MOGADISHU — European Union member states approved visa restrictions on Somali citizens on Thursday, June 25, 2026, following an assessment by the European Commission that Somalia's cooperation on readmitting its deported nationals was insufficient.

Under the new regulations, EU member states can no longer issue multiple-entry visas to Somalis. The fee waiver for holders of diplomatic passports has been removed. Additionally, the standard processing time for visa applications has been extended from 15 to 45 days, and the visa restriction suspension has no fixed end date.

Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud stated his government would readmit its citizens but indicated that many returnees were not Somali nationals. Mohamud emphasized that the country would not reject its own people. "We haven't rejected our people; they own this country. And we cannot reject them," he said.

Mohamud further clarified his government's stance on identifying deported individuals. He stated, "If they are Somali, then we'll take them. If they aren't, we'll help you find out where they are from, and you can send them there."

Magnus Brunner, the European Union's migration commissioner, commented on the necessity for countries of origin to fulfill their obligations. He said, "Countries of origin had to meet their commitments otherwise, there can be consequences."

The European Union had previously imposed similar visa restrictions on The Gambia in 2021 and on Ethiopia in 2024. However, the EU lifted visa restrictions on Ethiopia in May 2026 after determining that cooperation had improved.

This decision by the European Union impacts Somali citizens seeking to travel to EU member states, necessitating longer waiting periods and preventing the issuance of multiple-entry visas. Somalia has faced challenges, including the collapse of its central government in 1991 and ongoing security issues involving Al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-linked armed group that has conducted attacks since 2006.