Do United Kingdom passport holders need a visa to visit SO?

UK ordinary passport holders need a visa for Somalia. As of 1 September 2025, you must obtain an eVisa (eTAS) online before travel via the official portal etas.gov.so. Visa on arrival has been phased out for federal entry points like Mogadishu. Note: Somaliland (Hargeisa) operates separately and issues its own visa on arrival. A United Kingdom ordinary passport holder traveling to Somalia for tourism or a short visit requires a visa. Since 1 September 2025, the Federal Government of Somalia, through its Immigration and Citizenship Agency (ICA), operates a mandatory electronic visa system known as eTAS (electronic Travel Authorization System), available at etas.gov.so. This replaced the previous visa-on-arrival arrangement at federal entry points such as Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu. Travelers must apply and be approved online before boarding their flight. The standard tourist eVisa is single-entry, permits a stay of up to 30 days, and the fee is approximately USD 65. A sponsor code issued by an ICA-vetted Somali entity (hotel, tour operator, or host) is required to complete the application, and many applicants therefore arrange the eVisa through a local sponsor or fixer. Processing typically takes several working days. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival. Importantly, the self-declared region of Somaliland (entry via Hargeisa) does not honor the federal eVisa and continues to issue a separate single-entry visa on arrival valid for one month; travelers visiting both must satisfy both regimes. Somalia carries a UK FCDO 'advise against all travel' warning for most of the country, which affects insurance and practicalities. Given the mandatory pre-arrival online requirement, the best single fit for a UK tourist is evisa.