Somaliland, Puntland & Somalia

Visas

You will need a visa to enter Somaliland. The most convenient place to get a visa is Addis Ababa. Visas are issued the same day through the Somaliland Liaison Office and cost US$30. You’ll need a photo. In Djibouti, you’ll need a copy of your passport, which will be faxed to Hargeisa. Once the approval is faxed back, you get a visa, which you will pay at the airport in Hargeisa. The whole process takes about three days.

In the UK or the USA, you can contact the Somaliland Liaison Office. Another straightforward option is to go through a local sponsor, such as the Oriental Hotel, the Ambassador or the Director of Tourism. You’ll need to fax them details of your passport pages and give them at least a week to organise the visa. They will fax the details back to you and you’ll then be issued with the visa upon arrival at the airport (US$30).

Visas for onward travel

The Ethiopian Trade Office can issue Ethiopian visas. You’ll need two photos, US$20 and a letter from the Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs (22253871; Independence Rd, Hargeisa). The whole process is pretty straightforward and takes less than a day.