The Namibian government has announced that starting April 1, 2025, travelers from 31 countries will be required to obtain a visa upon arrival.
This decision comes as a response to these nations' refusal to lift their visa requirements for Namibian citizens.
Lucia Witbooi, Namibia’s Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration, confirmed on July 17, 2024, "The implementation of the visa requirements highlights the government’s determination to ensure that the interests and rights of Namibian citizens are respected and protected on the global stage."
The affected countries include prominent nations such as the United States, France, Germany, Britain, Canada and Italy.
Other countries on the list are Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Japan, Norway, Austria, Portugal, Sweden, Spain, Denmark, Ireland, Finland, Ukraine and Armenia.
Travelers from these 31 countries will now need to pay 1,600 Namibian dollars (approximately 90 US dollars) for a visa on arrival.
The Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations (FENATA) has voiced strong opposition to the government’s decision, expressing concerns that the new visa regulations will deter tourists due to the “time-consuming application and payment process” for visas.
Despite these concerns, Tourism Minister Pohamba Shifeta stated that the new visa regime will not have “any significant negative impact” on tourism.
Currently, travelers from African countries without a visa exemption agreement with Namibia will continue to pay 1,200 Namibian dollars (approximately 65 US dollars) for a visa on arrival.
This new visa policy follows revelations that the European Union rejected a third of African applicants for Schengen visas in 2023, with approximately 670,000 out of 2.5 million applications being denied. Rejected visa requests by Africans accounted for nearly 41% of the funds the EU raised from visa fees globally in 2023.
Namibia maintains that its relationship with these countries has been one-sided, as it had exempted their travelers from visa restrictions, but they did not reciprocate. This move shows the country re-evaluating its visa policies to ensure equitable treatment of its citizens.
List of Affected Countries:
1. United States
2. France
3. Germany
4. Britain
5. Canada
6. Italy
7. Belgium
8. Switzerland
9. Netherlands
10. Japan
11. Norway
12. Austria
13. Portugal
14. Sweden
15. Spain
16. Denmark
17. Ireland
18. Finland
19. Ukraine
20. Armenia
21. Azerbaijan
22. Belarus
23. Iceland
24. Kazakhstan
25. Kyrgyzstan
26. Liechtenstein
27. Luxembourg
28. Moldova
29. Tajikistan
30. Turkmenistan
31. Uzbekistan
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