Somalia to roll out new passport in 2026 as immigration agency touts security, digital reforms
Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025
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MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Immigration and Citizenship Authority will issue a new national passport in 2026, replacing the current document as part of a wider modernization drive aimed at securing borders, improving service delivery and restoring global confidence in Somali travel documents, officials said Wednesday.
Announcing the plan at an event in Mogadishu, ICA Director Mustafa Dhuhulow presented the agency’s 2025 Annual Performance Report, delivered under the theme “Secure Borders, Safe Somalia/Controlling Our Borders – Protecting Our People.” The report outlines operational gains, legal and regulatory reforms, and a multi-year strategy to modernize systems and professionalize the country’s border and immigration services.
According to the report, the ICA has upgraded core platforms and processes, including:
- Implementing an Electronic Travel Authorization System (e-TAS) to streamline pre-arrival vetting
- Modernizing passports in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards
- Intensifying efforts to combat smuggling and migration-related crime
- Improving data collection, protection and performance management
The agency also highlighted the role of the ICA Academy in training and professional development, alongside investments in border posts, service centers and coordinated national, regional and international partnerships intended to secure long-term border management.
Dhuhulow said the authority’s early priority was to halt “constant changes” affecting identity documents—steps he said have curtailed manipulation of names and birthdates and improved the integrity of Somali credentials.
“When we came into office, we immediately stopped the constant changes being made to passports and personal data,” he said. “Despite the challenges we faced, embassies and international organizations welcomed this step. Many people had been changing their names and dates of birth, which risked undermining trust in our system.”
He added that on Jan. 27 the ICA signed an agreement with Interpol, in coordination with other government agencies, a move he said helped Somalia regain international confidence.
The new passport, slated for 2026, is presented by the ICA as the next step in that credibility push, with the upgrade expected to build on ICAO compliance and strengthen document security safeguards.
Senior cabinet officials praised the portfolio’s progress and its link to domestic stability. Internal Security Minister Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail (Farataag) said the capital is experiencing its strongest security posture in years and credited tighter border controls and interagency cooperation for supporting those gains.
“The government is very pleased with the achievements and performance presented tonight,” he said. “We commend the Immigration and Citizenship Authority for its vital role in national security, particularly in safeguarding Somalia’s borders.”
Education Minister Farah Sheikh Abdulqadir also lauded the agency’s leadership and reforms, pointing to close institutional collaboration and improved public access to services.
“We are closely monitoring the work of the agency,” he said. “The director has withstood significant challenges and pressure, which has contributed to the progress we see today and increased confidence in the quality of Somali passports.” He added that new procedures have strengthened equality among citizens and ensured fair access to passports, while curbing misuse.
The ICA’s 2025–2029 strategic plan frames the new passport rollout as part of a broader digital transformation and rule-of-law agenda centered on transparency, accountability and quality service delivery. With the technical upgrades underway and international links strengthened, the agency is positioning next year’s launch as both an operational milestone and a signal to global partners that Somalia’s border and identity systems are aligning with international norms.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
