New Entry Requirements for U.S. Citizen Tourists Entering Namibia – Effective April 1, 2025
Location: Namibia
Event: New Entry Requirements for U.S. Citizen Tourists Entering Namibia – Effective April 1, 2025
Beginning April 1, 2025, the Namibian Government will require U.S. citizen tourists to obtain a visa prior to entering the country. Visitors are recommended to apply for their visa in advance of planned travel through Namibia’s online visa on arrival portal:
https://eservices.mhaiss.gov.na/visaonarrival
Visitors using this online visa application system must carry a hard copy of their approval notice when they travel.
As a separate option, visitors arriving in Windhoek, Walvis Bay, or entering at high volume border crossing points (e.g., Katima Mulilo, Ngoma) will also be able to purchase tourist visas upon arrival at the respective airport or border crossing point. However, Namibia’s visa on arrival system is new and implementation details are subject to change.
No Change to Non-Tourist Visas
Other visa types (e.g., student, work, volunteer, etc.) must be obtained from the nearest Namibian Embassy or High Commission before travel.
Pay Close Attention to the Authorized Length of Stay
Please note that visitors’ authorized length of stay in Namibia is different than the validity of their visa. Upon arrival, visitors should check their admission stamp before leaving the immigration counter to ensure that the stamp is valid for the full length of intended stay.
Overstaying the time granted or having an incorrect or missing entry stamp can result in detention, arrest, and fines.
How to Request an Extension to Authorized Length of Stay
The default entry period for visa on arrival is generally 30 days, although it may be possible to receive up to 90 days authorization from the immigration inspector upon arrival. U.S. citizens can also apply to extend their initial 30-day stay through the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security in Windhoek.
Reminder: Passport Requirements
- Your passport must have at least six months of validity remaining beyond your planned date of departure.
- At least three completely blank pages are required for entry.
- If you are traveling with minor children to Namibia, be aware that additional documentation is required.
Reminder: Vital Records for Minors
- Parents traveling to Namibia with minor children should be prepared to produce unabridged birth certificates for their children demonstrating their parental relationship. Birth certificates should be original or certified copies of the original.
- When one parent is traveling alone with a child, he or she should present the unabridged birth certificate, plus a notarized consent from the other parent listed on the birth certificate authorizing him or her to enter/depart from Namibia with the child.
- Alternatively, the parent could also present a court order granting him or her full legal custody of the child, or the death certificate of the other parent named on the birth certificate.
Please ensure that you are aware of these new requirements and plan your travel accordingly. For any further questions or clarifications, visit the Namibian Embassy in Washington D.C.’s website (namibiaembassyusa.org) or contact the U.S Embassy in Namibia’s Consular Section (ConsularWindhoek@state.gov).
