Somalia to Introduce New Biometric Passport in October

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia will begin issuing a new generation of biometric passports from October 2026 as part of efforts to strengthen document security and curb fraud, the country’s immigration authorities have announced.

The Director General of the Somali Immigration and Citizenship Agency, Hussein Qasim Yusuf, said the new third-generation passport would replace the current version and feature enhanced security measures designed to meet international standards.

The passport will be made from polycarbonate, a durable material widely used in modern travel documents, and will comply with security specifications set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), he said.

Yusuf pointed out that the move is intended to improve the credibility of the Somali passport, reduce the risk of forgery and identity fraud, and facilitate smoother international travel for Somali citizens.

From October, all new passport applicants will be issued the third-generation document, which will gradually replace earlier versions currently in circulation.

The upgrade comes as Somalia continues to modernise its civil registration and border management systems while seeking greater international recognition for its travel documents. In recent years, the government has introduced biometric identity initiatives and expanded digital immigration services as part of broader public sector reforms.

The announcement also comes more than a year after Somalia joined the East African Community (EAC). Although the country became the bloc’s eighth member in 2024, it has yet to adopt the common East African e-passport, which is used by several other member states to facilitate regional travel.

Officials have not indicated when Somalia plans to introduce the EAC passport, but the launch of the third-generation national passport marks another step in aligning the country’s travel documents with internationally recognised security standards.