British Indian Ocean TerritorySomalia: e-Visa

British Indian Ocean TerritorySomalia

Do British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders need a visa for Somalia?

e-Visa

Yes. British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders need a visa for Somalia, available online as an e-visa before travel.

An e-visa must be applied for and approved online before travel.

Source: gov.uk (checked September 18, 2026).

Requiremente-Visa

Maximum stayLength of stay varies

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelYes, arrange in advance

Data as of2026-10-14

Visa-free access to Somalia1 of 242 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? Somalia passport holders visiting British Indian Ocean Territory: Visa required.

Visa-free alternatives near Somalia

British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders can visit these nearby destinations without a visa in advance:

Other visa-free destinations for British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders

See all British Indian Ocean Territory destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders need a visa for Somalia?

Yes. British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders need a visa for Somalia, available online as an e-visa before travel.

What currency is used in Somalia?

Somali shilling (SOS).

What is the emergency number in Somalia?

555 / 888 / 999.

What time zone is Somalia in?

Mogadishu (UTC+3).

What is the nearest airport to Mogadishu?

Aden Adde International Airport (MGQ), about 7 km away.

How many countries can enter Somalia without a visa?

1 of the 242 nationalities this site tracks can enter Somalia visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with an eTA.

What nearby countries can British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders visit without a visa instead of Somalia?

Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Seychelles, Comoros, Rwanda.

Visa rules change frequently and can depend on your specific circumstances. This site is compiled from public government sources and is provided for general information only. Always confirm requirements with the official immigration authority or a consulate of your destination before you travel.

About British Indian Ocean Territory

The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is a British Overseas Territory situated in the Indian Ocean. The territory comprises the seven atolls of the Chagos Archipelago with over 1,000 individual islands, many very small, amounting to a total land area of 60 square kilometres. The largest and most southerly island is Diego Garcia, 27 square kilometres, the site of a Joint Military Facility of the United Kingdom and the United States. Official administration is remote from London, though the local capital is often regarded as being on Diego Garcia.

RegionEastern Africa

Area60 km²

CurrencyUnited States dollar (1 USD ≈ 1.00 USD)

LanguagesEnglish

Calling code+246

Drives on theright

Climate in British Indian Ocean Territory

Warmest April, coolest August, driest October, sunniest October. Best time to visit: April, May, June, August, September, October, November.

Monthly climate normals for British Indian Ocean Territory, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	27.9°C	26.2°C	404mm	268h
February	28.3°C	26.9°C	315mm	294h
March	28.5°C	26.6°C	257mm	309h
April	28.9°C	27.3°C	121mm	316h
May	28.5°C	26.8°C	211mm	315h
June	28.1°C	26.5°C	211mm	307h
July	27.6°C	26.3°C	251mm	255h
August	26.8°C	25.8°C	88mm	315h
September	27°C	25.8°C	49mm	347h
October	28°C	26.8°C	43mm	366h
November	28.1°C	26.4°C	238mm	305h
December	27.7°C	25.8°C	365mm	296h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

The British Indian Ocean Territory, also known as the Chagos Islands, is centrally located in the Indian Ocean, south of the Maldives, about halfway between Madagascar and Indonesia. The main island, Diego Garcia, is a military facility off limits to anyone not on official duty, but some of the uninhabited outer islands can be visited by independent yachters with advance permission.

Full source list on About.

About Somalia

Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is the easternmost country in continental Africa. Stretching across the Horn of Africa, it borders Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, the Gulf of Aden to the north, and the Indian Ocean to the east. Somalia has the longest coastline on Africa's mainland. Somalia has an estimated population of more than 19 million, of which 2.7 million live in the capital and largest city, Mogadishu. As one of Africa's most ethnically homogeneous countries, around 85% of its residents are ethnic Somalis. The official and national language of the country is Somali, and Arabic is recognised as a second language. The overwhelming majority of the population are Sunni Muslims.

CapitalMogadishu

RegionEastern Africa

Population19.7M

Area637,657 km²

CurrencySomali shilling (1 USD ≈ 571.74 SOS)

LanguagesArabic, Somali

Calling code+252

Drives on theright

TimezoneMogadishu (UTC+3)

Nearest airportAden Adde International Airport (MGQ), 7 km

Emergency number555 / 888 / 999

Income levelLow income

GDP per capita$661 (2025)

Travel guide

Somalia is a country on the Horn of Africa. Once the centre of many powerful sultanates and an Italian colony, the country has been in a state of chaos and turmoil since the 1980s. The country suffers from a myriad of social problems such as warfare, terrorism, corruption, political instability, and general lawlessness, and it isn't exactly your typical family destination.

Upcoming public holidays

January 1, 2027New Year's Day

May 1, 2027Labour Day

June 26, 2027Independence Day

Full source list on About.