Somalia and Tanzania sign visa facilitation agreement

Diplomats and officials travel visa-free, while regular passport holders can get a visa within 24 hours

Somalia and Tanzania have signed a visa facilitation agreement to ease travel between the two countries. The Memorandum of Understanding on migration management was signed on February 16, 2026, the Somali National News Agency (SONNA) reported.

Under the agreement, diplomats and government officials from both countries can travel visa-free. Regular passport holders will be able to obtain entry within 24 hours.

This step will also promote tourism, investment, education exchange, and business mobility, while strengthening institutional cooperation and enhancing people-to-people connections between our two countries.

Direct flights to follow

The agreement also paves the way for direct flights between Somalia and Tanzania, which were agreed upon last year and are expected to launch soon. The air link will further strengthen economic and social ties between the two nations.

Broader cooperation

The MoU covers cooperation in diplomacy, security, and trade. Somalia's government said the agreement reflects growing partnership and trust between the two East African nations, and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration in security, trade, investment, aviation, and people-to-people engagement.