Namibia’s Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security (MHAISS) has officially confirmed the expansion of the list of countries whose nationals are now eligible for a visa on arrival.
This measure, first announced by Namibian authorities earlier this month, is now fully in effect, as the 36 new nationalities have been integrated into the country’s electronic visa (e-Visa) application portal.
“This is part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to boost tourism, enhance bilateral relations, and streamline entry procedures into Namibia. The changes reflect Namibia’s commitment to openness, diplomatic goodwill and international cooperation,” MHAISS said in a statement.
Visa on arrival in Namibia: 36 new countries officially eligible
Uncertainty over the exact number of newly eligible countries has now been resolved: 36 nations in total have been added. The confusion stemmed from the wording of the earlier official list, which included “Vanuatu Dominican Republic” on a single line, raising doubts as to whether this referred to a misprint or two separate countries.
Here are the 36 new countries and territories now eligible for an electronic visa (e-Visa) to Namibia:
- Åland Islands, American Samoa, Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Central African Republic, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Georgia, Grenada, Haiti, Kiribati, Maldives, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Palestine, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Slovenia, Suriname, Sweden, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vanuatu.
These 36 countries are in addition to the 90 nationalities already eligible for visas on arrival since the country introduced visa requirements on April 1, 2025. These include European countries, the United States, and Canada.
Higher fees for visa applications made directly at the border
“National of the listed, countries are now eligible to obtain visas on arrival at designated ports of entry into Namibia. We welcome nationals of these countries to visit our e-services portal and apply for their visas on arrival. Manual applications are discouraged as they cause delays,” the ministry cautioned.
While visas on arrival remain available, the government is now urging travelers to complete the process online before departure.
To “discourage manual applications and improve border efficiency,” Namibian authorities announced a significant fee increase for visas applied for directly at the border: the cost will rise from N$1,600 to N$2,000 (about €99 / USD $115). A surcharge of N$400 will soon apply specifically to in-person applications, which are considered administratively burdensome and time-consuming.
“The implementation date for the new fee will be announced in due course, as internal processes first need to be undertaken,” the ministry explained.
Travelers should note the distinction: the official portal eservices.mhaiss.gov.na allows visitors to apply online for a Visa on Arrival (e-Visa on Arrival), which is still issued at the point of entry but pre-approved in advance. By contrast, submitting an application directly at the border without using the portal is the traditional form of visa on arrival, and the one that will soon become more expensive.
