By Air
Hargeisa Egal International Airport is the main entry point. Ethiopian Airlines flies from Addis Ababa several times a week and is the most reliable option. African Express Airways connects from Nairobi, Dubai, and other East African cities. Daallo Airlines and Jubba Airways also operate regional routes, though schedules can be erratic — build in buffer time.
Flights from Addis Ababa take around an hour and a half. Tickets run roughly US$150–250 one way. There are no budget airlines serving Somaliland.
By Land from Ethiopia
The main overland crossing is at Wajaale, west of Hargeisa. From Jijiga (served by flights from Addis), frequent minibuses run to the Ethiopian border post. On the Somaliland side, shared taxis continue to Hargeisa — about 1.5 hours on a paved road. The crossing itself is straightforward but can be slow.
If coming from Harar or Dire Dawa, allow most of a day to reach Hargeisa.
By Land from Djibouti
The crossing at Loyado is possible but the road on the Somaliland side is poor for long stretches. Shared taxis and minibuses connect Hargeisa to Djibouti City, taking the better part of two days. There is no Djibouti embassy in Hargeisa, so arrange your Djibouti visa in advance.
Visas
As of late 2025, most nationalities can get a visa on arrival at Hargeisa airport for around US$60. For overland crossings, it is safer to arrange a visa in advance — the Somaliland representation offices in London and Washington, D.C. issue them, as does the Somaliland mission in Addis Ababa (typically same-day, around 30–35 EUR or equivalent).
A Somaliland visa does not give you entry to Somalia proper, and vice versa. If crossing to/from Ethiopia by land you will need a multi-entry Ethiopian visa to return.