The Federal Government of Somalia does not currently have an established system for the issuance of Convention Travel Documents (CTDs) to refugees, despite its accession to the 1951 Refugee Convention, which obligates State Parties under Article 28 to issue travel documents to refugees lawfully staying in their territory. As a result, refugees residing in Somalia are unable to obtain official travel documents that would allow them to travel internationally for legitimate and essential purposes such as education, employment, medical treatment, or family reunification.

In the absence of CTDs, refugees in Somalia face significant restrictions on their freedom of movement beyond national borders, effectively limiting their mobility rights and access to durable solutions such as third-country resettlement, participation in international education programs, or the ability to maintain family unity across borders. The Somali government currently issues national passports only to citizens, and no legal or administrative provisions are in place to facilitate alternative documentation for recognized refugees.

This legal and procedural gap reflects broader challenges in Somalia’s refugee protection infrastructure, which is still in the process of development. While Somalia has made progress in drafting and enacting refugee legislation—including the Refugees and Asylum Seekers Act (2024)—the absence of a functioning refugee documentation system, including for CTDs, remains a critical obstacle to ensuring full compliance with international standards and facilitating the exercise of basic refugee rights.

The lack of CTDs also complicates the work of UNHCR and protection partners, who are often approached by refugees seeking travel documents to pursue opportunities abroad or to reunite with family members in other countries. Without government-issued travel documentation, many refugees are effectively trapped within Somalia’s borders, increasing their vulnerability and dependence on limited local assistance.