For a foreign employee whose company requests authorization before the employee begins work in Somalia.
Eligibility: 1Documents: 2Process & costs: 5Report facts: 4
Official government source: somalia.gov.so · checked 2026-07-27
Eastern Africa · Immigration
Somalia
Somalia sits in Eastern Africa. Its immigration system runs 17 distinct routes — led by work, short stays and visits and starting a business, each set out in official law. 16 of them cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.
- Immigration routes
- 17across 10 route categories, each set out in official law
- Source-cited routes
- 16 of 17cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
- Largest category
- Work3 of the 17 routes — see them under Work below
- Region
- Eastern Africa
- Capital
- Mogadishu
- Population
- 19,654,739
- Official language
- Arabic, Somali
- Currency
- SOS
- Time zone
- UTC+03:00
Source-cited pathways
Immigration routes
All 17 routes, grouped by purpose — 16 of 17 cite an official government source directly. Any route below without one says so on the route.
Work
3 routes
For a foreign employee sponsored to work in Somalia with the required labour authorization and contract.
Eligibility: 1Documents: 2Process & costs: 4Report facts: 8
For a foreign national seeking Somalia's Work Permit entry class for work-related entry.
Eligibility: 2Documents: 2Process & costs: 2Report facts: 13
Starting a business
2 routes
For a foreign national seeking Somalia's Business Permit entry class for business-related entry.
Documents: 1Process & costs: 3Report facts: 15
For a foreign investor or business operator holding the required commercial authorization in Somalia.
Eligibility: 3Documents: 1Process & costs: 3Report facts: 8
Study
1 route
For a foreign national seeking Somalia's Student Visa entry class for study.
Eligibility: 1Documents: 4Process & costs: 2Report facts: 12
Family
1 route
Stay permit for the spouse or child of a qualifying parent or spouse in Somalia.
Process & costs: 2Report facts: 7
Official government source: immigration.gov.so · checked 2026-07-27
Long-term residence
2 routes
For a foreign national seeking Somalia's Residence Permit entry class for entry connected to residence.
Eligibility: 2Documents: 3Process & costs: 2Report facts: 12
Information on the permanent-residence class listed by Somalia's official investment authority.
Report facts: 1
Official government source: sominvest.gov.so · checked 2026-08-19
Short stays and visits
3 routes
For a foreign national seeking Somalia's Multiple Entry Visa entry class for repeated temporary entries.
Documents: 1Process & costs: 2Report facts: 14
For a foreign national seeking Somalia's Temporary Visa entry class for a temporary visit.
Documents: 1Process & costs: 2Report facts: 14
For a foreign national seeking Somalia's Tourist Visa entry class for tourism.
Documents: 1Process & costs: 2Report facts: 14
Humanitarian protection
2 routes
Asylum and Refugee StatusUnknown
For a person in Somalia seeking international protection from the competent national refugee authority.
Documents: 2Process & costs: 2Report facts: 3
Source pending confirmation: help.unhcr.org · checked 2026-07-27
For a person recognized and registered as a refugee by Somalia's protection authorities.
Documents: 2Report facts: 2
Official government source: immigration.gov.so · checked 2026-07-27
Medical treatment
1 route
For a foreign national seeking Somalia's Medical Visa entry class for medical treatment.
Documents: 1Process & costs: 2Report facts: 14
Transit
1 route
For a foreign national seeking Somalia's Transit Visa entry class for transit through Somalia.
Documents: 2Process & costs: 2Report facts: 5
Special cases
1 route
For a foreign national seeking Somalia's Special Visa entry class for a specially authorized purpose.
Documents: 2Process & costs: 3Report facts: 10
Official sources
- Immigration Citizenship AgencyGovernment
- eTAS Travel AuthorizationGovernment
See which Somalia routes you actually qualify for.
Take the free 3-minute check for your verdict, country by country — then unlock the full report.