Puntland Introduces Its Own $60 Visa System, Challenging Federal Authority
The Puntland regional administration has independently introduced a new visa-on-arrival system that requires travelers entering the region to pay $60.
The move mirrors the $64 electronic visa (e-visa) system established by Somalia’s Federal Government but operates entirely outside federal control.
Officials from Puntland’s Immigration and Naturalization Department said the region has implemented its own visa framework, known as the Visa on Arrival System (VISO), which functions independently from the federal electronic visa platform managed by authorities in Mogadishu.
The decision underscores Puntland’s growing political autonomy and mirrors a similar stance taken by Somaliland, which previously instructed international airlines to disregard the federal government’s e-visa requirements.
Somaliland had earlier warned that any airline failing to comply with its directives would be barred from operating in its airports or airspace. As a result, major carriers such as Ethiopian Airlines and Flydubai eventually dropped the use of Somalia’s federal e-visa to continue their flights to Hargeisa.
The Federal Government of Somalia, however, insists that it remains the sole legal authority responsible for managing the country’s visa issuance and national airspace. Mogadishu officials have warned airlines that violate federal aviation and immigration regulations that they could face legal consequences under both domestic and international aviation laws.
Political analysts say the dispute highlights growing tensions between the federal government and regional states over sovereignty and administrative control.
They note that the federal e-visa system was introduced to improve transparency and increase revenue collection, but the lack of consultation with regional authorities has sparked confusion and political friction.
Independent experts have cautioned that without a unified visa and airspace management framework, the ongoing standoff could disrupt internal and international travel for Somali citizens and potentially undermine national unity efforts.
The development comes amid broader debates over resource-sharing, governance, and the balance of power between Somalia’s Federal Government and its member states, issues that continue to shape the country’s fragile federal system.
