Home βΊ South Africa passport βΊ Somalia
πΏπ¦ Does a South African need a visa for Somalia πΈπ΄?
Yes, online (e-Visa). South African passport holders need a visa for Somalia, and it can be applied for online as an e-Visa before travelling.
Rule updated from Wikipedia's βVisa requirements for South African citizensβ (checked 2026-10-04); the older passport-index dataset (January 2025) listed Visa on arrival. Entry rules change: confirm with the embassy of Somalia or its official government website before you travel.
β U.S. State Department travel advisory for Somalia: Level 4: Do Not Travel (updated 21 May 2026). It is written for U.S. citizens; read the advisory before you book.
What this means for your trip
An e-Visa is applied for on the destination's official government website. You upload your passport scan and photo, pay online and receive an approval letter by email.
Apply well before departure and print the approval; use only the official portal, as many look-alike sites charge extra.
Your passport should normally be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date and have blank pages for stamps; many countries apply this rule.
Somalia at a glance
Capital: Mogadishu Β· Currency: Somali shilling (SOS, Sh) Β· Official languages: Arabic, Somali Β· Calling code: +252
Plugs and voltage
Some of your plugs fit (C); for type D, M, N plugs bring a travel adapter for Somalia's sockets (C). Mains voltage differs (Somalia: 220 V; South Africa: 230 V): most phone and laptop chargers accept 100β240 V, but single-voltage devices such as some hair dryers need a converter.
More about entering Somalia β
Easier destinations near Somalia for South African passport holders
- π°πͺ Kenya β Visa-free 90 days
- π²πΌ Malawi β Visa-free 90 days
- π²πΊ Mauritius β Visa-free 90 days
- π²πΏ Mozambique β Visa-free
- π·πΌ Rwanda β Visa-free 30 days
- πΈπ¨ Seychelles β Visa-free 90 days
- πΉπΏ Tanzania β Visa-free 90 days
- πΏπ² Zambia β Visa-free 90 days
The other way round
πΈπ΄ Somali passport holders visiting South Africa: Somali passport holders need a visa for South Africa, applied for at an embassy or consulate of South Africa before travelling.
The South African passport at a glance
All destinations for South Africa passport holders β Β· Who needs a visa for Somalia β
Questions
Do South African citizens need a visa for Somalia?
South African passport holders need a visa for Somalia, and it can be applied for online as an e-Visa before travelling.
Does a Somali need a visa for South Africa?
Somali passport holders need a visa for South Africa, applied for at an embassy or consulate of South Africa before travelling.