Namibia Entry Requirements
Everything you need to know when travelling to Namibia.
Namibia Entry Requirements: We’ve compiled all important information that you need to know when travelling to Namibia in the southern part of Africa.
Table of Contents
Visa and passport
Passport
The following regulations apply for your passport:
- The passport needs to be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date when you plan on leaving Namibia.
- There needs to be at least 1 empty page in your passport. We would however recommend to have at least 2 blank pages available.
Tourist Visa
Visitors can enter Namibia for a maximum period of 90 days for every 180 days with a tourist visa. Citizens of most country’s can get a visa on arrival and don’t need to apply for a tourist visa. Please refer to the visa policy of Namibia to see if you need to apply for any visa in advance for your travel.
Work Permit & Visa
If you are planning to perform any kind of work in Namibia it is crucial to get a work permit or work visa depending on the length of your stay. It is not legally permitted to do any kind of work (even unpaid) when travelling with a tourist visa.
Digital Nomad Visa
In 2022 Namibia introduced the Digital Nomad Visa which enables participants to work remotely in Namibia for a maximum period of 6 months when meeting all of the requirements.
Travelling with children under 18 years
Always carry unabridged birth certificates
In order to combat child trafficking, Namibia introduced new immigration rules in 2016 related to travel with children under the age of 18 years. Parents are now required at all times to carry the original or certified copy of the unabridged birth certificate. The full unabridged birth certificate should list the child’s particulars and both parents’ particulars.
Children traveling in the absence of 1 biological parent
Adults travelling with children where they are not the biological or legal guardians of those children should be in possession of an affidavit statement from the child’s parents giving consent for their travel. If a child is travelling with only one of the parents, the other parent should give consent for travel in the form of an affidavit signed by a commissioner of oath.
Children traveling alone
Children under 18 that are travelling alone to Namibia are required to provide the following:
- proof of consent from one or both parents/legal guardians in the form of a signed affidavit
- a letter from the person receiving the child including their residential address where the child will be staying
If one of the parents is deceased
If one or both of the biological parents are deceased, a death certificate needs to be presented that matches the name of the biological parents as it appears on the children’s birth certificate.
Vaccinations Namibia
Yellow fever
Visitors above the age of 9 months need to present a yellow fever vaccination IF:
- You are travelling from an area with a risk of yellow fever transmission
- You have spent 12 or more hours in transit in a country with a high risk of yellow fever transmission in Africa or South America.
Covid-19
All COVID-19 regulations for Namibia have been lifted in September 2022. That means, you DON’T need any COVID-19 test or vaccination certificate to enter Namibia in 2023.
Recommended vaccinations for Namibia
Most healthcare professionals recommend the following vaccinations for Namibia:
Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rabies, Measles, Chickenpox, Flu, Polio, Shingles and Typhoid.
Please be sure to consult your doctor to get professional advice in this regard.
Risk of diseases
Malaria: Depending on the areas where you plan to travel, there is a risk for Malaria in Namibia. High risk areas include the northern parts like Etosha, Caprivi, Ovamboland as well as the north-western part around the Kunene river. Refer to this map to identify risk zones for malaria across Namibia. Note that the risk of malaria transmission is also dependent on the time where between November to June is the highest risk for transmission.
Schistosomiasis: Also known as Bilharzia, is caused by parasitic worms that live in fresh water. There is a high risk of transmission in fresh water including Okavango river, Kunene river as well as any water which is standing. It is highly recommend to avoid swimming, touching, bathing or drinking any freshwater in Namibia that does not come out of a borehole.
Opening times of Namibian border posts
Ariamsvlei / Nakop
24 hours a day
Klein Menasse
08:00 – 22:00
Noordoewer / Vioolsdrif
24 hours
Aroab / Rietfontein
08:00 – 16: 00
Velloorsdrif / Onseepkans
08:00-22:00
Mata Mata
08:00 – 16:30
Buitepos / Mamuno
07:00 – 24:00
Summary
- Ensure that your passport is valid for more than 6 months from the date when you plan to leave Namibia. Also have 2 full empty pages in your passport.
- Note that you can only be in Namibia for a maximum of 90 days for every 180 days on a tourist visa.
- No COVID-19 test or vaccination certificate is required as of 2023.
- You will need to present a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you are arriving from or have spent more than 12 hours of transit in a country with a risk of yellow fever.
- Healthcare professionals recommend a number of vaccinations including Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rabies, Measles, Chickenpox, Flu, Polio, Shingles and Typhoid – but this is optional.
- When travelling with children under 18 years be sure to carry full unabridged birth certificates in addition to the passports of the children. If both biological parents are not present, then additional regulations apply.
Frequently asked questions
You need the following to apply for a Digital Nomad Visa in Namibia:
– A minimum monthly income of 2,000U$D per applicant, 1,000U$D per accompanying spouse, 500U$D per accompanying child.
– 6 moth bank statement
– Motivation letter from employer
– Full birth certificate
– Marriage certificate (if applicable)
– Certified copy of passport
– Medical certificate and radiological report
The Digital Nomad Visa is valid for a maximum length of 6 months only.
Most digital nomads need a reliable and fast WiFi connection in order to work remotely. Establishments that offer tailored digital nomad accommodation in Namibia include:
– Gabus Game Ranch
– Gondwana Collection
Yes, immigration officials at the Namibian point of entry strictly enforce the presentation of full unabridged birth certificates for children. Don’t be surprised if they refuse entry in the case that you forgot the birth certificates.
At the point of entry immigration officials will give you a maximum of 90 days on a tourist visa. It’s possible to request a tourist visa extension from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration but you need to provide a valid reasons and officials may reject your application for a visa extension.
In 2023 and beyond, no negative PCR test and no vaccination certificate is required to enter Namibia.
Although many wild animals like jackals have rabies, there is not a big risk of contracting rabies in Namibia. However, take note that many dogs are not vaccinated against rabies, especially in rural and secluded areas.
