Thursday 9,Jan,2025 {HMC} Somalia’s passport has climbed to 102nd place in the 2025 Henley Passport Index, offering visa-free access to 35 destinations worldwide.
Somalia’s passport ranking has seen minimal changes over the past decade. In 2015, it was ranked 108th. While the current ranking represents progress, it pales in comparison to countries like the United Arab Emirates, which has surged 32 places over the same period, now holding 10th place with visa-free access to 185 destinations.
The Henley Passport Index, a globally recognized ranking system, evaluates the travel privileges of 199 passports based on their access to 227 destinations without requiring a visa. Somalia’s position illustrates the ongoing limitations of its travel freedom, particularly compared to top-ranked Singapore, whose passport holders enjoy visa-free access to 195 destinations.
The 2025 report sheds light on global inequality in mobility, with African nations disproportionately affected by visa restrictions. Somalia’s passport ranking aligns with broader trends across the continent, where visa rejection rates remain high. Research shows that African applicants for Schengen visas are twice as likely to face rejection compared to applicants from other regions.
Professor Mehari Taddele Maru of the Migration Policy Centre attributes the disparity to systemic issues. “High rejection rates for African applicants reflect a combination of weak economies and discriminatory policies that reinforce global mobility inequality,” he said.
