Ministry silent on preparedness for new visa regime
Readiness for visa payment systems questioned
With just over two months to go until the new visa requirements come into effect, it is not clear how ready the ministry of home affairs is for the new regime.
The ministry of home affairs has not provided clarity on its preparedness to implement the new visa requirements set to take effect on April 1.
Documents shared with this publication suggest that the ministry is still working on enabling online payments for visas via its e-services portal. Additionally, these documents reveal that immigration and customs offices lack card payment facilities or ATMs that tourists can use to pay for visas upon arrival in Namibia.
Tourists from non-African Union (AU) countries will reportedly need to pay N$1,600 for their visa applications, while those from AU member states will pay N$1,200. These fees are subject to annual review.
The documents also indicate plans by MHAISS to simplify entry and exit procedures, including removing the requirement for visitors to complete forms upon departure.
Current visa application requirements
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, evidence of accommodation, and six months of bank statements. If a traveler has been invited by a Namibian resident, they must include an invitation letter and six months of the host's bank statements. Travelers booking through a travel agency are required to submit a letter from the agency. Furthermore, parents applying on behalf of children under 17 or agents submitting applications on someone else's behalf must provide proof of power of attorney.
If the traveler has been invited by a Namibian resident, they must include an invitation letter and six months of bank statements from the host. For those traveling via a travel agency, a letter from the agency is also required.
Parents applying on behalf of children under 17 or agents applying on someone else's behalf must provide proof of power of attorney.
Reciprocity in visa policies
In May last year, the Cabinet approved MHAISS’s proposal to implement reciprocity in visa requirements. This means that countries that do not offer Namibian citizens the same visa privileges enjoyed by their citizens in Namibia will no longer benefit from these privileges.
This decision affects 33 countries, including 16 Schengen states. Among these are key tourism markets such as Germany, as well as emerging markets like the USA, UK, and France.
Financial implications of visa fees
The digital news service Travel and Tour World reports that the UK and Schengen countries profit significantly from visa application fees paid by Africans.
In 2023, denied visa applications by Africans accounted for nearly 41% of the funds generated by the European Union (EU) through visa fees. That year, the EU earned US$139 million from visa fees, with US$58 million coming from African countries.
Visa fees are non-refundable, imposing a financial burden on applicants whose requests are denied.
Concerns from industry stakeholders
The CEO of the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN), Gitta Paetzold, expressed concern after the decision was announced. She highlighted the impact of steep increases in long-haul flight costs in Europe—resulting from climate levies and taxes—alongside uncertainty surrounding the new visa regime, which could spell trouble for the tourism sector.
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) also weighed in, noting, “The question comes down to whether Namibia chooses to make this a matter of principle or adopts a strategy to maximize the potential of its tourism resources.” - [email protected].
Documents shared with this publication suggest that the ministry is still working on enabling online payments for visas via its e-services portal. Additionally, these documents reveal that immigration and customs offices lack card payment facilities or ATMs that tourists can use to pay for visas upon arrival in Namibia.
Tourists from non-African Union (AU) countries will reportedly need to pay N$1,600 for their visa applications, while those from AU member states will pay N$1,200. These fees are subject to annual review.
The documents also indicate plans by MHAISS to simplify entry and exit procedures, including removing the requirement for visitors to complete forms upon departure.
Current visa application requirements
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, evidence of accommodation, and six months of bank statements. If a traveler has been invited by a Namibian resident, they must include an invitation letter and six months of the host's bank statements. Travelers booking through a travel agency are required to submit a letter from the agency. Furthermore, parents applying on behalf of children under 17 or agents submitting applications on someone else's behalf must provide proof of power of attorney.
If the traveler has been invited by a Namibian resident, they must include an invitation letter and six months of bank statements from the host. For those traveling via a travel agency, a letter from the agency is also required.
Parents applying on behalf of children under 17 or agents applying on someone else's behalf must provide proof of power of attorney.
Reciprocity in visa policies
In May last year, the Cabinet approved MHAISS’s proposal to implement reciprocity in visa requirements. This means that countries that do not offer Namibian citizens the same visa privileges enjoyed by their citizens in Namibia will no longer benefit from these privileges.
This decision affects 33 countries, including 16 Schengen states. Among these are key tourism markets such as Germany, as well as emerging markets like the USA, UK, and France.
Financial implications of visa fees
The digital news service Travel and Tour World reports that the UK and Schengen countries profit significantly from visa application fees paid by Africans.
In 2023, denied visa applications by Africans accounted for nearly 41% of the funds generated by the European Union (EU) through visa fees. That year, the EU earned US$139 million from visa fees, with US$58 million coming from African countries.
Visa fees are non-refundable, imposing a financial burden on applicants whose requests are denied.
Concerns from industry stakeholders
The CEO of the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN), Gitta Paetzold, expressed concern after the decision was announced. She highlighted the impact of steep increases in long-haul flight costs in Europe—resulting from climate levies and taxes—alongside uncertainty surrounding the new visa regime, which could spell trouble for the tourism sector.
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) also weighed in, noting, “The question comes down to whether Namibia chooses to make this a matter of principle or adopts a strategy to maximize the potential of its tourism resources.” - [email protected].
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