{"id":7021690,"date":"2025-11-12T16:06:37","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T15:06:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visamundi.co\/?p=7021690"},"modified":"2025-11-12T16:06:51","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T15:06:51","slug":"in-somalia-a-leak-in-the-visa-system-precipitates-the-passage-to-letas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visamundi.co\/en\/blog\/en-somalie-une-fuite-du-systeme-de-visas-precipite-le-passage-a-letas\/","title":{"rendered":"In Somalia, a leak in the e-Visa system precipitates the switch to eTAS"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Federal Government of Somalia (GFS) has embarked on a reform of its immigration policy, marked by the imminent transition of its e-Visa system to a Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)<\/strong>, which is due to take full effect from November 27<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This initiative comes against a backdrop of serious concerns about digital security and the categorical rejection of this policy by neighboring factions, notably Somaliland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

End of Visa on Arrival (VoA) and rise of eTAS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although the Visa-On-Arrival (VOA) rule has been in effect since September for most travelers, the change in the November 27<\/strong> does not concern the visa policy itself, but the system used to process these travel authorizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From this date, Somalia will switch entirely from the e-Visa system to an eTAS system (Electronic Travel Authorization<\/em> Somalia<\/em>). Federal officials describe the new system as follows stricter<\/strong> than the previous e-visa platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since September 21, the Somali eTA can be requested on the website https:\/\/etas.gov.so<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The old site https:\/\/evisa.gov.so\/ <\/strong>now redirects to the new site.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

All passengers bound for Somalia will require federal authorization before boarding. The eTA platform will be directly linked to the airlines' data systems (including the API - Advance Passenger Information<\/em> - and the NRP - Passenger Name Records<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Airlines will not be able to issue boarding passes to travelers who have not obtained the eTA. This gives the Mogadishu authorities access to personal and travel details even before passengers depart, reinforcing federal control over immigration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Massive data leak from the old e-Visa system<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This transition to eTA is directly preceded by a digital security scandal. The original e-visa system, which the eTA is supposed to replace, has suffered a major leak of personal information<\/strong>. Thousands of sensitive user data (over 35,000) registered on Somalia's official e-Visa platform have been compromised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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BREAKING: One of the largest data leaks in Africa has just happened in Somalia \ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddf4. It has left tens of thousands unknowing travellers\u2019 data to be leaked due to poor cybersecurity measures by the Government of Somalia\u203c\ufe0f
pic.twitter.com\/Q65zL5gHG2<\/a><\/p>- Dr.Sam Youssef Ph.D.,M.Sc.,DPT. (@drhossamsamy65) November 11, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>