Somalia Halts OK-to-Board Travel to Egypt Starting May 24

By Shire Abdi - Reporter

Somalia, 24 May 2026 Somalia’s immigration agency announced a temporary suspension of OK-to-Board travel approvals for Somali citizens traveling to Egypt, effective May 24, 2026.

The agency said the measure follows recent challenges faced by Somali nationals traveling to Egypt.

What is OK-to-Board?

OK-to-Board is a temporary travel clearance typically issued to nationals of African countries traveling to Egypt. It allows passengers to board flights bound for Egypt and obtain entry at Egyptian airports after paying the visa fee.

The system is initially requested by ticketing companies operating in Somalia and Egypt, then approved by Egyptian security authorities and coordinated through the same ticketing companies, enabling 5 to board flights heading to Egypt.

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Somali citizens are advised that travel to Egypt is still possible using official visas issued exclusively by the Egyptian consulate.

The agency emphasized that it is strengthening cooperation between Somalia and Egypt to facilitate smoother travel and maintain bilateral relations.

“This temporary suspension is intended to address current challenges while ensuring travellers’ safety and proper processing,” the agency said in a statement.

The measure applies to all Somali nationals seeking to travel to Egypt under the OK-to-Board program until further notice.