Eastern Africa · UN member
Somalia: Travel Guide & Requirements
Federal Republic of Somalia · جمهورية الصومال الفيدرالية · Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya
Somalia is a country in Eastern Africa with its capital in Mogadishu. It has a population of 19.7 million (#66 in the world) and covers 637,657 km². The official languages are Arabic and Somali. The currency is the Somali shilling (SOS, Sh).
Where is Somalia? Map of Somalia
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia.
- Region
- Eastern Africa
- Coordinates
- 10° N, 49° E
- Neighbours
- 3 — see list
- Coastline
- 3,025 km
- Somalia
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Somalia showing Mogadishu (capital) and the largest cities: Borama, Hargeysa, Berbera, Kismayo, Marka, Baidoa, Cabudwaaq and Burao.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Somalia
- Passport
The UK Foreign Office says that to enter Somalia, including Somaliland, your passport must have an expiry date at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 2 need no visa, 185 need an eVisa, 11 get a visa on arrival. Check yours or see Somalia entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
No official requirement.
- Proof of funds
No official requirement.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement. The UK government advises adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad, evacuation by air ambulance and repatriation.
- Vaccinations
Not an entry requirement: WHO's country list gives Somalia's country requirement at entry as no, and the US CDC says the vaccine is not required.
- Customs allowance
The UK government says that in Somaliland you must declare cash or travellers cheques if the value is 10,000 US dollars or more.
- Travel advice
Avoid travel — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Somalia
- Safety: Governments advise against travel to Somalia: the US State Department rates Somalia Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”), and the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country.
- Best time to go: June to March — when daytime highs in Mogadishu are around 26–29°C.
- Money: the Somali shilling (SOS) — 1 US dollar is about 569.5485 SOS.
- Plugs: type C and G, 220 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 888, Ambulance 999, Fire 555.
- Language: Arabic and Somali are official; English is also spoken.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 40 km/h in built-up areas.
- Time zone: UTC+3 in Mogadishu.
- Capital: Mogadishu. About 19.7 million people live in Somalia.
- Outdoors: 4 national parks.
Key facts
Somalia at a glance
Languages spoken: Somali (official), Arabic (official), Italian, English
Geography & history
About Somalia
Between A.D. 800 and 1100, immigrant Muslim Arabs and Persians set up coastal trading posts along the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, solidifying present-day Somalia’s close trading relationship with the Arab Peninsula. In the late 19th century, Britain, France, and Italy established colonies in the Somali Peninsula that lasted until 1960, when British Somaliland gained independence and joined with Italian Somaliland to form the Republic of Somalia. The country functioned as a parliamentary democracy until 1969, when General Mohamed SIAD Barre took control in a coup, beginning a 22-year socialist dictatorship. In an effort to centralize power, SIAD called for the eradication of the clan,…
Read the full history
Between A.D. 800 and 1100, immigrant Muslim Arabs and Persians set up coastal trading posts along the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, solidifying present-day Somalia’s close trading relationship with the Arab Peninsula. In the late 19th century, Britain, France, and Italy established colonies in the Somali Peninsula that lasted until 1960, when British Somaliland gained independence and joined with Italian Somaliland to form the Republic of Somalia. The country functioned as a parliamentary democracy until 1969, when General Mohamed SIAD Barre took control in a coup, beginning a 22-year socialist dictatorship. In an effort to centralize power, SIAD called for the eradication of the clan, the key cultural and social organizing principle in Somali society. Resistance to SIAD’s socialist leadership, which was causing a rapid deterioration of the country, prompted allied clan militias to overthrow SIAD in 1991, resulting in state collapse. Subsequent fighting between rival clans for resources and territory overwhelmed the country, causing a manmade famine and prompting international intervention. Beginning in 1993, the UN spearheaded an international humanitarian mission, but the international community largely withdrew by 1995 after an incident that became known as Black Hawk Down, in which two US military helicopters were shot down in Mogadishu. The fighting and subsequent siege and rescue resulted in 21 deaths and 82 wounded among the international forces. International peace conferences in the 2000s resulted in a number of transitional governments that operated outside Somalia. Left largely to themselves, Somalis in the country established alternative governance structures; some areas formed their own administrations, such as Somaliland and Puntland, while others developed localized institutions. Many local populations turned to sharia courts, an Islamic judicial system that implements religious law. Several of these courts came together in 2006 to form the Islamic Courts Union (ICU). The ICU established order in many areas of central and southern Somalia, including Mogadishu, but was forced out when Ethiopia intervened militarily in 2006 on behalf of the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG). As the TFG settled in the capital, the ICU fled to rural areas or left Somalia altogether, but the organization reemerged less than a year later as the Islamic insurgent and terrorist movement al-Shabaab, which is still active today. In 2007, the African Union (AU) established a peacekeeping force, took over security responsibility for the country, and gave the TFG space to develop Somalia’s new government. By 2012, Somali powerbrokers agreed on a provisional constitution with a loose federal structure and established a central government in Mogadishu called the Somali Federal Government (SFG). Since then, the country has seen several interim regional administrations and three presidential elections, but significant governance and security problems remain because al-Shabaab still controls large portions of the country.
Location
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia
Climate
principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
Terrain
mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north
Highest point
Mount Shimbiris 2,460 m
Natural resources
uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves
Natural hazards
recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season
National symbols
leopard
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Somalia
The default speed limits in Somalia are 40 km/h in built-up areas. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 4040 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and citiesWHO data (2017)
- International Driving PermitNot a party to the IDP conventionsCheck with the embassy whether your licence is accepted
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Seat beltsNo national seat-belt law
- Child seatsNo national child-restraint law
- Road deaths (2021)20.2 per 100,000 peopleHigher than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0) and WHO. Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Somalia safe to visit?
Governments advise against travel to Somalia: the US State Department rates Somalia Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”), and the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Updated information about the political situation ('Safety and security' page).
Updated 4 Jun 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Somalia
The best time to visit Somalia is June to March, when daytime highs in Mogadishu are around 26–29°C. April to May are also a good time to go. April is the warmest month (30°C by day), August the coldest (25°C at night), and April the wettest with about 72 mm of rain.
- Jan28°C25°C
- Feb28°C25°C
- Mar29°C26°C
- Apr30°C27°C
- May29°C27°C
- Jun28°C26°C
- Jul27°C25°C
- Aug26°C25°C
- Sep27°C25°C
- Oct28°C26°C
- Nov29°C26°C
- Dec29°C26°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Somalia
Plugs & sockets
220 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
National parks
4 national parks in Somalia
- 3,340 km² protected
Largest: Lag Badana-Bushbush National Park · Hargeisa National Park · Jilib National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Somali shilling exchange rates today
Somalia uses the Somali shilling (SOS, Sh). One US dollar buys 569.5485 SOS; over the last 30 days the SOS has gained 0.3% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in SOS
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Somalia ranks
How Somalia compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Somalia
40 airports and airfields — 3 large, 2 medium and 35 small, plus 0 heliports. 8 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Somalia borders 3 countries along 2,385 km of land borders. Coastline: 3,025 km.
Military
Somali armed forces
Somalia ranks #142 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $199 million (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Mogadishu (2.6 million), Hargeysa (1.1 million)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
light industries, including sugar refining, textiles, wireless communication
Export partners
UAE 35%, Saudi Arabia 27%, Oman 18%, Djibouti 8%, India 3% (2023)
Top exports
sheep and goats, gold, postage stamps/documents, other animals, cattle (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Somalia
Next public holiday
New Year's Day — Friday, 1 January 2027. Then Labour Day (1 May).
Somali passport
Ranked #189: 12 countries visa-free, 20 with visa on arrival, 1 with an eTA and 45 with an eVisa.
Somali passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Somalia's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Somalia
Dial +252 before the local number. Internet domain .so.
Climate footprint
1.3 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 0.07 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Somalia: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Somalia
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Frequently asked questions about Somalia
What do I need to travel to Somalia?
How long must my passport be valid for Somalia?
Where is Somalia?
What is Somalia known for?
What is the capital of Somalia?
What language is spoken in Somalia?
What currency does Somalia use?
What is the calling code of Somalia?
Which countries border Somalia?
How strong is the Somali passport?
What is the speed limit in Somalia?
Is Somalia safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Somalia?
What plug type does Somalia use?
How many airports does Somalia have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.