Customs at Mogadishu airport are usually quick for travellers with personal luggage. Most problems happen at the other end: diaspora travellers flying home with khat, dried meat or large amounts of cash. This guide covers both directions.
Bringing things into Somalia
Not allowed:
- Alcohol of any kind, including in duty-free bags
- Pork and pork products
- Narcotics and illegal drugs
- Weapons, ammunition and replicas without a permit
- Drones and professional filming equipment without prior permission from the authorities
- Pornographic material
Fine in personal amounts: clothes, gifts for family, phones, laptops and other electronics for your own use, perfume, food items for the family, and religious items.
- Medicines: keep them in the original packaging with a copy of the prescription. For strong painkillers, sleeping pills or ADHD medicine, carry a doctor's letter.
- Goods for sale: anything in commercial quantities (many identical phones, boxes of clothes) can be charged customs duty. Keep receipts for new, expensive items.
- Cash: US dollars are widely used in Somalia. Carry only what you need, keep it on you rather than in checked bags, and declare it if officials ask.
Taking things home: check your own country's rules
Your home country's customs decide what you can bring back — and many common Somali items are restricted.
- Khat (qaad / jaad): legal and widely sold in Somalia, but illegal in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland, among others. Carrying it can lead to arrest and a criminal record.
- Meat and dairy: the EU and the UK do not allow travellers to bring meat or dairy products from outside Europe — including dried meat (muqmad / oodkac), camel milk and ghee. The US, Canada and Australia also restrict meat and dairy and require you to declare all food.
- Other food: dates, spices, tea, honey and frankincense are usually allowed in personal amounts, but in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand you must declare them on arrival.
- Cash: declare cash of €10,000 or more when entering or leaving the EU, £10,000 in the UK, US$10,000 in the US, CA$10,000 in Canada and AU$10,000 in Australia. Undeclared cash can be seized.
- Gold: personal jewellery you wear is normally fine. Large amounts of gold, or gold you will sell, may need declaring and can be taxed.
- Wildlife products: ivory, sea-turtle shell, leopard skins and similar items are banned almost everywhere under the CITES convention. Do not buy them.
- Antiques and cultural objects: old manuscripts, coins and artefacts need permission to be taken out of Somalia.
Tips
- When in doubt, declare it. Declaring an item is never an offence; hiding one is.
- Pack liquids, perfume and power banks according to the airline rules — see our hand-luggage checker.
- Rules change. Check the official customs website of your home country before you fly back.
Useful tools
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring alcohol into Somalia?
No. Alcohol is not allowed into Somalia, including bottles bought in duty-free.
Can I take khat (qaad) from Somalia to the UK or the US?
No. Khat is illegal in the UK, the US, Canada and many European countries. Taking it there can lead to arrest.
Can I bring dried camel meat (muqmad) back to Europe?
No. The EU and UK do not allow travellers to bring meat or dairy products from outside Europe, including dried meat.
How much cash can I carry without declaring it?
You must declare €10,000 or more in the EU, £10,000 in the UK, US$10,000 in the US and CA$10,000 in Canada. In Somalia, carry only what you need and declare it if asked.
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