RwandaSomalia: e-Visa

RwandaSomalia

Do Rwanda passport holders need a visa for Somalia?

e-Visa

Yes. Rwanda 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: immigration.gov.so (checked September 18, 2026).

Requiremente-Visa

Maximum stayLength of stay varies

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelYes, arrange in advance

Data as of2026-10-19

Distance1,755 km, straight line (~2h 34m nonstop)

Visa-free access to Somalia1 of 242 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? Somalia passport holders visiting Rwanda: Visa on arrival.

Visa-free alternatives near Somalia

Rwanda passport holders can visit these nearby destinations without a visa in advance:

Other visa-free destinations for Rwanda passport holders

See all Rwanda destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do Rwanda passport holders need a visa for Somalia?

Yes. Rwanda passport holders need a visa for Somalia, available online as an e-visa before travel.

How far is Somalia from Rwanda?

About 1,755 km in a straight line, roughly ~2h 34m nonstop by air.

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 Rwanda passport holders visit without a visa instead of Somalia?

Kenya, Ethiopia, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda, Comoros.

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 Rwanda

Rwanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Its geography is dominated by mountains in the west and savanna in the southeast. The largest and most notable lakes are mainly in the western and northern regions of the country, and several volcanoes that form part of the Virunga volcanic chain are primarily in the northwest. The climate is considered tropical highland, with two rainy seasons and two dry seasons each year. Its capital and largest city is Kigali, located at the centre of the country, at 1,567 metres above sea level. Rwanda lies a few degrees south of the Equator in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa. Rwanda is bordered by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. With a population of about 14 million people living within a total area of 26,338 square kilometres (10,169 sq mi), of which land accounts for about 93.7%, Rwanda is the 21st most densely populated country in the world, with an average of about 578 people per square kilometre.

CapitalKigali

RegionEastern Africa

Population14.6M

Area26,338 km²

CurrencyRwandan franc (1 USD ≈ 1475.49 RWF)

LanguagesEnglish, French, Kinyarwanda

Calling code+250

Drives on theright

TimezoneKigali (UTC+2)

Nearest airportKigali International Airport (KGL), 9 km

Emergency number112 / 912

UNESCO sites2

Income levelLow income

GDP per capita$1,124 (2025)

Tourist arrivals1.6M (2019)

Climate in Kigali

Warmest August, coolest November, driest July, sunniest May. Best time to visit: March, May, June, July, August, September, December.

Monthly climate normals for Kigali, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	25.5°C	15.4°C	133mm	286h
February	26.5°C	15.5°C	106mm	301h
March	25.9°C	15.7°C	99mm	303h
April	24.7°C	15.7°C	165mm	277h
May	24.6°C	15.3°C	58mm	350h
June	25.1°C	15.3°C	19mm	323h
July	26.1°C	15.3°C	11mm	325h
August	27.9°C	16°C	19mm	337h
September	27.9°C	15.5°C	59mm	321h
October	26.1°C	15.2°C	169mm	317h
November	25.3°C	14.8°C	126mm	290h
December	25.8°C	14.6°C	101mm	331h

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

Rwanda is an East African country known as the land of a thousand hills. It is easily accessible from Kenya and Uganda, and is one of the safest and most organised countries on the continent. The rolling green highlands, volcanic mountains, and ancient rainforests make it a striking destination. Rwanda is best known for mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, but also offers savannah wildlife in Akagera National Park, chimpanzee tracking and canopy walks in Nyungwe National Park, and a vibrant capital in Kigali. The country is compact, well connected, and easy to travel around.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Memorial sites of the Genocide: Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi and Bisesero
Nyungwe Forest

Upcoming public holidays

December 25, 2026Christmas Day

December 26, 2026Boxing Day

January 1, 2027New Year's Day

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 over 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 ≈ 571.45 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)

Climate in Mogadishu

Warmest April, coolest August, driest February, sunniest December. Best time to visit: January, February, March, May, September, October, December.

Monthly climate normals for Mogadishu, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	31.9°C	24.5°C	8mm	361h
February	31.5°C	24.4°C	2mm	335h
March	31.7°C	25.7°C	21mm	364h
April	31.3°C	25.9°C	93mm	349h
May	29.5°C	25.3°C	69mm	361h
June	27.9°C	24.5°C	81mm	333h
July	26.8°C	23.4°C	122mm	338h
August	26.5°C	23.1°C	84mm	358h
September	27.8°C	23.6°C	37mm	351h
October	29.1°C	24.7°C	29mm	345h
November	29.3°C	24.3°C	77mm	338h
December	31°C	24.1°C	11mm	367h

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

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.