By Asma Mohamud - Reporter
Somalia, 2 July 2026 – Somalia will introduce a new third-generation passport in October 2026, the Immigration and Citizenship Agency said on Wednesday.
The Director General of the Immigration and Citizenship Agency, Hussein Qasim Yusuf, said the new passport would feature stronger security elements and would be made of polycarbonate, a durable material widely used in modern travel documents.
He said the passport would also comply with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which provides global rules for machine-readable travel documents and passport security.
The planned October rollout follows earlier steps by the Immigration and Citizenship Agency to modernise Somalia’s travel documents. In October 2025, the agency announced an international tender for the production of a third-generation electronic passport, saying the new document would be polycarbonate-based and include biometric and anti-forgery features while meeting ICAO standards.
The tender process was launched under Somalia’s Public Procurement Act, with authorities saying the framework was intended to ensure transparency and accountability in selecting the company responsible for producing the new passport.
Related articles
The agency also said at the time that consultations would be held with government institutions, civil society groups and other stakeholders as part of preparations for the transition to the new passport system.
The passport upgrade is part of wider efforts to strengthen Somalia’s identity management system. Starting July 2, 2026, Somali authorities made the National ID card mandatory for all passport applicants.
According to the Immigration and Citizenship Agency, anyone applying for a Somali passport must present a National ID card. Applicants who do not yet have one can register for the National ID at passport service centres.
Authorities say these measures are intended to improve the reliability of official identity documents, strengthen border management and reduce fraud risks in travel documentation.
The rollout comes as Somalia seeks to strengthen identity management, improve border control systems and align its travel documents with international aviation and immigration standards.