The Somalia eTA government fee is approximately $50 (≈£49) if applied direct, or £49 to £127 via third-party agencies for UK travellers. Standard processing takes 24-72 hours, though we recommend budgeting 7-10 business days as a planning safety margin. For urgent travel, an express rush option delivers approval in 5-6 hours for an additional $150 (≈£118). All fees are non-refundable, and UK agencies apply a 20% VAT on their service charges. Understanding the exact breakdown of these expenses helps you avoid hidden fees like currency conversion spreads and international bank transaction charges.
What Is the Somalia eTA and Do You Need One?
The Somalia eTA is a mandatory single-entry electronic travel authorisation that must be approved before departure: no eTA means no boarding. The Electronic Travel Authorization System (eTAS) became mandatory for all travellers on 1 September 2025, replacing the previous visa-on-arrival framework for advance applications.
Every visitor requires a Somalia eTA, including babies and children, with no age exemption. The standard eTAS product is a single-entry permit valid for up to 180 days from the “Arrival Date in Somalia” specified at application. UK citizens must hold a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of arrival and present at least one blank page.
Applicants submit the Somalia eTA through the government portal at etas.gov.so. Holders of valid multiple-entry visas, residence permits, or UN Laissez-Passer (UNLP) documents are exempt from the Somalia eTA requirement.
How Much Is the Somalia eTA in 2026?
The Somalia eTA government fee is approximately $50 (≈£49), while total third-party agency costs range from £66 to £127 including service charges and 20% UK VAT. The final amount depends strictly on the chosen application channel. The official eTAS portal at etas.gov.so instructs applicants to pay the applicable fee in USD, with no published itemised fee schedule; the ≈$50 figure is confirmed by the Embassy of Somalia in Washington D.C. and UK-facing agency VisaHQ.
| Apply Direct (etas.gov.so) | Via VisaHQ | Via eVisaSomali | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government Fee | ≈$50 (≈£49) | £49.00 | Included in bundle |
| Service Fee | £0 | £65.00 | Included in bundle |
| UK VAT (20%) | £0 | £13.00 | Included in bundle |
| Total Cost | ≈£49 | £127.00 | £66 (Standard) / $150 (Express) |
| Processing Time | Direct to ICA | 7-10 business days | 24-72 hours (Standard) / 5-6 hours (Express) |
| Validity | Up to 180 days | Up to 180 days | Up to 180 days |
For those asking how much is Somalia eTA through third-party channels, the eVisaSomali express tier adds $150 for a 5-6 hour turnaround, while VisaHQ takes 7-10 business days at £127 total. The Somalia eTA is valid for up to 180 days from issuance across all channels.
Hidden Fees Explained: VAT, Currency Conversion & Bank Charges
Three hidden cost layers beyond the advertised price typically add £15 to £40 to what a UK traveller pays for a Somalia eTA: 20% UK VAT on agency service fees (e.g., £13 on VisaHQ’s £65 service fee), the USD/GBP currency conversion spread, and international bank transaction charges.
- Advertised agency price: VisaHQ lists a £65.00 service fee on top of the government levy.
- + UK VAT (20%): On VisaHQ’s £65.00 fee, VAT adds £13.00, raising the service component to £78.00.
- + USD/GBP conversion spread: The Somalia eTA government fee is denominated in USD (≈$50 / ≈£49). A UK cardholder paying in GBP incurs a currency conversion spread set by the card issuer.
- + International bank transaction fee: Some UK banks charge a fixed fee or percentage for cross-border USD transactions on top of the FX spread.
- = True cost: The gap between the headline price and the actual bank-statement charge can reach £15 to £40 depending on the agency, bank, and live exchange rate.
Somalia eTA vs Visa-on-Arrival: Cost and Time Comparison
The Somalia eTA costs approximately $50 (≈£49) and is processed online before departure, while a visa-on-arrival at Hargeisa costs an estimated $50 to $60 (fee unconfirmed by any institutional source) with only 1-month validity. The Somalia eTA is valid for up to 180 days from issuance, whereas the visa-on-arrival at Hargeisa is limited to a 1-month single-entry stay. Airlines may deny boarding if an advance eTA is required by airline policy.
| Somalia eTA (pre-departure) | Visa on Arrival (Hargeisa) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ≈$50 / ≈£49 | ~$50-$60 (estimate, no institutional source confirms exact fee) |
| Validity | Up to 180 days | 1 month, single-entry |
| Processing Time | 24-72 hours (standard) / 5-6 hours (express) | On arrival, no waiting |
| Risk Level | None if approved, boarding guaranteed | Denied boarding risk if airline requires advance eTA |
Somaliland does not recognise the Somalia eTAS. Travellers flying into Hargeisa/Egal International Airport require a separate visa-on-arrival, and the Somalia eTA cannot be used for entry there. We contacted the Somaliland Ministry of Interior in March 2026 but received no official fee confirmation; the $50 to $60 range is based on traveller reports from 2025. Travellers visiting both Somalia and Somaliland must budget for two separate travel authorisations.
Somalia eTA Processing Time: How Long Does It Take?
Standard Somalia eTA processing takes 24-72 hours; express rush processing costs an extra $150 and delivers approval in 5-6 hours during Somalia government working hours. The Immigration and Citizenship Agency (ICA) holds no obligation to notify applicants of approval via email, so applicants must self-track the application status on the evisa.gov.so portal.
I applied for the Somalia eTA in March 2026 directly via etas.gov.so. The payment went through in 2 minutes, but the approval email arrived after 30 hours, within the 24-72 hour window. The PDF was attached, though the file name was just a number.
| Standard | Express | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Included in base fee (~$50 / ~£49 direct) | +$150 (~£118) extra |
| Typical time | 24-72 hours (planning buffer: 7-10 business days) | 5-6 hours |
| Availability | 24/7 submission; processed during business hours | Mon-Fri, 08:00-16:00 EAT (UTC+3) only |
| Best for | Tourists with 2+ weeks before travel | Last-minute or emergency travel |
Express submissions lodged outside Somalia government working hours (Friday afternoon or the Friday-Saturday weekend) will not be processed until the next working day (Monday). A conservative planning buffer of 7-10 business days accounts for sponsor-letter verification and possible portal delays.
Factors That Affect Somalia eTA Cost and Processing Time
The Somalia eTA fee varies from ≈£49 direct to £127 via VisaHQ; processing ranges from 5 hours (express) to 10 business days (standard). Sponsor verification adds 1-3 days; Somali public holidays cause further delays.
Cost varies primarily by channel: applying directly via the government portal costs approximately ≈$50 (≈£49), while third-party agencies raise the total to £127 (VisaHQ, including 20% UK VAT) or £66 (eVisaSomali Standard). Express tier adds $150 (~£118) on top of the standard bundle. Non-Somali applicants must arrange a Warqad Dammaanad (sponsor letter), which can carry indirect coordination costs.
Processing time stretches when sponsor-letter verification is required, adding 1-3 days. Somali public holidays halt government work: Eid al-Fitr (~20-22 March 2026), Eid al-Adha (~27-29 May 2026), and Independence Day (1 July 2026), while the weekend falls on Friday and Saturday. Portal payment-module issues reported in February 2025 and intermittent Cloudflare outages can further delay approval.
What You Need Before You Pay: Eligibility Checklist
Before paying the Somalia eTA fee, applicants must gather a passport valid at least 6 months after the date of arrival, a digital photo, a sponsor letter (if required), and a Visa or Mastercard for online payment.
- Passport valid ≥6 months from arrival date, with at least one blank page
- Digital passport photo (“selfie” or standard passport photo format)
- Sponsor letter (Warqad Dammaanad) required for non-Somali applicants; must be formally signed by a sponsor organization in Somalia
- Travel itinerary with a confirmed arrival date in Somalia
- Valid email address: the approved Somalia eTA is delivered as a PDF attachment via email
- Visa or Mastercard payment card (government fee is charged in USD)
- Complete the application in one sitting: the portal does not publish a session timeout policy, so partial data may be lost if the browser is closed
Holders of valid multiple-entry visas, residence permits, or UN Laissez-Passer (UNLP) documents are exempt from the Somalia eTA requirement. Standard UK tourist visas do not qualify for this exemption.
Security note: The US Embassy in Somalia issued an alert regarding a data breach affecting the eVisa system, with leaked categories including home addresses. Use a separate email address when applying and monitor for unusual contact referencing information submitted through the Somalia eTA portal.
Payment Methods, Refunds & Troubleshooting
The Somalia eTA portal accepts Visa and Mastercard for payment, with the government fee charged in USD. As of February 2025, no published refund policy exists on the portal, and all third-party agency service fees are non-refundable regardless of application outcome.
Prepare your payment method.
The Somalia eTA government fee is denominated in USD. GBP cardholders incur currency conversion at the point of payment.
Complete the application in one session.
Have all documents ready before starting to avoid losing progress.
Retry during Somalia business hours.
Payment module failures were reported in February 2025, and the portal’s Cloudflare protection layer can intermittently block sessions. Retry Monday to Friday, approximately 08:00 to 16:00 EAT (UTC+3).
Clear your browser cache
or switch to a different browser if the payment page fails to load.
Check the portal tracking page directly
if funds were deducted but no confirmation was received. The ICA holds no obligation to notify applicants via email.
Somalia eTA Cost and Processing Time FAQ
How much is the Somalia eTA fee in 2026?
The government fee for a Somalia eTA is approximately $50 (≈£49). Applying directly via etas.gov.so is the cheapest option. Third-party agencies charge between £66 and £127 total after adding their service fees and 20% UK VAT.
How long does the Somalia eTA take to process?
Standard processing takes 24-72 hours. Express processing delivers approval in 5-6 hours for an extra $150 during Somalia business hours (Mon-Fri, 08:00-16:00 EAT). Budget 7-10 business days as a planning safety margin.
Do children need a separate Somalia eTA?
Yes. Every traveller, including babies and minors, requires their own eTA at the full standard fee. There is no reduced child rate. A family of four pays four times the government fee, meaning direct application costs around £196 total.
Can I get a refund if my Somalia eTA is denied?
No. No published government refund policy exists for denied Somalia eTA applications. Third-party agency service fees are also non-refundable regardless of outcome. Apply only when all eligibility criteria are fully met.
What is the cheapest way to apply for a Somalia eTA?
To find out how much is Somalia eTA at minimum cost, apply directly via etas.gov.so, paying only the government fee of approximately $50 (≈£49). Third-party agencies add between £17 and £78 in service charges plus 20% UK VAT.
Does the Somalia eTA cost differ for UK citizens?
The base government fee is the same for all nationalities at approximately $50. When asking how much is Somalia eTA for UK citizens specifically, the difference comes only from third-party agency VAT at 20% on service fees, plus potential currency conversion spreads when paying in USD.
What payment methods are accepted for the Somalia eTA?
The Somalia eTA portal accepts Visa and Mastercard for online payments. The government fee is denominated in USD, so GBP cardholders may incur foreign exchange conversion charges and international transaction fees from their UK bank.
Is there an expedited or rush processing option for the Somalia eTA?
Yes. Express processing costs an additional $150 (≈£118) and delivers a decision in 5-6 hours. This service is strictly limited to Somalia government working hours, Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 16:00 EAT. Submissions outside these hours process the next business day.
Last reviewed: 15 September 2026. Prices and processing times are based on the official eTAS portal at etas.gov.so and UK travel advisory sources as of that date.
About this guide: Our editorial team specialises in travel authorisation requirements for UK tourists, drawing on official government portals and verified third-party agency data to provide accurate, up-to-date fee breakdowns.
