New Visa requirements for Namibia

[Mnovak]

For those of you with plans to travel to Namibia be aware of the new visa requirements.

Effective April 1, Namibia will implement new visa requirements for travelers from most countries. With few exceptions, travelers will now need to acquire a visa and provide a variety of documents, including proof of medical insurance and the financial means to pay for their stays. That includes travelers from the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

Namibia’s Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration and Safety and Security announced the new requirements in March 2025. The only exemptions are for those from countries that do not require a visa for Namibian citizens.

Travelers have two options to get their visas: online before travel, or upon arrival. Application for online visas can be done through the e-visa portal (https://eservices.mhaiss.gov.na). Travelers simply create an account in the application portal, then follow the prompts. Each member of a travel party will need a visa, including children. Applicants must provide certified copies of their passport, an invitation letter or a motivation letter from their safari operator, a return ticket home, proof of accommodation (hotel bookings/resident), proof of financial means for their stay (credit/debit card or proof of upfront payments), and medical travel insurance to cover any possible medical expenses. Immigration officials may ask for these documents, so travelers should have them available with their visa and passport when arriving in Namibia. Online visas will be provided through the e-visa portal for download and printing, and travelers can also check on the status of a visa there.

Those who are unable to apply for a visa online can still do so upon arrival. Complete the application form provided by airline attendants before landing, then submit the form and all the aforementioned documentation to Namibian immigration officials.

Be aware that families with children less than 17 years old will need to provide full birth certificates and a parental consent letter if both parents are not accompanying them. (Consent letters should be certified by a notary of the public.) Also, visitors’ passports must be valid for six months from entry to Namibia and have at least three blank visa pages. The fee for a visa is NAD$1,200 for travelers from other African countries; all other travelers pay NAD$1,600 (about USD $90). For more, information download the complete Fact Sheet.

New Visa Requirements for Travelers Headed to Namibia - Safari Club

Effective April 1, Namibia will implement new visa requirements for travelers from most countries. With few exceptions, travelers will now need to acquire a

safariclub.org

 

[Moody808]

Thanks for sharing.

 

[WoodFire]

Good info and timely!

 

[spike.t]

Not cheap.....

 

[analog_peninsula]

It never gets easier to travel, does it?

 

[Doug3006]

I applied for my Visa through Gracy Travel and received the approved Visa in a couple of days. Of course, you can do it yourself. It’s really easy. Cost $90, or about as much as a box of premium ammo. Just fill out a 2 page Visa request and they’ll send the approved Visa back to you. Or you can do it at the airport.

To gain entry, one needs the approved Visa, a return trip ticket, a letter of invitation from your outfitter, and a letter from your bank saying you have “sufficient” funds to visit Namibia. They don’t define “sufficient” and the form letter they provide doesn’t require that the bank provide a balance. My banker thought it was funny. I have everything in hand and will leave in 21 days!

 

[Mountaineer]

Does anyone know of a real problem this visa will solve or is it a money grab?

 

[BryceM]

It’s mostly reciprocity for things the US and Europe impose on visitors from Africa…… and a money grab.

 

[JimP]

They do it because they can.

Its the old rule, it is their game and if you want to play you have to pay and do it by their rules.

I was actually surprised years ago at all the requirements that the US Government has in place for hunters who want to come here to hunt and or play.

 

[Philip Glass]

Does anyone know of a real problem this visa will solve or is it a money grab?

It is a money grab, job creation, and power play. I am not remembering ever paying $90 for a visa in all my travels but I could be forgetting one.
Imagine a third world country thinking they deserve visa reciprocity with the USA!

 

[Altitude sickness]

I’ve gotten a Visa only when staying past 30 days in country.

 

[Throwback]

I applied for my Visa through Gracy Travel and received the approved Visa in a couple of days. Of course, you can do it yourself. It’s really easy. Cost $90, or about as much as a box of premium ammo. Just fill out a 2 page Visa request and they’ll send the approved Visa back to you. Or you can do it at the airport.

To gain entry, one needs the approved Visa, a return trip ticket, a letter of invitation from your outfitter, and a letter from your bank saying you have “sufficient” funds to visit Namibia. They don’t define “sufficient” and the form letter they provide doesn’t require that the bank provide a balance. My banker thought it was funny. I have everything in hand and will leave in 21 days!

I obtained my visa for Namib myself in the last few weeks via the Namib govt. visa online site. It took a matter of minutes to apply, with the docs mentioned above, and it was approved basically instantly. 15-20 mins start to finish, paid with my credit card on their site. I have the printed visa in-hand. I arrive there on April 2nd, one day into their new visa regime (what could go wrong?), I will let yall know how the process goes. Cheers

 

[MarkB]

Is the actual Visa cost $90 or the cost the travel agent charged to complete?

I remember handing the nice uniformed gentleman the crispy $20 at Vic Falls airport for my "entrance Visa". He opened a drawer and scooped it in with the what looked like 100s of other $20's. Did get the stamp and that's what mattered.

Seams more of a prominent money making plan for all Govs now.

MB

 

[Doug3006]

I obtained my visa for Namib myself in the last few weeks via the Namib govt. visa online site. It took a matter of minutes to apply, with the docs mentioned above, and it was approved basically instantly. 15-20 mins start to finish, paid with my credit card on their site. I have the printed visa in-hand. I arrive there on April 2nd, one day into their new visa regime (what could go wrong?), I will let yall know how the process goes. Cheers

Good luck! I’m pretty sure Namibia wants this to go smoothly. Tourism dollars are Important.

 

[DmacD]

This could very well be a tit-for-tat reciprocity kind of thing. We were in a little tour bus going from Botswana to Zimbabwe to go see Victoria Falls for a day trip. The bus held about a dozen people from all over the world. The Visa cost for each nationality was different, ranging from US $15 to $50. When it came to ours, we were charged US $120 each, and the border staff really slowed their pace at this point too. They held up the bus for over an hour. We later found out that Canada had imposed a set of restrictions on Zimbabwean nationals, hence the higher price we were to pay.

 

[C.W. Richter]

For those of you with plans to travel to Namibia be aware of the new visa requirements.

Effective April 1, Namibia will implement new visa requirements for travelers from most countries. With few exceptions, travelers will now need to acquire a visa and provide a variety of documents, including proof of medical insurance and the financial means to pay for their stays. That includes travelers from the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

Namibia’s Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration and Safety and Security announced the new requirements in March 2025. The only exemptions are for those from countries that do not require a visa for Namibian citizens.

Travelers have two options to get their visas: online before travel, or upon arrival. Application for online visas can be done through the e-visa portal (https://eservices.mhaiss.gov.na). Travelers simply create an account in the application portal, then follow the prompts. Each member of a travel party will need a visa, including children. Applicants must provide certified copies of their passport, an invitation letter or a motivation letter from their safari operator, a return ticket home, proof of accommodation (hotel bookings/resident), proof of financial means for their stay (credit/debit card or proof of upfront payments), and medical travel insurance to cover any possible medical expenses. Immigration officials may ask for these documents, so travelers should have them available with their visa and passport when arriving in Namibia. Online visas will be provided through the e-visa portal for download and printing, and travelers can also check on the status of a visa there.

Those who are unable to apply for a visa online can still do so upon arrival. Complete the application form provided by airline attendants before landing, then submit the form and all the aforementioned documentation to Namibian immigration officials.

Be aware that families with children less than 17 years old will need to provide full birth certificates and a parental consent letter if both parents are not accompanying them. (Consent letters should be certified by a notary of the public.) Also, visitors’ passports must be valid for six months from entry to Namibia and have at least three blank visa pages. The fee for a visa is NAD$1,200 for travelers from other African countries; all other travelers pay NAD$1,600 (about USD $90). For more, information download the complete Fact Sheet.

New Visa Requirements for Travelers Headed to Namibia - Safari Club

Effective April 1, Namibia will implement new visa requirements for travelers from most countries. With few exceptions, travelers will now need to acquire a

safariclub.org

the medi-travel ins. seems overreaching as many have medical plans and/or the means to pay for emergency treatment IF necessary. "You must also PURCHASE this product..." IOW. ? It IS, however, more along the lines of what the USA needs to do with each attempted border crosser!

 

[coreydb]

Good to know!

 

[Throwback]

Is the actual Visa cost $90 or the cost the travel agent charged to complete?

I remember handing the nice uniformed gentleman the crispy $20 at Vic Falls airport for my "entrance Visa". He opened a drawer and scooped it in with the what looked like 100s of other $20's. Did get the stamp and that's what mattered.

Seams more of a prominent money making plan for all Govs now.

MB

The cost to my credit card (direct from the Ministry) was 88.92USD (it showed this was converted from Namib currency, with the amount being charged as N1648.00).
Hope that helps

 

[flatwater bill]

The bureaucracy necessary to implement this will more than eat up all profits in ANY African nation. And it certainly won't increase the number of tourists. .......FWB

 

[Doug3006]

Does anyone know of a real problem this visa will solve or is it a money grab?

In my opinion, it wasn’t meant to solve a problem. First and foremost, it’s an attempt to get back at the US and the UK for requiring their people to get a visa when they visit our countries. A bit of tit for tat. The little bit of money they’re gonna make at $90 a pop certainly isn’t worth the effort. Never underestimate the power of populism. The term reciprocity is getting thrown around a lot lately!