SOMALIA

The Republic of Somalia

Canadian citizens using Canadian passports require a visa to enter Somalia for all purposes.

The Ethiopian and U.S. invasion has resulted in an ongoing war for control of the central government. The recent Ethiopian withdrawl from Somalia has caused even greater instability. Various forces are curently fighting to turn the territory into an Islamic republic.

According to the Canadian Government:
"Areas currently controlled by the Union of the Islamic Courts (UIC) require prior authorization in writing from the UIC to enter. A visitor visa may at times also be required upon arrival. Visas are required for Somaliland and may be available on arrival at the airport. We recommend obtaining the visa in advance. Visas are sometimes available for Puntland, with advance application. There is no official requirement for visas in other areas as there are no official government offices, but extortion is on the rise and travellers could be asked to pay heavily for a visa. The security situation is dangerous and unpredictable across the country. Travellers are at risk of kidnapping, murder, or arrest without notice or apparent cause. There is no guarantee of a fair trial or that local courts will respect diplomatic or United Nations immunities. There is an increasing trend towards Islamization of the local courts in many parts of the country, which utilize the Sharia Code for proceedings. You should be aware that anti-Western sentiments are strong in many parts of the country. Violent demonstrations, attacks (possibly targeting foreigners) and armed military activity can occur at any time. "

In short, there may be as many as three different administrative regions in what was once Somalia.

You may attempt to gain a visa by contacting the Permanent Representative of the Somali Republic to the United Nations at Telephone: (212) 688-9410/5046 or Fax (212) 759-0651.

You may attempt to gain a visa by contacting the The Embassy of the Somali Republic in Nairobi Kenya at Telephone: (254) (20) 273-6618 and Faz (254) (20) 273-6619.

You may attempt to gain a visa by contacting the Somali Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at telephone (1) 635 921/2, or by fax: (1) 627 847.

CLICK HERE for FILLABLE VISA APPLICATION for SOMALIA

For more information about travel conditions in Africa, please visit the Foreign Affairs Web site.