At Somali immigration, present the printed eTA alongside your original passport. The immigration officer verifies passport validity, eTA dates, and that personal data matches across both documents.
The Somalia eTA is a single-entry permit, 30-day maximum stay, within a 180-day entry window from the arrival date specified at application. Extend only through the Somali migration service for a valid, documented reason; initiate the extension before your authorised stay expires.
To track your Somalia eTA application status, use the tracking page on evisa.gov.so with your application reference number, or alternatively your passport number and date of birth. You can also follow our step-by-step guide to checking your Somalia eTA status using your reference number. The Immigration and Citizenship Agency (ICA) holds no obligation to notify applicants of status changes by email or any other communication channel, so check the tracking page regularly.
Common Mistakes and Somalia vs. Somaliland Visa
The most frequent Somalia eTA rejections stem from seven avoidable errors: submitting a blurred or filtered digital photo instead of a clear front-facing JPEG/PNG; travelling on a passport with under 6 months validity from the arrival date; name-data mismatches against the passport bio page; selecting the wrong trip purpose category; omitting the sponsor letter (Warqad Dammaanad) required for non-Somali origin applicants visiting family; uploading files in the wrong format or exceeding the portal size limit; and using an inactive or inaccessible email address. If your application is refused, see our guide on what to do when a Somalia eTA application is denied before reapplying.
The Somalia eTA and the Somaliland visa are not interchangeable. Somalia eTAS is accepted at Mogadishu (MGQ), Bosaso (BSA), Baidoa, Galkacyo, Garowe, and Kismayo airports. Hargeisa Airport (HGA) does not accept the Somalia eTA; entry there requires a separate Somaliland visa. Visa-on-arrival at Hargeisa is available for Europeans, Canadians, and Americans with 1 month validity. Somaliland visas can be obtained in advance from offices in Addis Ababa and London. Somaliland does not recognise visas issued by Somalia, and Somalia does not recognise Somaliland visas. Travellers visiting both territories must apply for each visa separately.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Somalia eTA Application Process
How long is the Somalia eTA valid for?
The Somalia eTA is a single-entry permit with an entry validity window of 180 days from the arrival date specified by the applicant at the time of application. Once you enter Somalia, the maximum continuous stay permitted is up to 30 days. Both the start and end dates are clearly stated on the approved eTA document. For a detailed breakdown, see our guide on Somalia eTA validity and maximum stay rules.
Can UK citizens apply for a Somalia eTA online?
Yes. UK citizens travelling on a full British citizen passport can apply for the Somalia eTA entirely online at evisa.gov.so. The process is 100% electronic, with no in-person embassy visit required. The Somalian Embassy in London is available as a contact point for any entry-requirement questions, as listed on the GOV.UK foreign travel advice page for Somalia.
What payment methods are accepted for the Somalia eTA?
The accepted payment methods on the eTA portal are credit card and debit card. Visa and Mastercard are the primary card networks supported. UK applicants should be aware that the fee is charged in USD and may be subject to currency conversion and foreign-transaction fees by their card issuer.
How long does Somalia eTA processing take in 2026?
In 2026, the standard processing time for a Somalia eTA ranges from 7 to 20 business days, depending on the service route and the volume of applications handled by the Immigration and Citizenship Agency (ICA). Processing begins on the next business day following submission. An expedited option of 1 to 5 days may be available at the embassy’s discretion through certain agencies. You are strongly advised to apply at least 4 weeks before your intended departure date.
Can I apply for a Somalia eTA on behalf of my children?
The eTA is mandatory for all visitors, including babies and children. Each traveller requires a valid eTA regardless of age. You may complete the application form on behalf of your child, but each applicant may require an individual registration on the portal. Verify the exact account requirements for minors directly on evisa.gov.so before starting the application.
What happens if my Somalia eTA application is rejected?
If your Somalia eTA application is rejected, reapplication is permitted after you correct the identified mistakes and submit any missing documents. The Immigration and Citizenship Agency holds no obligation to notify applicants of the reasons for rejection by email or other communication. The application fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome, so you must ensure all data and documents are accurate before submission.
Can I extend my stay in Somalia beyond 30 days?
Yes, it is possible to extend your stay locally beyond the standard 30-day maximum, but only through the Somali migration service and only for a valid, documented reason. Extension requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed. You should initiate the extension process before your authorised stay expires.
Is the Somalia eTA fee refundable if my application is denied?
No. The Somalia eTA fee is non-refundable once the application has been submitted, regardless of whether the application is approved or denied. This policy applies to all payment transactions on the evisa.gov.so portal. If your application is rejected and you wish to reapply, a new fee will be required for the subsequent submission.
