Skip to content
GetVisaOdds
Destinations Guides How it works Estimate my odds

🇸🇴 Somali citizens · 🇬🇧 UK · Tourist / Visitor

UK tourist / visitor visa success rate for Somali citizens (year to March 2026)

33.7% of Somali UK tourist visa applications were approved in the year to March 2026, across 1,053 decisions — the remaining 66.3% were refused. Approval is down from 39.5% in year to March 2025. Unlike the Schengen figures, this is grouped by the applicant's nationality rather than by where the application was lodged, and it is broken down by visa type, so it describes Somali tourist applicants specifically. Withdrawn and lapsed applications are excluded from both sides of the fraction. It remains a nationality-wide outcome rather than a prediction for one case. On the money side: No set minimum. Show you can cover the trip without working in the UK and have clear reasons to return home. The estimator below weighs your own finances, ties, travel history and refusal record against that.

Last reviewed August 2026 per our editorial standards. Rate: UK Home Office — outcomes of entry clearance visa applications by nationality and visa type (Vis_D02) . Rules: GOV.UK — UK Home Office .

For Somali citizens applying, a tourist visa to the United Kingdom is decided mainly on whether you are a genuine visitor who will return home on time. Public statistics point to an approximate base approval of around 18% for this route — but your own profile can move that figure a lot in either direction. Published approval rates for Somalia run at 16.5% on US visitor visas in FY2025.

Estimate my personal odds

Estimate your personal odds

Pre-filled for this route. A few taps and it’s done — privately, in your browser.

Step 1 of 714%

Your trip

The essentials. Pre-filled if you came from a specific page.

Key requirements

  • Passport valid for the whole of your stay
  • Online application, up to 3 months before you travel
  • £135 fee for a standard 6-month visit visa (2026)
  • Proof of funds, accommodation, and plans to leave the UK
  • Evidence of ties (work, family, studies) that draw you home

Visa fee (cost)

£135 for the standard 6-month visitor visa (April 2026 rate).

Money & funds

No set minimum. Show you can cover the trip without working in the UK and have clear reasons to return home.

Typical timeline

Apply online and provide biometrics; standard visit-visa decisions take around 3 weeks from many countries.

Common refusal reasons

  • Doubt that you will actually leave the UK
  • Funds not credibly explained or recently deposited
  • Inconsistent or unsupported trip purpose
  • Previous UK or immigration breaches
  • A host or sponsor who is not credible or well documented

Where Somalia sits in the official data

Two governments publish visa outcomes broken down by country. Neither predicts an individual decision, but together they show how Somali applicants fare relative to everyone else, and which of the destinations we cover currently refuses the fewest applications from Somalia.

US visitor visas — FY2025

A 83.5% adjusted refusal rate places Somalia 197th of 199 nationalities the State Department publishes — a lower refusal rate than 1% of them. The median nationality sits at 31.8%, so Somalia is 51.7 points above it.

The European Commission's Schengen table carries no row for Somalia at any volume, so the US and UK figures above are the only two nationality-level rates published for Somali applicants anywhere. They run 84% refused in the US against 66% refused in the UK — 18 points apart — a reminder that these are two different visas assessed under two different systems, not one "how strict is this country" score.

Sources: U.S. Department of State — Adjusted Refusal Rate, B-Visas Only, by Nationality and European Commission — Schengen short-stay visa statistics for consulates . Schengen figures are grouped by the country an application was lodged in, not by passport.

Frequently asked questions

What is the UK tourist visa refusal rate for Somali citizens?

66.3% in year to March 2026, against 60.5% in year to March 2025 — meaning 33.7% of decided cases ended in a visa. Entry clearance tourist visa applications from Somalia nationals decided in the year to March 2026, as a share refused. The Home Office publishes decisions by nationality and visa type; withdrawn and lapsed applications are excluded from both sides of the fraction. It is a nationality-wide outcome, not a probability for an individual application. Your own case is assessed on its own evidence, so use the estimator on this page rather than the average.

Where does this UK refusal-rate figure come from?

From UK Home Office — outcomes of entry clearance visa applications by nationality and visa type (Vis_D02), covering year to March 2026. We restate the published figure without adjustment and link the source file directly, so you can check it yourself.

What matters most for a UK tourist visa?

Officers focus on whether you are a genuine visitor who will return home on time. In practice the single biggest lever is return intent, so make that part of your application as strong and well-documented as possible.

Does a previous visa refusal affect my chances?

Yes. A prior refusal weighs on new applications until its underlying reason is addressed. Find out exactly why you were refused, fix what caused it, and clearly show what is different this time.

Is this a guarantee of approval?

No. GetVisaOdds is an educational planning tool, not legal advice and not a guarantee. Only a consular or immigration officer can decide your application. We show approximate odds and the reasons behind them so you can prepare better.

Is my information private?

Completely. The estimate runs entirely in your browser. Your answers are never sent to a server or stored — there is no sign-up and nothing to leak.

How much is a UK visitor visa in 2026?

A Standard Visitor visa costs £135 for a stay of up to 6 months. Long-term visit visas (2, 5, 10 years) cost more.

Can I study on a UK Standard Visitor visa?

Yes, for short courses of up to 6 months. Longer study needs the Student route.

Why are UK visit visas refused?

Most refusals come down to the caseworker not being satisfied you will leave — weak ties, unclear funds, or an unconvincing purpose.

How long does a UK visitor visa take?

Standard processing is around 3 weeks in many countries, though it varies. Priority services can be faster where available.

Explore related visa odds

UK tourist visa odds for other nationalities

Helpful guides

UK ETA 2026: who needs it, cost (£20) and how to apply → How long does a visa take? US, UK, Canada & Schengen (2026) → How to prepare for a tourist visa interview → How to build a travel history that strengthens your visa applications → Invitation and sponsorship letters that actually help → How to read visa approval and refusal rates →