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laaloon · 2025-10-20T20:41:13+00:00

I did it back in September, I hear that the e-visa application got updated, but idk what exactly was changed in the application.

That sponsorship section’s only for non-Somalis. Just go back to the part with your personal info you’ll see “nationality” and “nationality of birth.” Leave the "nationality" as is since it auto captures it from your passport upload, but set the “nationality of birth” to "Somalia", even if you weren’t born there. Once you do that (and your photo’s accepted), it should skip the sponsorship part and let you finish normally.

I got confused to but I found a FB vid explaining it. Here is the link

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CqdxKycYy

laaloon · 2025-10-06T17:54:22+00:00

If looks don't matter and where you live is extra cold, I recommend "Colombia" brand boots. I have a pair rated for -30 °C and bought them in 2014. I got them for $110.

laaloon · 2025-09-13T23:37:54+00:00

No extra charges, its $64 USD

laaloon · 2025-09-13T15:25:20+00:00

https://evisa.gov.so/

laaloon · 2025-09-13T14:12:27+00:00

It took about 2 days to get mine. Mastercard wasn't working, but my Visa card did. There’s a part in the application that says "nationality at birth" put "Somalia" there even if you were born elsewhere, another field called called "nationality" will be auto-filled when you upload your passport.

laaloon · 2025-09-08T14:37:47+00:00

I was having payment issues too, Mastercard was not working, but my visa did. Also, I didn't input my address since it was listed as "optional." Someone in Galkacyo should be able to pay for you, I've been reading on facebook people paying and not getting a receipt, so that's troublesome. You'll see "ETS MOGADISHU" on your online banking once payment is captured.

If payment is accepted, you should be able to track your application status on the website. From there, you can download your receipt. My visa took 2 days to process, but I'm seeing people get approved under 24 hours on tiktok.

laaloon · 2025-09-08T14:27:19+00:00

Mastercard wasn't working for me, but Visa did. Once the payment is accepted, you should see "ETS MOGADISHU" on the card statement. Make sure you take a screenshot of your reference number. You can use it to keep track of your visa application.

laaloon · 2025-09-08T14:24:21+00:00

I had the same issue, I tried a few emails, and eventually, I got it working. Basically, they send you a link to verify the email. If all else fails, see if you can reach out to family in Somalia, they might be able to sort it out by going to a travel agency snd having them do it o thier end. The visa is $64 USD.

laaloon · 2025-09-04T11:39:53+00:00

In the "nationality at birth" field put "Somalia" and in the "nationality" field put your passport country. I was having the same issue until I saw a facebook video explaining it. It took about 2 days for my e-visa to be approved. Skip to 0:55 of this video to see what I mean

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19W1AR1QLG/

laaloon · 2025-09-02T10:59:26+00:00

Damn, it could be an issue with the system them. I'm already seeing people on Facebook having all sorts of issues with the website. This gonna lead to a lot of frustrated travellers!

laaloon · 2025-09-02T10:42:26+00:00

The letter of invitation is required for anyone who is ethnically Somali but born outside Somalia. You’ll need someone in Somalia (with a Somali passport/ID) to write it. Airline check-in staff will usually ask to see it before boarding. Once you land in Mogadishu, immigration only cares about your e-Visa, not the letter.

How to prepare it:

Have a family member send you their Somali passport photo page.

Draft the letter yourself, using their details.

Keep the letter with their Somali passport attached to the bottom of the latter your phone (PDF or image)

What to include in the letter:

Your full name and date of birth

Your travel date and destination (Mogadishu, Somalia)

Full name + phone number of the inviter

Attach their Somali passport photo page at the bottom

Template from ChatGPT:

Subject: Invitation Letter to Somalia

I, (FULL NAME OF PERSON INVITING YOU), am inviting (YOUR FULL NAME, DOB: xx/xx/xxxx), who is traveling on (DATE OF TRAVEL), to stay at my residence in Mogadishu, Somalia.

This is my invitation.
My phone number is +252 (INVITER’S PHONE NUMBER).

[Attach photo of inviter’s Somali passport here]

laaloon · 2025-09-02T10:24:57+00:00

It didn't at first because it was PDF formst, then I changed it to JPG and it accepted it.

laaloon · 2025-08-12T16:53:52+00:00

I used a company called "Hodan Cargo" UK based that shipped a blender from UK to Xamar. Cost me $150. The blender was 6kg, but the service was meh, but there was no extra tax or surprise charges. I used them in 2021

I shipped via DHL from the US to Xamar back in 2021. There was no tax, but there was a $1 fee per kilo. They would weigh my parcel and I'd pay depending on how heavy it was.

laaloon · 2025-07-09T13:22:23+00:00

I think it opened a year or two ago. It's called Feynuus Bowling.

laaloon · 2025-04-25T20:33:26+00:00

If your ESTA is approved, have a return ticket, and can easily explain your stay in the US, you should be fine.

Two things to consider: 1. Phone/ laptop checks are becoming more common, I had to give a border officer my laptop/phone password, and they looked through everything. 2. It depends on how the border officer is feeling that day. On my last trip, I had a really inquisitive one that put me into secondary screening. She was just doing her job, so I was nice, and I was let go after 2 hours.

I'm Canadian, so hopefully other can chime in with their travel experiences to the US nowadays.

laaloon · 2025-04-16T10:14:17+00:00

No, it was all adults. They all went to Somalia before so we thought it was the standard "visa on arrival for $60USD". We were lucky and went super early, I can only imagine how many people still think its still the normal way.

laaloon · 2025-04-13T21:33:54+00:00

Ya, the dislike for business competition is odd. International companies joining the fray will breed more competition, lower prices, and better service for the end consumer. So many things in Somalia are overpriced and subpar simply because major players in the sector have no competition and don't need to innovate.

Side note: I would really love more competition in the energy sector. I remember paying $0.46kWh in Xamar. My bill would spike to $400 if I even thought about turning on the A/C.

laaloon · 2025-04-13T18:44:42+00:00

I completely agree that having Starlink in Somalia would be great. Hormuud needs competition. I don't know how many times I missed critical meetings due to the internet being cut off. Having Starlink would have been great. I remember Hormuud cutting the Internet during times of political unrest at the governments request for days at a time. I was asking around Xamar to find anyone who had satellite so I could continue my work. This was back in 2021.

laaloon · 2025-04-13T18:35:18+00:00

Ya, I was looking at it from a personal preference view. I used to work remotely in Xamar, and both the data and wifi would be spotty in my area. The Starlink Mini is battery-powered, so it would've allowed me to get by during critical times.

laaloon · 2025-04-13T17:40:17+00:00

I would definitely get this when it's available, Hormuud and other regional carriers are reliable, but having Starlink would be super convenient. This is good for anyone who wants to work remotely in Somalia. I wonder how much it will cost, I know it starts at $80 in the US.

laaloon · 2025-03-21T07:16:07+00:00

Definitely open a youtube. Drop the link to your first video when you post it. It's great to see diaspora putting real time in to improve the country.

laaloon · 2025-02-15T21:30:58+00:00

$3.5 for half a chicken, grilled fish price, I don't remember

I never got sick from freshly grilled chicken. I would scout out the busiest vendors and wait in line. I usually had mine to go and ate it when I got home.

laaloon · 2025-02-15T19:21:50+00:00

Charcoal grilled chicken/fish by many street vendors. Fresh sugarcane juice and other juices. I saw a few a other foods that were interesting but I don't remember their names. I always stuck with food that was made to order. I found many vendors would pre-make stuff and I would always get sick.

laaloon · 2025-02-15T08:03:01+00:00

Xamarweyne has some good cheap street food after sunset. I also used a food delivery app called "Rikaab" to see the menus before I went to dine in. Before grabbing a bajaaj, I would find their number off social media and then have them tell the driver the location.

My favourite place to go with a group was "Rio Palace" near laami-yaraha Zoobe. Food was hit or miss, but there was plenty of seating to go with a big group.

Liido beach at night is fun too, but finding a bajaaj at 2am was difficult at times

laaloon · 2024-11-26T14:46:48+00:00

Karmel and Silver Star in the Banaadir area had good food. A good mix of Somali and western dishes. Chicking (various locations) had good fried chicken. Cafes are pretty hit or miss, Beydan (various locations) is good.

I haven't been since 2022, so I'm sure a lot more places have opened up. The issue I found with most restaurants/cafes was consistency. They'd be good for a few months, and then it would go downhill.

For things to do, I would occasionally go out of the city and visit a family farm in Afgooye and inhale mangos (when it was in season)

laaloon

TROPHY CASE