.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
MOGADISHU (Dawan Africa) – Somalia’s Immigration and Citizenship Agency announced today that beginning January 1, 2026, all individuals traveling within the country will be required to carry a National Identity Card (NIRA) to verify their personal information.
The announcement came during a coordination meeting held at the agency’s headquarters in Mogadishu, where officials discussed ways to strengthen collaboration between the Immigration and Citizenship Agency and the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). The new measures aim to improve the national identity system and increase public confidence in official documentation.
The meeting was chaired by Minister of Internal Security Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail (Fartaag) and attended by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ali Omar Balcad, Director General of Immigration Mustafe Sheikh Ali Dhuxulow, NIRA’s Director General Abdiwali Ali Abdulle (Timacadde), and other senior officials from both institutions.
According to a joint statement released after the meeting:
“Beginning September 1, 2025, Somali passport applications will require the presentation of a National Identity Card to ensure the accuracy and reliability of citizen data.”
Authorities further confirmed that starting from September 1, 2025, all Somali passport applicants must present the National Identity Card as part of the verification process, while the ID will become mandatory for domestic travel beginning January 1, 2026.
Officials described the measures as part of broader federal efforts to modernize travel management, strengthen citizen identification, and boost confidence in Somalia’s public service systems.
Several government and financial institutions — including the Central Bank of Somalia, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, and the Ministry of Commerce — have already begun requiring the National ID for access to their services.
The directive follows a Cabinet resolution passed in April 2025, mandating that all government services be linked to the possession of the National Identity Card.
