Namibia Visa Policy

There are different types of visas available for Namibia. You will be required a visa even if you are transiting through Namibia unless you are from a visa-exempt group.

You can realize your planned trip to Namibia by obtaining a Namibia visa. Foreign nationals can apply to Namibia short-term visas via the embassy or on arrival for temporary reasons (tourism, business, cultural, and other short-term purposes).

Most of the visitors to Namibia can obtain Visa on Arrival and will be allowed to enter into Namibia and get Visitor´s Entry Permit (VEP) endorsement stamps at the Port of entry for the following reasons:

• Holiday/Vacation;
• Visiting friends or relatives;
• Attending workshops (Not as Facilitator);
• Attending meetings;
• Exploring business opportunities;
• Medical treatment;
• Any other purpose other than employment of any kind

Eligible nationals to this visa type can obtain Namibia visa in two different ways:

1. Applying for a visa in Namibia embassies/consulates
2. Getting Namibia Visa on Arrival

The following countries may obtain a visa to Namibia upon arrival:

The duration of the visa will be 90 days mainly. You can get a Namibia visa on arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport and Walvis Bay Airport.

Required Documents for Namibia Visa on Arrival

1. Application Form

2. Passport

• Validity minimum of six months beyond the date of your departure from Namibia.
• Signed by bearer
• Passport not older than 10 years (issued in the last 10 years)
• At least three free “visa pages.”
• Undamaged pictures securely affixed with/to passport.

3. Travel Itinerary

• Flight tickets (Return ticket)
• Accommodation confirmation/reservation (hotel booking, house contract, apartment reservation, etc.)
• Or Invitation letter by your host

4. Proof of Financial Sources

• Bank statements, cash, traveller's cheques, vouchers, etc.

5. Certificate of Yellow Fever vaccine (if applicable)

*Additional documents can be required by the border control.

Processing Time for Namibia Visa on Arrival

The average processing time for Namibia Visa on Arrival is a few minutes.

Namibia Visa on Arrival Fee

Namibia Visa on Arrival fee is N$1080 (about 71 USD). The fee may vary depending on your nationality.

Where to Apply for Namibia Visa on Arrival?

You will apply for Namibia Visa on Arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport and Walvis Bay Airport.

You can apply for a Namibia Short-term visa for realizing your temporary travel to Namibia. Reasons to apply for this type of visa can be tourism, visiting family or friends, business trips, short-term education, exchange programs, and many other non-permanent nuances. Short-term visa can be both single-entry and multiple-entry.

Required Documents for Namibia Visa

1. Application Form

• Fully completed in English and signed and dated by the applicant himself (signed by both parents in case of minors, below the age of 18)

2. Passport

• Validity minimum of six months beyond the date of your departure from Namibia.
• Signed by bearer
• Passport not older than 10 years (issued in the last 10 years)
• At least one or two free “visa pages.”
• Undamaged pictures securely affixed with/to passport

3. Photo

• NEW! Should not be older than 6 months.
• A frontal view of the face-covering 70-80% (32-26mm) of the photo.
• A uniform and white background.
• Clear facial features and eyes – not covered by hair or glasses frame.
• 3.7x5.2 size

4. ID Card Copy

5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)

6. Photocopies

• Certified Copies of the main page of your passport
• Copies of previous visas

7. Travel Itinerary 

• Flight reservation (return ticket)
• Valid (existing) hotel/accommodation booking/reservation with the full address (name, street, city, zip code, contact information, booking ref.)

8. Motivation Letter from Application/Host/Employer

9. Supporting Documents that Show Your Reason for a Trip

       For tourism/holiday:

• The application will be requested to submit the passport together with the Original Receipt of Payment.
• All copies must be certified.
• Confirmed Return Ticket and Proof of Accommodation

       The validity of the visa will be 3 months.

       For business/congress/sport/volunteer:

• Motivation letter from your current company (employer)
• Travel Insurance
• Invitation letter from Namibian Company/Institution/Ministry
• Proof of payment receipt/print out of receipt (online payments)

       For employment:

• Motivation Letter from Applicant/Inviter/Employer.
• Motivation Letter Stating Among Other Things the Reasons Why a Namibian or Namibian Service Provider Cannot be Hired for The Job.
• Proof That the Post Was advertised in The Local Newspapers (Attach List of Unsuccessful Shortlisted Namibian Candidates or Services Providers).
• Proof of Educational Qualifications.
• Proof of Tender/Contract
• Original Police Clearance Certificate from Country of Origin (Applicable for Six (6) Months Applications Only)
• Medical and Radiological Certificates/Reports (Applicable for Six (6) Months Applications Only)

       The validity of the visa will be 0-3 months and 0-6 months.

NB: All Applications for Work Visa Beyond a Period of Six (6) Months Must Follow the Requirements of Employment Permit

       For students:

• Proof Acceptance/Registration with an Institution Recognised by The Namibian Qualification Authority (NQA)
• Original Police Clearance Certificate from Country of Origin (applicable for six (6) months applications only)
• Medical and Radiological Certificates/Reports (applicable for six (6) months applications only)
• Deed of Surety
• Confirmed Return Ticket and Proof of Accommodation

       The validity of the visa will be 0-3 months and 0-6 months.

       For transit:

• Proof of final destination
• Proof of Sufficient Funds While in Transit (For Sustainability)

       The validity of the visa will be a maximum of 3 days (72 hours).

       Re-entry Visa:

• Submission of Passport and Original Receipt of Payment (PRP Holders).
• Submission of Passport, Copies of Certificate of Identity, Marriage Certificate, Birth Certificate and ID of Namibian Spouse and Original Receipt of Payment (Persons Married to Namibians)

The validity of the visa will be for the time associated with an attached permit (PRP - 2 years max)

Processing Time for Namibia Visa

The average processing time for a Namibia Short-term Visa is 7-10 working days. It depends on your visa application country.

Namibia Visa Fees

Namibia Visa fees are the following (please see below) (it can vary depending on your country and nationality). Additionally, you may also need to pay other Administrative fees such as the Visa Application center fee, courier service fee, etc., depending on the country and location of your documents' submission.

First Payment - Paid at the time of application (Non-Refundable Handling Fee)

Second Payment - Paid only in case the visa is granted.

Where to Apply for Namibia Visa?

You will apply for a Namibia visa in Namibia visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.

Namibia Residence Permit

Even if your country is exempt from visa requirements, if you intend to stay longer in Namibia, you will need to apply for a Residence Permit from your home country before coming to Namibia. In some countries, Namibia's official embassies and consulates don’t process Residence Permit, instead of visa applicants apply for short-term visas for travelling to Namibia and they only apply for residence permit when they have already arrived in Namibia. This procedure can vary depending on your country of residence, nationality, and the policy of the embassy you apply for a visa.

Namibia Employment Permit

This visa is intended to permit foreign nationals to obtain a long-term visa, allowing them to stay in Namibia for a longer period. This visa applies to those who want to work within the legal frame of employment upon taking an employment permit and the work permit as per appointed procedure from competent regional authorities. The validity of the Employment Permit will be 12 months.

Required Documents for Namibia Employment Permit

1. Application Form 

• Fully completed in English and signed and dated by the applicant himself (signed by both parents in case of minors, below the age of 18)

2. Passport

• Validity minimum of six months beyond the date of your arrival to Namibia.
• Signed by bearer
• Passport not older than 10 years (issued in the last 10 years)
• At least one or two free “visa pages.”
• Undamaged pictures securely affixed with/to passport

3. Two Photos

• NEW! Should not be older than 6 months.
• A frontal view of the face-covering 70-80% (32-26mm) of the photo.
• A uniform and white background.
• Clear facial features and eyes – not covered by hair or glasses frame.
• 3.7x5.2 size

4. ID Card Copy

5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)

6. Photocopies

• Copy of the main page of your passport
• Copies of previous visas/ Namibia resident permit

7. Completed Temporary Work or Student Permit Form Number 0/2742(2)

8. Completed Medical Report Form Number 3-1/0003

9. Completed Radiological Report Form Number 3-1/0004

10. Completed Deed of Surety Form Number 3-1/0005 Signed by Bank or Employer

11. Police Clearance Certificate

• From Country of Origin and Last Country of Residence for the past six (6) Months (and from Namibia in case of renewal and change of condition) (applicable to applicants 18 years and above)

12. Copy of Marriage Certificate (para. 6)

• If married to a Namibian citizen and proof of citizenship

13. Registration with Namibia Professional Board/ Council or Association, if the Profession Requires that

14. To be Completed and Submitted by the Employer:

• Work offer (completion of employer’s representation form)
• Company profile
• Deed of the surety must be signed by the Bank (see instruction for completion at the bottom of the document/form)
• Proof of advertisement of the vacancy in the local newspaper.
• Proof of registration with the Social Security Commission and a printout list of registered employees
• CV’s of unsuccessful Namibia candidates or their full names, highest qualifications and contact details
• A non-refundable handling fee of N$80.00 must be paid upon submission of the application (attach original receipt)

Upon approval, the applicant will be requested to submit an approval letter passport for endorsement together with the original receipt of payment of the permit.

*Additional documents can be required by the embassy.

Processing Time for Namibia Employment Permit

The average processing time for a Namibia Employment Permit is 1-2 months. It depends on your visa application country.

Namibia Employment Permit Fee

The Namibia Employment Permit fee is N$ 80.00 (about 6 USD) (Paid at the time of application) + N$ 2000.00 (about 136 USD) (Paid only in case the visa is granted) up to 12 months for foreign nationals. The fee may vary depending on your nationality or your country of submission.

Where to Apply for Namibia Employment Permit?

You will apply for a Namibia Employment Permit in Namibia visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. In some countries, Namibia's official embassies and consulates don’t process Employment Permit, instead of visa applicants apply for short-term visas for travelling to Namibia, and they only apply for Employment Permit when they have already arrived in Namibia. This procedure can vary depending on your country of residence, nationality, and the policy of the embassy you apply for a visa.

Namibia Students’ Permit

A foreign national who resides in Namibia and attends a school/university/technique (private or state) must apply for a Namibian Students’ Permit under Namibian law. The validity of Students’ Permit will be 12 months.

Required Documents for Namibia Students’ Permit

1. Application Form 

• Fully completed in English and signed and dated by the applicant himself (signed by both parents in case of minors, below the age of 18)

2. Passport

• Validity minimum of six months beyond the date of your arrival to Namibia.
• Signed by bearer
• Passport not older than 10 years (issued in the last 10 years)
• At least one or two free “visa pages.”
• Undamaged pictures securely affixed with/to passport

3. Two Photos

• NEW! Should not be older than 6 months.
• A frontal view of the face-covering 70-80% (32-26mm) of the photo.
• A uniform and white background.
• Clear facial features and eyes – not covered by hair or glasses frame.
• 3.7x5.2 size

4. ID Card Copy

5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)

6. Photocopies

• Copy of the main page of your passport
• Copies of previous visas/ Namibia resident permit

7. Completed Temporary Work or Students’ Permit Form Number 0/2742(2)

8. Completed Medical Report Form Number 3-1/0003

9. Completed Radiological Report Form Number 3-1/0004

10. Completed Deed of Surety Form Number 3-1/0005 Signed by Bank or Sponsor

11. Police Clearance Certificate

• From the country of origin and last country of residence for the past six (6) months (and from Namibia in case of renewal and change of condition) (applicable to applicants 18 years and above 

12. Proof of Acceptance/Registration with Study Institution

13. Motivation Letter Stating Among Others, Reasons for Studying in Namibia

14. Written Undertaking of Parent /Guardian/Sponsor to Sponsor Your Studies.

15. Written Proof of Bursary (name and contact details of the source of funding for your education)

Upon approval, the applicant will be requested to submit a copy of the approval letter, passport together with the original receipt of payment for endorsement of the permit.

*Additional documents can be required by the embassy.

Processing Time for Namibia Students’ Permit

The average processing time for a Namibia Students’ Permit is 1-2 months. It depends on your visa application country.

Namibia Students’ Permit Fee

The Namibia Students’ Permit fee is N$ 80.00 (about 6 USD) (Paid at the time of application) + N$ 1500.00 (about 102 USD) (Paid at the time of application) for Primary & Secondary Education or N$ 2000.00 (about 136 USD) (Paid only in case the visa is granted) for Tertiary Education up to 12 months for foreign nationals. The fee may vary depending on your nationality or your country of submission.  

Where to Apply for Namibia Students’ Permit?

You will apply for a Namibia Students’ Permit in Namibia visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. In some countries, Namibia's official embassies and consulates don’t process Students’ Permit, instead of visa applicants apply for short-term visas for travelling to Namibia, and they only apply for Students’ Permit when they have already arrived in Namibia. This procedure can vary depending on your country of residence, nationality, and the policy of the embassy you apply for a visa.

Namibia Permanent Residence Permit

Permanent Residence Permit is the resident status of a person in a country where they are not citizens but have the right to reside permanently. If you intend to stay in Namibia for a long period, you can apply for a Permanent Residence Permit. It is advisable to contact the nearest Namibia embassies/consulates for the exact information for Namibia Permanent Residence visas.

Permanent Residence Permit can be applied for in Namibia after a person has had a legal status of ten years in the country. There are several applications that fall under the permanent residence. The legal status of 10 years means that either you have been on a work permit for 10 years, you have been married and have a certificate of identity for 10 years, or you have been on a study permit or a temporary residence permit for 10 years. Another application is naturalisation.

Required Documents for Namibia Permanent Residence Permit

1. Application Form 

• Fully completed in English and signed and dated by the applicant himself (signed by both parents in case of minors, below the age of 18)

2. Passport

• Validity minimum of six months beyond the date of your arrival to Namibia.
• Signed by bearer
• Passport not older than 10 years (issued in the last 10 years)
• At least one or two free “visa pages.”
• Undamaged pictures securely affixed with/to passport

3. Two Photos

• NEW! Should not be older than 6 months.
• A frontal view of the face-covering 70-80% (32-26mm) of the photo.
• A uniform and white background.
• Clear facial features and eyes – not covered by hair or glasses frame.
• 3.7x5.2 size

4. ID Card Copy

5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)

6. Photocopies

• Copy of the main page of your passport
• Copies of previous visas/ Namibia resident permit

7. Completed Application for Permanent Residence Permit

8. Completed Temporary Work or Students’ Permit Form Number 0/2742(2)

9. Completed Medical Report Form Number 3-1/0003

10. Completed Radiological Report Form Number 3-1/0004

11. Completed Deed of Surety Form Number 3-1/0005 Signed by Bank or Employer

12. Police Clearance Certificate from Country of Origin

13. Latest Police Clearance from Namibia

14. Proof of Civil Status

• Marriage Certificate (if married) (divorce letter)
• Death Certificate of Late Spouse (all widows and widowers)

15. Detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) of Professional Career, Specifying the Certificates, Diplomas, and Qualifications You Have Obtained.

• Curriculum Vitae for two shortlisted candidates, including their contact details
• Curriculum Vitae of the person identified to do understudy

17.Work References/ Letter (S) Of Recommendation

18. Proof of Financial Resources, Assets (own income and any other)

19. Questionnaire (training and experience)

Upon approval, the applicant will be requested to submit a copy of the approval letter, passport together with the original receipt of payment for endorsement of the permit

*Additional documents can be required.

Processing Time for Namibia Permanent Residence Permit

The average processing time for a Namibia Permanent Residence Permit is 6 months. It depends on your visa application country.

Namibia Permanent Residence Permit Fee

The Namibia Permanent Residence Permit fee is N$ 80.00 (about 6 USD) (Paid at the time of application) + N$ 18.000.00 (about 1218 USD) (Paid only in case the visa is granted) for foreign nationals. The fee may vary depending on your nationality or your country of submission.

Where to Apply for Namibia Permanent Residence Permit?

You will apply for a Namibia Permanent Residence Permit when you have already arrived in Namibia. Instead of visa applicants apply for short-term visas for travelling to Namibia, and they only apply for Permanent Residence Permit. This procedure can vary depending on your country of residence, nationality, and the policy of the embassy you apply for a visa.