Namibia visa and entry requirements

Who needs a visa

The Namibian Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security introduced visa requirements for 33 countries on 1 April 2025. The list includes:

Other countries on the list include Austria, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland. Citizens of some countries, such as South Africa, Botswana and Zambia, can still enter without a visa (source: Wikipedia, "Visa policy of Namibia"). If your passport is from another country, check the Ministry's list.

How to get your visa

You have two ways to get a tourist visa. The published fee is the same for both.

1. Apply online before you travel. The Ministry runs an online holiday visa service at eservices.mhaiss.gov.na. The portal says you can apply online for a holiday visa of up to three months, pay once it is approved, and track your application. Each traveller, including children, needs a separate application.

2. Get a visa on arrival. The Ministry's list of countries allowed to apply for a visa on arrival includes all the countries in the table above. Ask the Ministry or your embassy which airports and border posts offer it. Most of our guests arrive at Hosea Kutako International Airport near Windhoek.

Whichever route you choose, have your documents ready (see below), and carry printed copies of any approval and of your bookings.

What the visa costs

• Adults and children over 11: N$1,600.
• Children aged 6 to 11: N$800.
• Children under 6: no fee.

These fees are the ones published by the Ministry, and by the UK Foreign Office for British travellers. Citizens of African Union countries pay N$1,200.

Documents for the online application

The portal lists these requirements for the holiday visa. Check the portal for the current list.

• A completed application form for each traveller, including minors.
• Certified copies of your passport.
• Proof of a confirmed return ticket.
• Proof of accommodation, such as hotel or lodge bookings.
• Proof of your finances, a statement covering six months.
• If a travel agency applies for you, a motivation letter from the agency or from you.

If you book a tour with us, we can send you your itinerary and the lodge bookings to use as proof of accommodation. We cannot apply for your visa.

Passport rules

• Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the date you arrive.
• It must have at least three blank pages.

Travelling with children

Namibian immigration is strict about documents for travellers under 18, according to British government travel advice:

• A valid passport for each child.
• A full birth certificate showing both parents' details, as an original or certified copy. Short or abridged certificates are not accepted.
• If a child travels with one parent, or without parents, a consent letter or sworn statement from the other parent or legal guardian.

Health entry rules

• You need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you arrive from a country listed as a yellow fever transmission risk. If you fly directly from Europe or the USA, this normally does not apply. Check the list for any country you pass through.
• Other vaccinations are recommended, not required. Ask your doctor or a travel clinic several weeks before you travel.
• Travel insurance is compulsory on our tours. It should cover medical costs, cancellation and baggage.

For more on health and safety, see our travel information.

Checking the length of your stay

When you pass through immigration, check the date stamped in your passport before you leave the counter. If you plan to stay longer than the days stamped, ask the officer at the counter, or contact the Ministry before you travel.

Official sources and help

• Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security e-services: eservices.mhaiss.gov.na. Visa enquiries by phone: +264 81 951 0128 or +264 81 951 0186.
• Namibian diplomatic missions publish the same visa notice. The Namibian Mission in Switzerland published the 1 April 2025 notice.
• British citizens: GOV.UK foreign travel advice for Namibia, entry requirements.
• Other nationalities: your own government's travel advice for Namibia.

More questions? See our FAQ.