Somalia travel advice
A summary of the UK government’s (FCDO) travel advice for Somalia, last updated by the FCDO on 4 June 2026. The full advice on GOV.UK is the authoritative version.
FCDO status
FCDO advises against all travel to parts of the country
Latest FCDO update (4 June 2026): Updated information about the political situation ('Safety and security' page).
Warnings (from the FCDO, word for word)
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
Areas where FCDO advises against travel
Parts of Somalia, including Somaliland
FCDO advises against all travel to Somalia, including Somaliland, except for the regions of Awdal, Maroodijeh, and Sahil.
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the regions of Awdal, Maroodijeh, and Sahil.
This is due to the threat from terrorist groups and continuing violence. If you choose to remain in Somalia, you do so at your own risk. You should have a personal emergency plan that does not rely on the UK government.
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel. There has recently been an increase in fighting between al-Shabaab and the Somali Government close to the capital Mogadishu. Please see the Terrorism section for more information.
Support from FCDO
Support from FCDO is severely limited in Somalia, including Somaliland, with no support in person from staff at the British Embassy Mogadishu or the British Office Hargeisa.
If you need urgent help from the UK government, for example if you’ve been arrested or you’re concerned about forced marriage, contact:
- the British High Commission Nairobi, Kenya if you are in Somalia, excluding Somaliland
- the British Embassy Addis Ababa, Ethiopia if you are in Somaliland
If you’re in the UK and are concerned about a British national in Somalia, including Somaliland, call FCDO on 020 7008 5000.
People of Somali descent, including Somaliland descent
The government of Somalia and the authorities in Somaliland will consider any British national of Somali (including Somaliland) descent to be a dual national. FCDO can offer only limited consular support in these cases.
Passport validity
To enter Somalia, including Somaliland, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
From FCDO: entry requirements. Written for British passport holders.
Recent FCDO updates
- 4 June 2026: Updated information about the political situation ('Safety and security' page).
- 13 May 2026: Updated information about the political situation ('Safety and security' page).
- 13 May 2026: Updated information about large public gatherings, demonstrations and security activity in Somaliland on 18 May ('Warnings and insurance' page).
Plan your trip
This page shows the FCDO’s headline status and quotes its text word for word; we don’t reword safety advice. It refreshes automatically, so it can lag GOV.UK by up to a day. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: FCDO foreign travel advice on GOV.UK. FCDO advice is written for British nationals; other nationalities should also check their own government’s advice.