By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Belgium, 25 June 2026 - The European Union has introduced temporary restrictions on the issuance of visas to Somali nationals, citing what it describes as inadequate cooperation by Somalia in accepting the return of its citizens residing irregularly within EU member states.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Council of the European Union said the measures were adopted following an assessment by the European Commission, which concluded that Somalia's level of cooperation on readmission matters remains insufficient.
As part of the new measures, EU member states will no longer be allowed to issue multiple-entry Schengen visas to Somali nationals.
The restrictions also remove several visa facilitation measures previously available to Somali applicants.
Under the new rules, member states will no longer be permitted to waive certain supporting documentation requirements for Somali visa applicants. In addition, holders of Somali diplomatic and service passports will no longer qualify for visa fee waivers and will be required to pay standard application charges.
The EU has also extended the standard processing period for visa applications submitted by Somali nationals from 15 days to 45 calendar days.
The Council described the restrictions as temporary but did not specify a timeline for their removal.
According to the EU, the objective of the measures is to encourage stronger cooperation from Somalia on the readmission of its nationals who do not have legal status in EU countries.
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"The Commission will continue to assess any progress made," the Council said.
The decision falls under the EU's visa policy framework, which allows the bloc to adjust visa procedures for non-EU countries based on their cooperation in accepting the return of citizens who are subject to deportation or return orders.
The restrictions apply only to short-stay Schengen visas and do not affect applications for asylum or long-term national visas, which remain under the authority of individual member states.
The new measures mean Somali nationals seeking Schengen visas will face stricter documentation requirements, longer processing times and the loss of access to multiple-entry visas until the EU determines that cooperation on readmission has improved.
The Council did not indicate when the restrictions would be reviewed or whether additional measures could be considered if concerns persist.
EU Tightens Visa Rules for Somali Nationals Over Readmission Concerns
Holders of Somali diplomatic and service passports will no longer qualify for visa fee waivers and will be required to pay.