The Somali government is expanding the use of the National Identification system, gradually linking the National ID to essential public services, including immigration procedures and travel documents.
According to a notice circulated on October 1, 2026, Somali citizens travelling abroad are required to have a National ID.
The notice said the measure is part of cooperation between the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) and the Immigration and Citizenship Agency (ICA).
However, official information from the two institutions already confirms that the National ID plays an important role in Somalia’s passport system.
The ICA announced in August 2025 that, effective September 1, 2025, every Somali citizen applying for a passport would be required to hold a valid National ID card.
The agency said the policy was intended to link passports to verified identities and strengthen the integrity of Somalia’s travel-document system.
NIRA describes the National ID as a broader identity system designed to provide citizens and legal residents with a unique, verifiable identity.
The authority says the system uses biometric information, including fingerprints and facial recognition, and supports identity verification for people registered both inside and outside Somalia.
The National ID is increasingly being integrated with government services. NIRA says its verification infrastructure is intended to support sectors including financial services, social protection, telecommunications, aviation and government institutions such as immigration.
The authority also says the National ID can be issued in physical and digital forms, while its system includes a National Identification Number and biometric verification.
NIRA identifies passport applications, banking, healthcare and other public services among the areas in which the national identity system can be used.
For people who have registered but have not yet received a physical card, NIRA provides a National ID certificate through its Certificate Delivery System.
The certificate can be downloaded digitally after an individual’s identity registration has been confirmed.
NIRA’s TIRSI platform also allows registered applicants to track the progress of their National ID applications and download their certificates.
The expanding identity system also covers Somali citizens living outside the country. NIRA says it is responsible for verifying identities of people registered both inside and outside Somalia and uses biometric technologies as part of the verification process.
The integration of identity and travel documents has been a stated objective of cooperation between NIRA and the ICA.
In a joint training programme, NIRA said the two institutions were working to link the National Identification System with passports, while ICA officials emphasized that passports would be connected to National IDs.
The development is part of a broader government effort to establish a unified identity framework that connects citizens’ verified identities with passports, government services and other systems requiring secure identification.
For citizens planning to travel internationally, the practical implication is that they should check their National ID status before travelling, particularly if they are applying for or renewing a Somali passport.
NIRA’s TIRSI platform allows applicants to check their registration status using their tracking number, while its certificate service provides digital access to an approved National ID certificate.
The distinction between the two requirements remains important: the National ID requirement for Somali passport applications has been officially confirmed by the ICA since September 1, 2025, while the reported October 1, 2026 requirement for all Somali citizens departing the country has not been clearly published on the official NIRA or ICA websites reviewed for this article.
If the new travel requirement is fully implemented, Somali citizens travelling abroad would need to ensure that their National ID documentation is in order before reaching immigration and airport authorities.