Somali passport

Last updated
Somali ePassport
Passport of the Federal Republic of Somalia.png
Passport of Somalia
Type Passport
Issued byFlag of Somalia.svg  Somalia
First issued1960 (First edition)
28 February 2007
(Current biometric version)
PurposeIdentification
Eligibility Somali citizenship
Expiration5 years

The Somali passport (Somali : baasaboor) is a passport issued to citizens of Somalia for international travel. Green Passports were formerly used, which have since been replaced with biometric passports to ensure authenticity. The passports are regulated by the federal government of Somalia.

Contents

Overview

The front cover of the old non-biometric Green Passport. Passport of Somalia nonbimetric.jpg
The front cover of the old non-biometric Green Passport.

Somalia's former socialist government originally used to issue a non-biometric Green Passport. This travel document still remained in use after the collapse of former President Siad Barre's regime. [1]

In response to widespread counterfeit Somali passports that subsequently flooded the black market, the Transitional National Government opened a new office in the 2000s to issue official state-approved passports. According to then Foreign Affairs Minister Muhammad Mahmud Shiil, the government would continue issuing old Somali passports with a new dry seal to prevent forgery or duplication, and passports already in circulation would a stamp with the new seal. [2] The government announced in 2006 that it would issue a new machine-readable document to further ensure authenticity. [3]

Since 2007, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia has issued an e-passport to comply with stricter international rules. [4] In November 2010, the TFG opened a new passport-making facility in Mogadishu, the nation's capital. [5] Printing of the travel documents had previously been conducted in the United Arab Emirates, [6] which reportedly engendered a backlog in passport issuance. The repatriated printing facilities are believed to offer a more responsive passport delivery process. Officially issued by the Somali Immigration Department, the passports now contain built-in security features comparable with other countries. [7]

In September 2011, the Transitional Federal Government officially banned use of Somalia's old Green Passport. According to Somali Immigration Officer, General Abdulaahi Gaafow Mohamoud, the identification document would no longer be accepted for business trips or travel by the end of the month. He added that the Green Passport would be replaced with a new blue model of e-passports that are particularly difficult to forge. [1]

In December 2013, the Deputy Director-General of Somali Immigration and Naturalization Abdullahi Hagi Bashir Ismail announced that the Federal Government officially launched Somalia's new e-passport. Part of a broader initiative to strengthen security, the passport is issued by the Ministry of Interior's Department of Immigration. Citizens are eligible for the e-passport upon production of government-issued national identity documents and birth certificates. [8]

The Somali passport is not considered as valid travel document by Canada. Canada considers any passport issued by Somalia as unreliable document. [9]

British Somaliland passport used in the 1930s. British Somaliland passport.jpg
British Somaliland passport used in the 1930s.

In the 1930s, a British Somaliland passport was used.

Visa requirements

Visa requirements for Somali citizens
.mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{}
Somalia
Freedom of movement
Visa free
Visa issued upon arrival
eVisa
Visa available both on arrival or online
Visa required prior to arrival Visa Requirements for Somali Citizens.svg
Visa requirements for Somali citizens
  Somalia
  Freedom of movement
  Visa free
  Visa issued upon arrival
  eVisa
  Visa available both on arrival or online
  Visa required prior to arrival

As of 1 January 2017, Somali citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 30 countries and territories, placing the Somali passport in the 100th-ranking group in terms of travel with no prior visa according to the Henley visa restrictions index. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Passport</span> Documents for international travel issued by national governments

A passport is an official travel document issued by a government that certifies a person's identity and nationality for international travel. A passport allows its bearer to enter and temporarily reside in a foreign country, access local aid and protection, and obtain consular assistance from their government. In addition to facilitating travel, passports are a key mechanism for border security and regulating migration; they may also serve as official identification for various domestic purposes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travel visa</span> Authority to enter, stay in, or exit a territory

A visa is a conditional authorization granted by a polity to a foreigner that allows them to enter, remain within, or leave its territory. Visas typically include limits on the duration of the foreigner's stay, areas within the country they may enter, the dates they may enter, the number of permitted visits, or if the individual can work in the country in question. Visas are associated with the request for permission to enter a territory and thus are, in most countries, distinct from actual formal permission for an alien to enter and remain in the country. In each instance, a visa is subject to entry permission by an immigration official at the time of actual entry and can be revoked at any time. Visa evidence most commonly takes the form of a sticker endorsed in the applicant's passport or other travel document but may also exist electronically. Some countries no longer issue physical visa evidence, instead recording details only in immigration databases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biometric passport</span> Traditional passport that has an embedded electronic microprocessor chip

A biometric passport is a traditional passport that has an embedded electronic microprocessor chip, which contains biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of the passport holder. It uses contactless smart card technology, including a microprocessor chip and antenna embedded in the front or back cover, or centre page, of the passport. The passport's critical information is printed on the data page of the passport, repeated on the machine readable lines and stored in the chip. Public key infrastructure (PKI) is used to authenticate the data stored electronically in the passport chip, supposedly making it expensive and difficult to forge when all security mechanisms are fully and correctly implemented.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian passport</span> Passport issued to citizens of Canada

A Canadian passport is the passport issued to citizens of Canada. It enables the bearer to enter or re-enter Canada freely; travel to and from other countries in accordance with visa requirements; facilitates the process of securing assistance from Canadian consular officials abroad, if necessary; and requests protection for the bearer while abroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysian passport</span> Passport of Malaysia issued to Malaysian citizens

The Malaysian passport is the passport issued to citizens of Malaysia by the Immigration Department of Malaysia. The main legislation governing the production of passports and travel documents, their possession by persons entering and leaving Malaysia, and related matters is the Passport Act 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Singapore passport</span> Passport of the Republic of Singapore issued to Singapore citizens

The Singapore passport is a passport issued to citizens of the Republic of Singapore. It enables the bearer to exit and re-enter Singapore freely; travel to and from other countries in accordance with visa requirements; facilitates the process of securing assistance from Singapore consular officials abroad, if necessary; and requests protection for the bearer while abroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indonesian passport</span> Passport of the Republic of Indonesia issued to Indonesian citizens

An Indonesian passport is a travel document issued by the Government of Indonesia to Indonesian citizens residing in Indonesia or overseas. The main governing body with regards to the issuance of such passport(s), possession(s), withdrawal and related matters is the Directorate General of Immigration under the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. Indonesia does not recognize multiple citizenship for its citizens and such citizens will automatically lose their Indonesian citizenship if another citizenship is acquired voluntarily. Special exceptions allow newly born citizens to hold dual nationalities until his/her eighteenth birthday after which a choice of either nationalities should be decided. The latest Indonesian passport has different national birds and sceneries on each page.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine passport</span> Travel document and primary national identity document for citizens of the Philippines

A Philippine passport is both a travel document and a primary national identity document issued to citizens of the Philippines. It is issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Philippine diplomatic missions abroad, with certain exceptions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brazilian passport</span> Passport issued to Brazilian nationals

Brazilian passport is the official document for foreign travel issued by the federal government, through the Federal Police.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa requirements for Bosnia and Herzegovina citizens</span> Administrative entry restrictions

Visa requirements for Bosnia and Herzegovina citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antiguan and Barbudan passport</span> Passport issued to citizens of Antigua and Barbuda

Antiguan and Barbudan passports are issued to nationals of Antigua and Barbuda for international travel. The passport is a CARICOM passport as Antigua and Barbuda is a member of the Caribbean Community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maldivian passport</span> Passports issued in the Republic of Maldives

Maldivian passport is a proof of citizenship, issued by Maldives Immigration, to all the nationals of the Maldives for international travel. The current passport, the 2nd generation e-passport, was launched on 24 January 2016. This passport consists of a highly secured poly-carbonate data page with laser engraved photos and data. Each visa page of the passport has a different design, represented with numerous illustrations by the Maldivian local artist, Hussain Ali Manik. A Maldivian Passport can be issued to any Maldivian citizen who applies for a passport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa policy of Canada</span> Policy on permits required to enter Canada

The visa policy of Canada requires that any foreign citizen wishing to enter Canada must obtain a temporary resident visa from one of the Canadian diplomatic missions unless they hold a passport issued by one of the 53 eligible visa-exempt countries and territories or proof of permanent residence in Canada or the United States.

Visa requirements for Barbadian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Barbados. As of 10 October 2024, Barbadian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 165 countries and territories, ranking the Barbadian passport 20th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.

Visa requirements for Cameroonian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Cameroon. As of 15 June 2024, Cameroonian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 53 countries and territories, ranking the Cameroonian passport 89th in terms of travel freedom (tied with passports= from Angola according to the Henley & Partners Passport Index.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somaliland passport</span> Passport of the Republic of Somaliland issued to Somalilander citizens

The Somaliland passport is the passport issued to citizens of the unrecognized country of Somaliland for international travel. A passport was issued for the first time in 1996, and a biometric passport was in 2014, in line with new global standards and the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Visa requirements for Zimbabwean citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Zimbabwe. As of 2 July 2019, Zimbabwean citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 64 countries and territories, ranking the Zimbabwean passport 80th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.

Immigration in Somalia is regulated by the Somali Immigration Department of the Federal Government of Somalia.

Visa requirements for Central African citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Central African Republic. As of 2 July 2019, Central African Republic citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 49 countries and territories, ranking the Central African passport 94th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa requirements for Chadian citizens</span> Administrative entry restrictions

Visa requirements for Chad citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of the Chad. As of 25 October 2024, Chadian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 53 countries and territories, ranking the Chadian passport 88th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.

References

  1. 1 2 Deperani, Jama (17 September 2011). "TFG Bans Use of Old Somali Passport". Somalia Report. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  2. "Passport office opened". IRIN. 4 September 2002. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  3. "Somalia's new passport sparks row". BBC News . 9 November 2006. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  4. "Somalia introduces new e-passport". People's Daily. 9 February 2007. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  5. "Somali Immigration Department Established New Passport Making Facility in Mogadishu". Somaliweyn.org. 22 November 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  6. "Somali govt starts issuing new e-passports". Afrol News. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  7. "Somalia Introduces New Secure National ID and E-Passport with HID Global and Their Partners". HID Global. 21 April 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  8. "New epassport will help secure somalias borders". Midnimo. 23 December 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  9. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (30 January 2020). "Valid passports and other travel documents needed to come to Canada". aem.
  10. "Global Ranking – Visa Restriction Index 2017" (PDF). Henley & Partners. Retrieved 14 March 2017.