EU Moves to Impose Tougher Visa Restrictions for Somali Nationals
The European Union is moving to impose tougher visa restrictions on Somali nationals after ministers raised concerns over increasing irregular migration and Somalia's cooperation on the readmission of its citizens. The proposed measures could lead to longer processing times, stricter documentation requirements and fewer multiple-entry visas for Somali travelers
Somalis could face tougher EU visa requirements / Reuters
BRUSSELS (Somali Report) — European Union ministers have moved closer to imposing tougher visa restrictions on Somali nationals, citing a sharp rise in irregular migration and what they describe as insufficient cooperation from Somalia on the return of its citizens who have no legal right to remain in Europe.
The issue was discussed during the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg on June 4, where ministers reviewed migration challenges ahead of the implementation of the EU’s new Pact on Migration and Asylum on June 12.
According to the Council, the number of Somali nationals arriving irregularly in the EU more than doubled between 2024 and 2025, with many journeys facilitated by migrant smuggling networks operating in Somalia and along transit routes.
Ministers exchanged views on what they called Somalia’s inadequate cooperation on the readmission of its citizens and discussed proposed restrictive visa measures put forward by the European Commission.
Cyprus Deputy Minister for Migration and International Protection Nicholas Ioannides said the EU should pursue a “holistic approach” based on cooperation and mutually beneficial partnerships with third countries. However, he argued that the bloc must also use “all the tools at our disposal, including restrictive visa measures,” when countries fail to cooperate on returns and readmission.
The Council did not announce a final decision or provide details of any new restrictions. However, the discussion builds on a Commission proposal that would make it more difficult for Somali nationals to obtain Schengen visas.
Under the proposal, visa processing times could increase from 15 to 45 days, applicants would be required to submit a full set of supporting documents for every application, and most visas issued would be limited to a single entry. Fee waivers for holders of Somali diplomatic and service passports could also be suspended.
The debate comes as the EU prepares to launch its new migration and asylum pact, which European officials say will strengthen border management, accelerate asylum procedures and increase the return of migrants whose applications are rejected.
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“On 12 June, the EU turns a new page in migration management,” Ioannides said, describing the pact as a major reform aimed at improving the bloc’s ability to manage migration and protect its external borders.
The move has emerged despite ongoing dialogue between Somalia and the EU on migration cooperation. Last month, officials from both sides met in Mogadishu during the first EU-Somalia Partnership Dialogue under the Samoa Agreement and agreed to hold further technical talks on returns and readmission.
Those discussions focused on migration, security, economic cooperation and the rule of law, with both sides seeking to identify obstacles to cooperation and improve coordination on migration management.
The EU’s tougher stance has raised concerns among observers who argue that Somalia continues to face serious security and humanitarian challenges. The country is still battling the Al-Shabaab insurgency while also dealing with climate-related disasters, displacement and economic hardship.
Critics of restrictive visa policies say such measures often affect students, business travellers and families more than governments, while doing little to address the underlying causes of migration.
For many Somalis, obtaining a European visa is already difficult. Several EU member states do not maintain visa-issuing offices in Somalia, forcing applicants to travel abroad to submit applications.
If the proposed restrictions are adopted, Somali travellers could face longer waiting periods, higher costs and fewer visa options at a time when both Somalia and the EU continue to describe each other as strategic partners on security, development and migration.
No official response from the Somali government had been issued immediately following the Council’s discussions.
About the Author
Mohamed Farah is a senior editor at Somali Report, based in London, covering geopolitics, trade, business, and security across the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.