Namibia Introduces Visa on Arrival to Citizens from 47 Countries

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Namibia introduces visa on arrival for citizens from 47 countries. See which countries are under the new rules.

Namibia is a favorite destination for many tourists who wish to see the untouched natural resources of Africa. Many exotic species see Namibia as a home and you can’t find them anywhere else. To make it easy for tourists to see them, a new visa on arrival scheme is now available in Namibia.

Namibia’s New Visa on Arrival

On Wednesday, September 25, the new visa policy was launched by the Namibian Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration. At least 47 countries are eligible for the visa with 27 of them all from Africa and the remaining 20 from other parts of the globe.

The project will be available on Hosea Kutako International Airport, Walvis Bay International Airport and the border post at Katima Mulilo. Namibia’s other ports of entry will follow soon after in the first half of 2020.

According to the Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration Frans Kapofi, the new visa policy is in line with the African Union’s goals to open Africa to the world. It is also a good way to boost the country’s economy with the help of tourism.

visa on arrival Windhoek

Tourists who will be using the visa policy will be able to use their visa for tours, work, medical visits and family visits. Those who will be flying to Namibia for work will still need to apply for their employment visas in advance. 

To apply for the visa, Kapofi said they only need to submit their visa application at their point of entry. Then, they need to pay N$1080 to get their visas.

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Executive Director Etienne Maritz said that the new program is a step forward to the country’s goals. She said that it will make it easier for visitors to come to Namibia and speed up their entry. She also added that stakeholders will definitely see its impacts in the future.

In the 2018 African Visa Openness Index, Namibia ranked 38th out of 55 countries. The Index shows which countries have an open visa policy in Africa.

Namibia Travel Tips

To those who wish to visit the country, they can check out the official website of the Namibia Tourism Board for information. Tickets for attractions and tours are available in the website.  Visa policies and requirements can be checked at the Namibia High Commission – Home Affairs Website. Fees are also located in the website as a guide.