Somaliland’s government said Tuesday it will continue enforcing its Visa on Arrival system, directly rejecting Somalia’s new electronic visa requirement for all travellers entering the country.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports announced that visitors will still be able to obtain visas upon arrival at Hargeisa’s Egal International Airport, where the policy has long been in effect. Officials said the decision was aimed at supporting business travel, tourism, humanitarian work, and broader economic growth.
“This reaffirmation reflects Somaliland’s steadfast commitment to open travel, regional connectivity, and passenger convenience. We welcome our international guests with clarity, consistency, and hospitality,” said Civil Aviation Minister Fuad Ahmed Nuh.
The ministry stressed that only documents issued by Somaliland’s Immigration Authority are valid for entry, adding that “no Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) or visa issued by any external authority other than the Somaliland Immigration Authority is valid for entry into the Republic of Somaliland.” Airlines flying to Hargeisa were directed to share the policy with their offices and passengers.
The federal government’s new system has not been universally welcomed. In Puntland, officials bristled at what they saw as another attempt by Mogadishu to tighten its grip on the regions. As Somaliland restated its own entry rules, Puntland also moved to dismiss the e-visa scheme, denouncing it as “illegal.” Information Minister Mahmoud Aydiid Dirir accused the center of overreach, insisting that without a negotiated agreement, Mogadishu has no right to decide who passes through the airports of Garowe and beyond
Mogadishu rolled out its new e-Visa system on September 1, requiring all foreign visitors to apply online through a government portal before travelling. Officials in Mogadishu said the move is designed to simplify travel, strengthen security, and improve transparency. Internal Security Minister Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail Fartaag said the system will ensure visa go directly to government accounts, bolstering financial oversight.
Isaaq Hassan Taakow, Somalia’s director of the Department of Foreigners and Immigration, described the e-Visa system as “a modern solution built to serve travellers while protecting national interests.”
Meanwhile, Puntland authorities have condemned the move as “illegal,” and Somaliland has reaffirmed its independence by maintaining its own entry regime.
The Puntland government, based in Garowe, argues that introducing a centralized e-Visa system violates its constitutional powers.
Puntland’s Minister of Information, Mahmoud Aydiid Dirir, stated that visa issuance and airport management fall exclusively under regional authority. According to him, Mogadishu is acting “illegally” by enforcing a system without prior agreement.
“We condemn it. It is robbery what the Federal Government of Somalia is doing” said Mahmoud Aydiid Dirir. “Until a formal agreement is reached, the central government has no legal authority to control people landing at the country’s airports,” the minister explained.
In practice, several travelers arriving at Garowe Airport have already reported being charged an additional $60 on arrival, on top of the $64 paid online for the e-Visa. This highlights an ongoing fiscal and political standoff between Mogadishu and Puntland.
