MOGADISHU: Somalia’s Immigration and Citizenship Agency (ICA) has announced that, starting July 1, 2026, all citizens will be required to present a National Identification Card or an official certificate confirming registration with the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) to obtain a Somali passport. The measure is part of a broader push to strengthen identity verification, improve the integrity of the country’s passport system, and align travel documents with a unified national database.
Under the new regulation, applicants who have not yet received a NIRA‑issued ID card must provide proof of registration before they can apply for a passport. The agency urged citizens who have not enrolled in the national identification system to do so early, warning that delays in registration could disrupt future passport applications. In a separate update, the ICA also introduced revised documentation procedures that took effect on May 13, 2026. All passport applicants must now submit photocopies of their supporting documents, while original documents will be returned after verification. Officials said the new workflow is designed to speed up processing and reduce the risk of lost paperwork.
The reforms come as the federal government accelerates the rollout of its National Identification Program, which is increasingly seen as a cornerstone of state‑building and digital governance. NIRA has already issued more than one million National ID cards, with registration fully operational in Galmudug, Hirshabelle, South West, and Banadir regions. The ICA has been training staff to harmonise databases and upgrade technology to handle the transition. Authorities say the National ID will eventually serve as the primary means of identification for accessing public services, financial inclusion programmes, and digital platforms.
The integration of the National ID into passport issuance is also intended to bring Somali travel documents in line with international standards. Officials have stressed that the move will improve transparency, reduce identity fraud, and enhance confidence in Somali passports abroad. The government has expanded civil registration services for citizens abroad, including the opening of a NIRA office at the Somali embassy in Nairobi, which allows diaspora Somalis to register for their ID cards without travelling home. For domestic travel, the National ID has been mandatory since January 2026, with passengers required to present the card to board domestic flights and inter‑regional transport routes.
While implementation of the new passport rule is still weeks away, the ICA has cautioned that citizens who have not yet registered for the National ID should act promptly to avoid last‑minute complications. The agency’s director general previously stated that linking passports to the National ID closes loopholes that allowed multiple or fraudulent identities, ensuring accountability and credibility in travel documentation.
Recommended Reading on ftlsomalia.com:
- Somalia to Link Passports with National ID, Internal Travel to Require ID by January
- Somalia Opens NIRA Office at Nairobi Embassy to Expand Civil Registration Services
- NIRA Says it Has Issued Over 1 Million National ID Cards
- NIRA Welcomes Integration of SFMIS with Somalia’s National ID System
- Transport Ministry Links Services to Somalia’s National ID System
