The Italian Embassy in Somalia, located in Mogadishu, has announced that it will review its technical preparations before making a significant decision regarding the resumption of visa issuance for Somali passport holders in 2025.
Ambassador Pier Mario confirmed this in an exclusive interview, expressing hope for progress in the coming year. He explained that the previous suspension of visa issuance was due to “technical and procedural issues.”
The ambassador stated, “Yes, we have read many comments on this issue. However, the previous suspension of visa issuance was temporary and caused only by technical and procedural reasons. The visa application service at the Italian Embassy in Mogadishu is limited, and only individuals with diplomatic or service passports, who are traveling on official business or invitations, are allowed to apply. Applications are collected at the Mogadishu embassy, but they are officially processed at the Italian Embassy in Nairobi, where there is the technical capacity to print visas.”
He added, “Those wishing to apply for a visa through the Nairobi embassy can continue as before. However, regarding the possibility of issuing visas directly from Mogadishu, I must say that the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently exploring technical measures to strengthen the capacity of the Mogadishu embassy to manage visa processes in the future. I hope that during 2025 we will make significant progress on this matter.”
In September 2024, the Italian government announced the suspension of Schengen visa issuance from its embassy in Mogadishu. A statement from the Italian Embassy in Nairobi, posted on Twitter, confirmed the suspension of all Schengen visa applications from the Mogadishu embassy, though the official reason behind the decision was not disclosed.
This decision affected Somali citizens wishing to travel to European countries, as the Schengen visa facilitates travel to 27 European nations. The Italian Embassy’s new review is expected to lead to the resumption of visa issuance, which will be welcomed as good news for Somali travelers.
