The current visa exemption granted by Namibia to citizens of 31 countries will end in spring 2025.
Originally expected to be implemented in October 2024, the requirement for a visa to enter Namibia for citizens of 31 countries, including Canada, USA, and United Kingdom, will finally be introduced on April 1, 2025.
Last May, Namibia announced its intention to introduce visa requirements for citizens of countries that require visas for Namibian nationals.
The 31 countries that do not apply visa waiver reciprocity to Namibian visitors, and are therefore affected by this measure, are as follows:
- Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Belarus, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States and Uzbekistan.
According to the Namibian government, this decision aims to promote equal treatment between nations regarding visa regulations.
In an infographic published today, the Namibian Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security (MHAISS) reveals some details about this upcoming visa requirement.
Visa on arrival or e-Visa required for travel to Namibia
Namibian authorities explain that countries that have not reciprocated Namibia’s visa waiver gesture will be able to obtain a visa on arrival or an electronic visa (e-Visa) starting April 1, 2025.
Namibia launched its e-Visa system in September 2023, and tourists can access it from: https://eservices.mhaiss.gov.na/holidayvisa-services.
The Cabinet has set the following visa fees:
- 1,600 N$, approximately 88 US$, for citizens of non-African Union countries;
- 1,200 N$ (67 US$) for nationals of African Union member states who meet the requirements to obtain a visa on arrival.
The Minister of Information, Communication and Technology, Emma Theofelus, stated yesterday that “these visa fees will be subject to annual revision according to exchange rates”.
The Minister added that to streamline the arrival process, the visa on arrival form will be merged with the arrival form, and the departure form will be discontinued.
“This will make it possible to increase the number of staff at arrival counters”, she explains.
