Somalia’s passport remains among the world’s weakest, sitting at position 102 out of 199 in the newly released 2025 Henley Passport Index. This places the document in the bottom 5 percent of all passports globally and makes international travel extremely difficult for its citizens.
Somali passport holders can visit only 35 countries without needing a visa beforehand. For most other destinations, they face long visa processes, high chances of rejection, and limited freedom to travel compared to people from other countries.
Over the past ten years, Somalia’s passport has gained little ground in global mobility. Despite a slight rise from 108th in 2015, it still trails regional peers, with Kenya and Ethiopia ranked 65th and 80th respectively in the 2025 index.
The Somalia passport ranks just above Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan—the lowest at 109th. Singapore holds the top spot with access to 193 destinations.
Experts say Somali travelers face more than just poor rankings. Many countries in Europe, North America, and Asia have strict visa rules for them, often blaming security concerns and weak government systems.
According to the report, there is a widespread pattern of unequal treatment in visa applications, with applicants from African countries twice as likely to be denied visas to the Schengen Area in Europe as those from other regions.
These global inequalities in travel access may soon get worse. The UK and EU are planning to introduce new digital systems, ETA and ETIAS, which will require online travel approval even for visitors from visa-exempt countries. In Somalia, where internet service is limited and many people do not have access to digital payment tools, these new systems could create even more obstacles.
Christian Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners, described the ranking as a reflection of “passport apartheid,” noting that the country of one’s birth still largely determines life opportunities in a world that claims to promote mobility. “What we’re witnessing is a global mobility divide that mirrors economic and political inequalities,” he said.
Although Somalia has seen some improvements in security and diplomacy, these changes have not yet made travel easier for most of its citizens. The country still struggles with armed conflict, weak consular support overseas, and very few visa agreements.