Somaliland orders illegal foreigners to register for temporary residency

Source: Hiiraan Online, Friday May 9, 2025

Hargeisa (HOL) — Somaliland’s government has ordered all foreigners residing illegally in its territory to register for temporary residency or face legal action, the Ministry of Interior announced Thursday.

In a press release, the ministry instructed undocumented foreigners to register with the immigration departments between May 6 and May 26, 2025. Those who comply will be granted temporary residency permits.

“All foreigners in the country are ordered to register with the immigration departments of the Somaliland Ministry of Interior within three weeks, starting from May 6, 2025, and ending on May 26, 2025. Those who register will be granted temporary residency,” the statement said.

Authorities added that a tax will be levied on registrants, and applicants are required to submit formal applications to immigration offices to receive further guidance on the necessary requirements for legal stay.

Foreigners who intend to leave Somaliland were instructed to formally register their departure at border crossing points before exiting.
The ministry warned that individuals who fail to register within the stipulated time frame will face legal measures.

The new directive modifies a previous order issued on April 29, which gave undocumented foreigners only three days to leave Somaliland. That order prompted concerns from foreign diplomatic missions, particularly Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian Government’s Special Representative to Somaliland, Teshome Shunde Hamito, recently held discussions with Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi, reportedly requesting a relaxation of the earlier expulsion order to accommodate Ethiopian nationals residing in Somaliland.

Thousands of Ethiopians, many of whom are working low-skilled jobs, live in Somaliland. Over the years, Somaliland authorities have periodically deported undocumented migrants as part of immigration enforcement efforts.