How to Get a Tourist Visa for Somalia

Somalia Tourist Visa

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.

1
Gather the required documents
  • Original passport
  • 1 passport-sized photo
  • Visa Fee 
2
Go to the Somaliland Liaison Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Somaliland Liaison Office

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.
3
Submit the information to the Somaliland Liaison Office
  • Processing time is around 5-20 minutes, depending on how packed it is inside and if the Ambassador is there to sign the documents.
4
Congratulations! You can now travel to Somaliland (northern part of Somalia)
  • 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.
5
Vaccinate Yourself!

Check vaccination requirements here at the CDC.

Further Reading

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.

Visahunter.com accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to the accuracy of the information contained on this site. Please read the Visitor Agreement and Disclaimer. If you think there is an error in the information, please bring it to our attention so that we can correct it. Also, some of the links above could be advertisements or affiliate links, which means that I will earn a commission (at no additional cost to you) should you decide to click on the links and make a purchase. I recommend sites from time to time, not because I earn money or get a tiny commission if you click on the affiliate links and make a purchase, but because, I want you to focus on the places that will deliver you the most value and the best results. Good luck!

Country

Sponsored