Somalia customs
Apply for visa
Free import
• Personal belongings and baggage for your own use. All baggage and goods must be made available for customs examination on arrival.
• You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to duty or tax.
• Somalia does not publish duty-free allowances for tobacco, perfume or gifts. Check with the customs authorities before you travel if you plan to bring more than personal items.
Currency
• Cash or bearer negotiable instruments worth more than USD 10,000 (or the equivalent in other currencies) must be declared in writing at the border on arrival. Undeclared cash can be seized and failure to declare is an offence.
• In Somaliland, which has its own authorities, cash or traveller's cheques worth USD 10,000 or more must be declared.
• Credit cards are not widely accepted in Somalia. The US dollar is the main currency for exchange, so bring cash.
Prohibited
• Alcoholic drinks (drinking and selling alcohol is banned in Somalia)
• Illegal drugs
• Obscene publications
• Counterfeit goods and goods intended for a dishonest purpose
• Weapons and military equipment covered by the UN Security Council arms embargo on Somalia
• Biological, chemical and nuclear weapons and their components
• Asbestos and goods containing asbestos
• Charcoal
Restricted
• Goods whose import is prohibited by a government regulation may be brought in only with a licence or permit issued under that regulation. Customs can refuse entry to such goods until the permit is shown.
• Goods above personal needs or intended for commercial use must be declared and are subject to import duty.
• Personal belongings and baggage for your own use. All baggage and goods must be made available for customs examination on arrival.
• You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to duty or tax.
• Somalia does not publish duty-free allowances for tobacco, perfume or gifts. Check with the customs authorities before you travel if you plan to bring more than personal items.
Currency
• Cash or bearer negotiable instruments worth more than USD 10,000 (or the equivalent in other currencies) must be declared in writing at the border on arrival. Undeclared cash can be seized and failure to declare is an offence.
• In Somaliland, which has its own authorities, cash or traveller's cheques worth USD 10,000 or more must be declared.
• Credit cards are not widely accepted in Somalia. The US dollar is the main currency for exchange, so bring cash.
Prohibited
• Alcoholic drinks (drinking and selling alcohol is banned in Somalia)
• Illegal drugs
• Obscene publications
• Counterfeit goods and goods intended for a dishonest purpose
• Weapons and military equipment covered by the UN Security Council arms embargo on Somalia
• Biological, chemical and nuclear weapons and their components
• Asbestos and goods containing asbestos
• Charcoal
Restricted
• Goods whose import is prohibited by a government regulation may be brought in only with a licence or permit issued under that regulation. Customs can refuse entry to such goods until the permit is shown.
• Goods above personal needs or intended for commercial use must be declared and are subject to import duty.