EU tightens visa rules for Somali citizens over readmission concerns

Thursday June 25, 2026

Brussels (HOL) — The European Union has introduced temporary restrictions making it harder for Somali citizens to obtain Schengen visas, citing Somalia’s insufficient cooperation in accepting the return of its nationals who are illegally staying in EU countries.

The Council of the European Union said Somalia had not cooperated adequately in the readmission of Somali citizens who have been ordered to leave EU member states.

Under the new measures, Somali citizens will no longer be eligible for multiple-entry Schengen visas, which allow holders to enter the Schengen area several times during the validity period of the visa.

The EU also extended the standard processing time for Somali visa applications from 15 days to 45 days. The change is expected to affect Somalis seeking to travel to Europe for work, study, family visits or tourism.

Other measures include suspending simplified procedures for supporting documents required in visa applications and reinstating visa fees for holders of Somali diplomatic and service passports.

EU officials said the restrictions are temporary and could be lifted if Somalia makes significant progress in cooperating on the readmission and return of its citizens.

The decision follows an official EU assessment of Somalia’s cooperation on readmission. EU readmission arrangements set out obligations for partner countries to identify, accept and facilitate the safe return of irregular migrants, including their own nationals and, in some cases, third-country nationals who transited through their territory.

The move comes amid broader European pressure on countries of origin to cooperate more closely on migration returns and deportation procedures.

In 2024, Somalia urged Germany not to carry out forced deportations of Somali nationals. During a visit to Berlin, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to discuss migration cooperation and returns.

Mohamud said Somalia’s doors were open to Somalis who no longer had the right to asylum, had exhausted their legal options and wished to return voluntarily.

Somalia has repeatedly emphasized voluntary return over forced deportation, while European governments have pushed for stronger cooperation on returning migrants whose asylum claims have been rejected.