Somalia Tourist Visa
Ahh Somalia…I bet you didn’t know that you could go there as a tourist did you? Well you can! Even as a U.S. citizen. Just imagine the comments you will get from family and friends when they’ve found out you’ve thought outside the box and gone to a place that most people wouldn’t have the cojones to go to.
Well enough, let me explain to you just how simple getting a visa for Somalia really is. If you’re determined to add a trip to Somalia to your bucket list, here’s how to get the visa – it is surprisingly simple…
As for U.S State Department Warnings – heed them, but it doesn’t mean you absolutely cannot visit countries like Somalia. However, you should take note of the cautions and risks involved, such as the lack of a U.S. Embassy, and so on.
Visa required for U.S. citizens: Yes.
- One of the best places to get a visa is to go to the Somaliland Liaison Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Somaliland is the northern part of Somalia. If you stay in the capital, Hargeisa, the place is actually relatively safe for tourists).
- The process for getting a tourist visa takes about 10 minutes!
- You can also try contacting the Somaliland Mission in Washington DC. I know a couple of people who were able to apply there and receive a visa in less than 24 hours. Be sure to call them to get all the latest information though as their website (www.somaliland.us) is down most of the time. Here is their contact information:
- Somaliland Mission in Washington DC
Visa required for non-U.S. citizens: Yes, required by all except those with a Somali passport.
Go to my Somalia visa page for information on other types of visas for this country.
Since getting the visa at the Somaliland Liaison Office (i.e. Somaliland Embassy) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is the best way to go (if you are not a U.S. citizen), I will explain exactly how to do that below.
- Original passport
- 1 passport-sized photo
- Visa Fee
Somaliland Liaison Office (source: Kurt Davis)
- There is a lot of wrong information on the internet concerning where the Somaliland Liaison Office (i.e. Somaliland Embassy) is located in Addis Ababa. The Somaliland Liaison Office is actually very easy to get to.
- Tell the taxi driver to drive down Bole Road. Then, turn on Zimbabwe Street. Once you are on Zimbabwe Street, keep driving, and you will see the signs directing you to the Somaliland Liaison Office. You will have to make a few turns off Zimbabwe Street before you arrive at your final destination. That is all there is to it.
- Processing time is around 5-20 minutes, depending on how packed it is inside and if the Ambassador is there to sign the documents.
- The cheapest way to get to Somaliland is to catch a bus at the bus station in Merkato in Addis Ababa, and take a bus to Harar then to Jijiga, Ethiopia then to Wajaale, Somaliland then (taxi) to Hargeisa (capital of Somaliland).
- The fastest way to get to Somaliland is to fly to Jijiga on Ethiopian airlines and then take taxi, shared car, or bus from there.
Check vaccination requirements here at the CDC.
Further Reading
Want Professional Visa Help? If you are a U.S. citizen and want professional help with getting a visa, check out my post on the 4 Best Travel Visa Services in the United States.
Worldwide Moving Guide: Everything you need to know in order to plan your move to 65+ countries around the world.
Find an Embassy or Consulate: Check my Worldwide Embassy and Consulate Finder to find the diplomatic representation nearest you.
Worldwide Jobs Guide: Be sure to check out my posts on how to find jobs in any country in the world.
Worldwide Dating Guide: Also, check out my posts on the best online dating sites in 60+ countries around the world.
About Addison Sears-Collins
Hey! I'm Addison Sears-Collins, the founder of Visa Hunter. You can learn more about me here. Connect with me by liking my fan page on Facebook, connecting with me on Twitter, or check out my website Automatic Addison where I build robots and embedded systems.
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