Until spring 2025 many European and North American visitors could land in Namibia without paperwork. That is no longer the case. This page collects what the official portal and reference sources say and lists what to check before you book flights.
What changed on 1 April 2025
Namibia abolished visa-free entry for 33 nationalities on 1 April 2025, citing the lack of reciprocal agreements. According to Wikipedia's "Visa policy of Namibia" (secondary source), the list includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and most other EU states, plus Norway, Switzerland, Japan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and several other countries. Affected travellers can still get a visitor visa online without visiting an embassy.
Citizens of countries that were never on that list — including Russia — keep visa-free access and can generally stay up to 3 months (90 days) per calendar year.
Two ways in: visa on arrival or apply online first
Travellers who qualify for a visa on arrival can also apply online in advance for a simplified e-visa, and the authorities strongly recommend doing so to avoid delays at the border. The visa on arrival is issued for up to 90 days at Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, Walvis Bay Airport, the ports of Lüderitz and Walvis Bay, and several land border posts.
The portal also offers a Holiday Visa for stays of up to 3 months. Its official page (eservices.mhaiss.gov.na/holidayvisa-services) lists heavier requirements: a separate form for each applicant including children, certified passport copies, a confirmed return ticket, proof of accommodation, and six months of bank statements. If you are invited by a resident, an invitation letter and a deed of surety are added; applying through an agency adds a motivation letter, and applying on someone else's behalf adds a power of attorney (a spouse and children under 17 are exempt from that last one).
How much it costs
According to the official Holiday Visa page, the fee is N$1,600 for non-African nationals and N$1,200 for citizens of African Union countries, payable after approval. Some unofficial visa-agent sites mention an additional 3% service fee for online card payments — check the total shown on screen before paying.
How long it takes
The official pages don't state a processing time. Unofficial visa-agent websites give very different figures, from a few minutes to 7–10 working days. Apply at least two to three weeks before departure rather than the night before.
Passport and entry basics
- Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months on arrival.
- A visa on arrival allows a stay of up to 90 days.
- E-visa holders can use a wider list of entry points than visa-on-arrival travellers, including several regional airports and land borders.
- Carry printed copies of your approval, return ticket and accommodation booking.
Checklist before you book
- Confirm your nationality on the official portal: eservices.mhaiss.gov.na.
- Choose your entry point and check that it issues your visa type.
- Apply online in advance instead of relying on the border queue.
- Keep the total fee shown at payment.
- Re-check the rules a month before departure — requirements have changed once already, in 2025.
Rules vary by nationality and change over time — confirm exact conditions on the official portal eservices.mhaiss.gov.na before you book.