New visa regulations unclear
Is the ministry ready?
On 1 April, new visa regulations for travellers from 33 countries to enter Namibia will come into force. It is still unclear whether the Ministry of the Home Affairs is prepared to implement the regulations, as currently there is no option for paying the necessary visa fees online.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Safety and Security (MHAISS) has not provided any clarity on whether it is ready to implement the new visa regulations, which are set to come into force on 1 April. Documents made available to Namibia Media Hub indicate that the ministry is still working on enabling online payments for visas through its e-services portal. Furthermore, these documents reveal that there are no card payment facilities or ATMs at the Immigration and Customs offices where tourists can pay for their visas upon arrival in Namibia.Tourists from non-African Union (AU) countries are reportedly required to pay N$1 600 for their visa applications, while tourists from AU member states are required to pay N$1 200. These fees are subject to annual review.
The documents also indicate plans by the MHAISS to simplify entry and exit procedures, including removing the requirement for visitors to fill out forms upon exit.
The MHAISS e-services portal currently requires extensive documentation from visa applicants. Applicants must provide certified copies of their passports, proof of a return ticket, proof of accommodation and bank statements for the last six months. If a traveller has been invited by a Namibian resident, they must attach an invitation letter and the host's bank statements for the last six months. Travellers who have booked through a travel agent must provide a letter from the travel agent. In addition, parents applying on behalf of children under 17 or representatives applying on behalf of another person must provide a power of attorney.
Reciprocity in visa policy
In May last year, Cabinet approved the MHAISS proposal to introduce reciprocity in visa regulations. This means that countries that do not grant Namibian citizens the same visa benefits that their citizens enjoy in Namibia, will no longer be able to enjoy these privileges.
This decision affects 33 countries, including 16 Schengen countries. Among them are major tourism markets such as Germany, but also emerging markets such as the US, UK and France.
Digital news service Travel and Tour World reports that the UK and Schengen countries benefit significantly from visa fees paid by African citizens. In 2023, almost 41% of the funds generated by the European Union through visa fees came from rejected visa applications from African travellers. That year, the EU collected U$139 million from visa fees, with U$58 million coming from African countries.
Visa fees are non-refundable, which places a financial burden on applicants whose applications are rejected.