Ethiopian Airlines and FlyDubai have announced that Somalia's e-Visa is not required for flights to Somaliland's Hargeisa and Berbera airports. Passengers can obtain visas upon arrival. The update follows security concerns with Somalia's immigration system.
Ethiopian Airlines and FlyDubai have amended their travel guidelines, clarifying that Somalia's electronic visa (e-Visa) requirement does not apply to Hargeisa and Berbera international airports in Somaliland. Ethiopian Airlines stated, “Somalia’s e-Visa requirements do not apply to passengers arriving in Berbera or Hargeisa.” The airline emphasized that passengers heading to Somaliland can secure visas upon arrival.
FlyDubai issued a similar update, confirming that travelers to Hargeisa and Berbera can obtain visas on arrival. This measure was prompted by advisories from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and other entities, which have removed travel restrictions after questioning Somalia's immigration controls in Somaliland.
The change stems from a U.S. advisory following a significant security breach in Somalia's e-Visa system. The U.S. Embassy in Somalia reported that hackers breached the e-Visa network, stealing personal data of tens of thousands of Americans, including up to 35,000 individuals. Stolen information encompasses names, passport photos, birth dates, email addresses, and residence addresses. The U.S. government urged citizens who used the system to contact their local embassies and monitor for identity theft.
Analysts describe the tensions between Somaliland's Civil Aviation Authority and the Somaliland government over aviation controls as a political maneuver targeting both authorities. Somalia asserts full sovereignty over its airspace, demanding e-Visas for all travelers to Hargeisa. Somaliland counters that, as a self-declared entity, it lacks full airspace control rights. Consequently, international airlines seek prior clearance from regional authorities before landing in Somaliland airports, effectively challenging Somalia's e-Visa law to assert control over one region.